Shirley’s FC opens title defense bid with win

Shirley’s FC’s Katrina Costales, left, and MP United’s Gillian Villagomez run after the ball during the first half of their girls U15 game in the NMIFA spring league last Saturday at the San Antonio Middle School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Shirley’s Football Club started its title defense bid in the girls U15 division of the 2016 NMIFA Youth Spring League on a positive note after slipping past MP United FC, 3-2, last Saturday at the San Antonio Middle School Field.

Shirley’s, which ruled the 2015 spring season after earning an 8-2-0 win-draw-loss record against Matansa’s 7-3-0, got goals from three different players to edge MP United. New recruit Ester Jones drew first blood for the defending champion, as she found the back of the net in the first half, while holdovers Diana Maniacop and Katrina Costales scored in the second half.

As for MP United’s side, Grace Choi hit the board in the first half to force the deadlock, while Gillian Villagomez added one more goal in the second.

In the other girls U15 match played at the San Antonio pitch, Kanoa romped past Paire FC, 12-0.

Kanoa recorded one goal after another for the lopsided win against the hapless Paire that played without its key player Guinevere Borja, who was nursing an injury.

Toremy Diaz and Paulyn Grace Joyce did most of the damage for Kanoa, as they tallied four goals each. Kiara Maganti, Princess Alcantara, Britany Wally, and Ericka Santiago added one goal apiece for Kanoa.

Meanwhile, Tan Holdings won via default against Matansa in the third girls U15 match scheduled last Saturday at the San Antonio pitch.

Over at the Oleai Sports Complex, MP United and Matansa downed their respective foes in the boys U17 division.

Matansa played in the opener and defeated Paire, 4-1.

Jun Sik Kim canned two goals for Matansa, while Joshua De Leon and Chad Shankweiler chipped in one each. Lukesh Lama nailed the lone goal for Paire. Kim fired up Matansa’s offense with his goal in the 12th minute, while De Leon made it to the board too in the first half with his shot one minute before the opening frame ended. Kim also scored Matansa’s first goal in the second half before Shankweiler closed out for the winning squad. Lama got his goal in the 40th minute.

In the second game, MP United shut down Tan Holdings, 3-0.

Keeanu Diaz, Sun Joon Tenorio, and Bada Lee joined forced in lifting MP United to the easy win. Diaz gave MP United its first goal in the opening frame, while Tenorio and Lee found their target in the final half.