Unbeaten season for MPU

Rohan Basnet, center, leads MP United Football Club’s attack during their first round game against Kanoa FC in the boys U14 division of the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League at the Koblerville Elementary School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

MP United Football Club capped the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League with undefeated records in the boys U14 and U17 divisions.

Two weeks after clinching the boys U17 title, MP United completed its domination in its group after a 12-1 victory against the National Developing Academy last Saturday at the Hopwood Middle School Field. MP United, which is the only club to have won the boys U17 division crown (four times) since Northern Mariana Islands Football Association switched from boys U18 to the current age group, wrapped up this year’s fall season with a 9-1-0 win-draw-loss record—two victories ahead of runner-up Matansa FC (7-0-3).

Sunjoon Tenorio, Dai Podziewski, Skyler Poon, and Jonah Pohl scored two goals each in MP United’s emphatic win, while Eun Syu Hahn, Anthony Fruit, Clayton Izuka, and Alex Park chipped in one apiece. NDA avoided a shutout loss after getting an own goal in the second half.

With MP United’s 12 goals in its last game this season, the team scored the most (75) among the six squads and also yielded the least (6). NDA, which registered a 2-0-8 mark, only had 13 goals and gave up 47.

In other results in the boys U17 division, Matansa and TanHoldings posted contrasting wins in their respective games.

Matansa eased past Paire, 10-0, to dislodge TanHoldings at the No. 2 rankings.

Louie Calayag led Matansa’s demolition of the last-ranked Paire (2-0-8) after firing four goals, while Brandon Reyes added three. Ronnel Ocanada, Davy Laxa, and Alan Hinson contributed one each for Matansa, which collected 46 goals and allowed 15 this season.

TanHoldings, on the other hand, gained 20 goals and yielded 12 after a 2-1 triumph over Kanoa. Mareko Tekopua and Albert Bergancia tallied the goals in TanHoldings’ last game and the squad finished the season with a 6-2-2 slate. Kanoa, which drew its lone goal from Andruw Omelau, placed fourth in the rankings with its 2-1-7 mark, 14 goals for, and 46 goals against.

Meanwhile, in the boys U14 division, MP United engaged Kanoa to a scoreless draw last Saturday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field, allowing the former to preserve its unbeaten record (7-0-3).

MP United, which secured the division championship in the penultimate week of the league following a 5-0 win over Paire, had the third most goals this season with 26, but gave up the least (7).

TanHoldings earned the distinction of having the most goals (35) in the division after a 12-1 victory over Paire last weekend, but the former was ranked only third in the final standings with its 5-3-2 slate. Taka Borja delivered five goals in TanHoldings’ last match of the season, while Anthony Bergancia and Ezekiel Canape logged two each. Kohtaro Goto, Oliver Fajardo, and Reginald Pascual scored one goal apiece, while Paire’s lone goal came from Kaden Church.

Matansa finished ahead of TanHoldings at No. 2 following a 1-0 triumph over Shirley’s. Matansa wrapped up the season with a 6-1-3 record and also gained the second most goals in the division with 29. Lolobeyong Benito posted the only goal in Matansa’s win over Shirley’s, which is ranked fourth in the final standings after recording a 4-2-4 slate.