Paire vs Kanoa-2 in finale

Paire’s Jerlyn Castillo, left, and Kanoa-1’s Paulynn Joyce, right, go for the ball during the first half of their semis game in the Division A of the 2017 Dove Women’s Fall League last Wednesday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Paire Football Club and Kanoa FC-2 set up their title showdown in Division A of the 2017 Dove Women’s Fall League after earning contrasting wins last Wednesday at the TSL Sports Complex.

Kanoa-2 took the first finals seat after easing past Shirley’s Football Club in their semis duel, 4-1, while Paire eked out a 6-5 win over Kanoa-1 to foil a “sister act” in the championship game.

Five different players scored for Paire, helping their team survive the gallant stand of Kanoa-2, which got off to a good start, but failed to sustain it to miss the winner-take-all finale.

Paulynn Joyce nailed back-to-back goals for Kanoa-1 in a span of four minutes, getting her first right in the opening minute of the game and the second in the fifth for her team’s early lead.

Kanoa-1’s advantaged was then trimmed down to one by a Jeraldine Castillo goal in the seventh minute, while Ericka Santiago’s conversion six minutes later tied the match. Jeraldine’s younger sister, Jerlyn then scored two straight goals (19th and 20th) minute to wrap up the first half and put Paire on top, 4-2.

In the second half, Mikky Vargas started things out for Kanoa-1, as she hit the board in the 22nd minute, while Joyce earned her third five minutes later to force the second deadlock.

However, Paire countered with two goals, too with Lyka Sally hitting her mark in the 32nd minute and Guinevere Borja following suit three minutes later to give their squad cushion, 6-4. Another goal from Vargas in the 37th minute kept Kanoa-1 in the game, but Paire hung in there to preserve its slim lead and advance to the championship game, which will be played this Saturday at 7:30pm. Kanoa-1 will still see action this weekend as it takes on Shirley’s in the battle for third place today at 7:30pm.

Kanoa-2 also had multiple options on offense that powered the team past Shirley’s in the first semis match. Irish Pagarao, Sarah Allen, Krizel Tuazon, and Britany Wally delivered the goals for Kanoa-2 in the 14th, 20th, 21st, and 32nd minute, respectively, while only Mia Carreon scored (19th minute) for Shirley’s.

Meanwhile, Paire marched, too, in the Division B finals after edging Kanoa in a penalty shootout during their semis game last Monday, 2-1.

Erin Frink and Miles River scored for Paire in the shootout, while Sue Ann Huevos was the only Kanoa player to convert her kick into a goal.

The Paire-Kanoa semis tiff went into a penalty shootout after Gillian Villagomez’s goal in the extra time tied the match, 1-all. Marinel Falalimpa earlier handed Kanoa a goal in regulation.

Paire’s finals opponent is Shirley’s, which shut down MY Pros in the other Final Four pairing, 2-0. Keisha Deleon Guerrero and Mariana Castro hit the board for Shirley’s, which will face Kanoa in tomorrow’s title match at 6:30pm.