Paire tops Dove League

Paire Football Club players try to kick the ball out after a shot from Matansa Football Club’s Ivan Gozum during their title game in the Masters Division of the 2019 Dove Women’s Fall League last Sunday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Paire Football Club pulled off a thrilling 5-4 victory against Matansa Football Club to bag the Masters Division crown in the 2019 Dove Women’s Fall League last Sunday at the TSL Sports Complex.

Former CNMI National Team member Natalie Hill-Beyer delivered two goals for Paire, including the game-winner in the final minute of the closely fought championship match. Her other goal was also made in the second half, as she hit the board in the 43rd minute to knot the count at 4-all.

Paire prevailed in the back-and-fourth finale after coming from behind in the second half.

The final half, actually, started with the opposing squads in a deadlock, 2-all. Kathy Ruszala drew first blood in the title match after finding the back of the net in the 10th minute. However, Paire’s stay on top was short-lived, as two minutes later Ivan Gozum drilled the equalizer for Matansa.

The match remained tied for a little over 10 minutes until Cleo Nening scored in the 23rd to give the lead back to Paire. A second goal from Gozum in the 25th minute brought the game to another standoff and the finalists found themselves back to square one heading into the second half.

In the decider, it was Matansa that got into the board first this time, thanks to Chirapon McGuire’s goal in the 12th minute. Matansa then gained more cushion, 4-2, when Gozum completed her hat trick in the 15th minute.

Down, but definitely not out, Paire finally ended its dry spell in the second half courtesy of Linday Davis’ goal in the 16th minute. Then two minutes later, Hill-Beyer delivered the game-tying goal before making the dagger in the last minute of the championship game to hand Paire the division title and stun the then unbeaten Matansa in the finale.

Matansa won all its five games in the regular season to finish on top of the standings in the five-team field. Paire was ranked second with a 4-0-1 win-draw-loss mark to earn the right to face Matansa in the one-game finals.

Joining Davis, Hill-Beyer, Ruszala, and Nening on the newly crowned Masters champion are Maria Ornes, Patricia Coleman, Shawna Brennfleck, Reina Reftang, Jolene Aguon, Tanuja Edvalson, Momoko Halstead, Robyn Spaeth, Angie Mister, Jacklyn Jucutan, Kimberly Ada, Jennifer Linden, Rhonda Gross, Heather Taylor, and Amanda Haas.

Meanwhile, in the third place match, TanHoldings shut down MP United, 2-0.

Victoria Camama posted both goals for TanHoldings, registering the pair in the second half, as she lit up the board in the 31st and 33rd minute.

Paire Football Club’s Cleo Nening bends down to deflect a shot from Matansa Football Club’s Ivan Gozum during their title game in the Masters Division of the 2019 Dove Women’s Fall League last Sunday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)