Kanoa outlasts TanHoldings

Kanoa Football Club players and officials pose with their championship trophy after beating TanHoldings Football Club, 5-4, in the title game in Division A of the 2019 Dove Women’s Fall League last Friday at the TSL Sports Complex. Joining them in the photo are Northern Mariana Island Football Association president Jerry Tan, left, and Marilyn Marron, standing third right, regional sales manager of D&Q Saipan—the distributor of Dove products on island. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Kanoa Football Club survived a late scare from TanHoldings Football Club to eke out a 5-4 victory in their title duel in Division A of the 2019 Dove Women’s Fall League last Friday at the TSL Sports Complex.

Paulyn Joyce delivered a hat trick in the second half to give Kanoa enough cushion and help the squad withstand a gallant fight from TanHoldings. Irish Pagarao scored the two other goals for Kanoa, while Katrina Costales made three for TanHoldings, and Kaithlyn Chavez registered the other goal for the runner-up squad.

Pagarao drew first blood in the finale, as she capitalized on an early mental lapse from goalie Emalyn Aniana, who received a pass from Allyssya Angeles, but instead of kicking the ball quickly and hard, she took her time. The keeper did not notice Pagarao sneaking in closer and by the time the former release the short kick, the latter anticipated it and took a shot to give Kanoa a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game.

Kanoa hung on to the shaky 1-0 advantage at the break, as it repeatedly frustrated TanHoldings’ bids to score, particularly Chavez, who made several attempts, but Kanoa goalie Theresa Toves was there for the saves in the first half.

Then early in the second half, Kanoa turned a precarious one-point lead to 3-0 with Pagarao and Joyce teaming up for the next two goals of the squad. Both Pagarao and Joyce entered the penalty area with TanHoldings defense collapsing on the latter near the right post. Joyce recognized the opportunity and swung the ball to Pagarao, who was left open for a goal in the 26th minute.

TanHoldings Football Club’s Emalyn Aniana, second left, prevents Irish Pagarao of Kanoa from scoring a goal during the first half of their title game in Division A of the 2019 Dove Women’s Fall League last Friday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Three minutes later, Pagarao returned the favor to Joyce to give Kanoa a 3-0 lead. Pagarao intercepted a pass from Christina Atalig to Chavez and dribbled to center before feeding Joyce to the right and the latter unloaded a shot just when she entered the penalty area. The ball then rolled in between the legs of Aniana and into the goal, allowing Kanoa to widen the gap.

Then just when Kanoa seemed ready to ease its way to victory, TanHoldings fought back in the last 20 minutes of the finale with Costales sparking the rally.

Costales broke TanHoldings’ silence in the 30th minute, as she dribbled and eluded Kanoa defender Sharmaine Francisco for a left cross volley outside the penalty area.

However, Kanoa countered with two quick goals (36th and 40th minute) to increase the lead, 5-1. The fourth goal came when Francisco played the ball in and passed it to Pagarao, who spotted Joyce cutting to the middle and the latter scored her second goal, as Aniana dropped to her knees, but was a bit late for the save. The fifth goal was also courtesy of Joyce, who stole possession from Mary Joy Aniana and dribbled all the way to complete her hat trick.

Despite facing the biggest deficit in the game, TanHoldings remained persistent and continued to fight back with the clock working against the squad. It moved within 3 in the 42nd minute of the 50-minute game when Costales found the back of the net off a miss from Chavez, who unloaded a shot at the center, but the ball was partially deflected by Toves. Fortunately for TanHoldings, Costales was there for the trail job and with the ball bouncing off Toves’ hands, Costales took a shot from the left wing.

The TanHoldings’ key player made it three in a throw after receiving a perfect pass from Chavez in the 43rd minute. Chavez played the ball in and with Kanoa’s defense had yet to set up, Costales moved into the center and made her third goal in the game.

From four goals down, TanHoldings went on to threaten Kanoa, cutting the deficit to one. Chavez, this time, hit the goal with a little over three minutes left in the match. Kristelle Itaas played the ball in, but her long kick dropped in front of Chavez, who took just a few dribbles and did not wait for Kanoa defenders, as she unloaded her shot outside the penalty area.

Now ahead by only one, Kanoa used the clock to its advantage, while TanHoldings made a couple more attempts to knot the count, but faltered. The closest was when Chavez played the ball in and again Costales entered the picture, but the leather was a bit way out to her right. Angeles then tried to go for a follow-up, but Itaas was there and used her body to deflect the ball.

Kanoa kept melting down the clock, which finally expired with Pagarao and Chavez contesting for the last possession.

Kanoa, after the hard-fought finale, was handed the championship trophy and medals. Northern Mariana Islands Football Association president Jerry Tan and D&Q Saipan regional sales manager Marilyn Marron presented the trophy and medals to Kanoa and also handed out the runner-up and third place awards to TanHoldings and Matansa Football Club, respectively.