SCS vs Koblerville 2 in ISL finals

A Saipan Community School player, center, tries to control the ball, while a Koblerville Elementary School 2 defender stays close to him during their semis game in the 2020-2021 NMIFA Interscholastic Soccer League last Tuesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Contributed Photo)

Saipan Community School and Koblerville Elementary School 2 arranged their title showdown in the 2020-2021 NMIFA Interscholastic Soccer League after elimination their respective playoff foes last Tuesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

The Umangs marched into the championship game first after shutting down Saipan International School 1, 4-0, while the Tsunamis followed suit after outclassing Koblerville 1 in a penalty shootout, 2-0. Koblerville 2 and SCS will dispute the elementary school division title today at 5:15pm after the 4:15pm third place game between SIS 1 and Koblerville 1.

Ji Hun Park and Soo Ho Jin connected on their PK shot to lift SCS to the semis win and foil an all-Koblerville title duel.

Earlier in the first semis match, Jose Mararita towed Koblerville 2 past SIS 1 after delivering a hat trick in the playoff opener. Maratita made the three goals in consecutive fashion, as he registered his first in the 11th minute and the last two in the 17th and 32nd. Jairoh Guilas opened the scoring for Koblerville 2 with his goal in the ninth minute.

Koblerville 2 reached the semifinals after sweeping its three games in the round-robin contest in Group A. Maratita and company defeated SCS, SIS 2, and William S. Reyes and collected 19 goals in three matches—the most by any team in the group. Koblerville 2 also gave up the least goals with 6.

SCS took the other semis ticket in Group A, barely making it to the playoff round after posting a 1-1-1 win-draw-loss record and getting 4 points. The Tsunamis were ahead by only one point against SIS 2, which finished the round-robin play with a 1-0-2 mark. WSR failed to make it to the win column this season.

With its No. 2 seeding in Group A, SCS was paired against Group B top ranked Koblerville 1 in the semifinals. SCS went on to pull off an upset over the Umangs, thanks to the pair of PKs from Park and Jin.

Koblerville 1, before losing to SCS, was unbeaten in Group B, as it prevailed over SIS 1, Brilliant Star School, and Isla Montessori School. Koblerville 1 also matched Koblerville 2’s total goals in pool play and yielded seven to its opponents. SIS 1 bagged the second semis berth in the group with its 2-0-1 slate, while Brilliant Star registered only one victory in the short season and Isla Montessori was winless.