MP United teams on top of Youth Spring LeagueMP United teams on top of Youth Spring League

An MP United Blue player kicks the ball during their boys U13 division game against Paire Football Club in the TakeCare NMIFA Youth Spring League 2022 last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (MICHAELA PANGANIBAN)

MP United Blue and Pink are tied for the lead in the boys U13 division of the TakeCare NMIFA Youth Spring League 2022 following their contrasting wins last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center.

MP United Blue edged Paire, 1-0, while MPU Pink cruised to a 3-0 victory over Matansa. The two MPU squads now hold similar 3-0-1 win-draw-loss marks to share the top spot in the team standings ahead of Paire (3-0-2), Matansa (2-1-1), Kanoa (1-2-1), Shirley’s (0-1-3), and TanHoldings (0-2-3).

Taiga Namai-Scoggins made a pair of goals for MPU Pink, while Codi Maratita added one. MPU Blue’s lone goal against Paire came from Stephen Yeom.

In other results in the division, Shirley’ forced a draw against TanHoldings. Mayten Puno hit the equalizer for Shirley’s, while John Lloyd Lucero scored for TanHoldings.

BOYS U16 DIVISION
TanHoldings 11, Paire 0
TanHoldings crushed Paire last weekend to take the solo lead in the division.
Mark Joseph Patubo had a hat-trick to lead TanHoldings, which improved to a 4-0-1 record, one win ahead of Matansa, Kanoa, and MP United. Terell Hix and Morico Claridades contributed two goals apiece, while four other TanHoldings players scored in the easy win.

Matansa 10, Shirley’s 0
Matansa also clobbered Shirley’s for its third victory of the season.
Jerome Mettao sizzled for four goals for Matansa, while Wataru Kadokura added a pair.

Kanoa 3, MPU 3
Markus Toves foiled MP United’s bid for a fourth win after posting Kanoa’s last two goals.
MP United led at the break, 3-0, behind Isaiah Hossain’s twin goals and one from Cody Shimizu. However, Kanoa fought back with Toves scoring in the 41st and 51st minute to tie the match. Earlier in the 20th minute, Tyler Omelau gave Kanoa its first goal in the game.

GIRLS U16 DIVISION
Kanoa 6, MP United 0
It was also Kanoa vs MPU in the girls U16 play and the former eased its way to a 6-0 triumph to keep the lead in the division.
Kaithlyn Chavez tallied three goals for unbeaten Kanoa (4-0-0), while Audrey Castro logged two, and Joselyn Atalig hit one.

Southern United 14, Shirley’s 1
Close behind Kanoa with a 3-0-1 mark is Southern United, which routed Shirley’s in the other match in the group.
Pia Ngewakl stood out in Southern United’s demolition of Shirley’s after firing six goals. Shirley’s got its only goal in the game from Jermaine Gison.