Strikers win boys division of DFS Cup

Strikers made their ferry trip from Tinian worth their while by capturing the championship of the boys division of 2nd Annual DFS Cup Soccer Tournament held at the Garapan Elementary School open field last Saturday.

The team, represented by players from Tinian Elementary School, needed a sudden death shootout with Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School to annex the title. Both teams finished the 20-minute regulation and five-minute overtime deadlocked at 1-1.

Strikers actually drew first blood when Evander Barcinas slammed one home against GTC goalie Eric Tenorio in the early goings of the first half. But undeterred, the boys from GTC fought right back in the second half until a goal by Dave Jones tied it all up at a goal apiece.

There were a lot of running, shoving, and a couple of close calls in the extension but both teams came up empty necessitating a shootout to determine at last the champion of the two-weekend competition.

Players from both sides lined up for the shootout with Henry King, Jr. serving as the man between the goal posts for Tinian and Tenorio acting likewise for GTC.

Although, both sides aggressively attacked the net, when the smoke cleared, it was Tinian that emerged victorious scoring 3 goals to GTC’s 2. Tinian goals came courtesy of E.J. Hofschneider, Barcinas, and Kim King, while Mat Sablan and Clyde Camacho scored the two goals for the runner-up team.

The rest of the players from Tinian are Taylor Mundo, Benjie Decena, Jerome San Nicolas, William Perez, Aaron Manglona, Elmo Hoffschneider, P.J. Cruz, and Bernardo Tumed. Head coach is Jon Sanchez and assistant coach is Melvin Monkeya.

In the battle for third, William S. Reyes Elementary School nipped Garapan Elementary School I in a shootout, 4-3.

Earlier, the girls of Dandan Elementary School sent the Lady Strikers packing after likewise surviving a sudden death shootout against the girls from the south to hoist the championship of the girls division.

Dandan and Tinian played their hearts out through 30 minutes of scoreless play. But effort alone does not score goals and a shootout was needed to break the tie.

Defending champion Tinian couldn’t have play any harder in the championship, but Dandan took them out in the shootout scoring 3 goals as against Tinian’s 1, highlighted by a couple of blocks from goalkeeper Nishen Artos, to complete the upset.

Goals from Dandan came courtesy of Molly Marian, Josephine Kileleman and Ann Santos. Other members of the team are Vivalyn Yangirilit, Fanni Forbes, Alma De Guzman, Rosie Villagomez, Coquina Teregeyo, Liza Laniyo, and Nicole Reyes.

Cathy Palacios scored the lone goal for Tinian.

Head coach of the Tottos was Danny Fitial with Jessie Elameto assisting. There to cheer them on was Dandan principal Jonas Barcinas.

Before the girls championship, GTC girls salvaged third place after beating WSR, 1-0, on a goal by Megan Castro.

Organizers of the 2004 DFS Cup Soccer Tournament extended their appreciation to DFS Galleria Saipan for their continues support of youth soccer. They also thanked referees Yun Dae Young, Vince Riley, Kim Sung In, Dale Roberts, and Cho Hong Koo for donating their time and expertise to promote soccer in the CNMI.