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Hopwood, Chacha top U14 league
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Posted on Apr 23 2009
Hopwood Junior High School and Chacha Oceanview Junior High School put their names in the CNMI soccer record books as the first champions of the NMIFA U14 Interscholastic Football League 2009 after beating separate foes in the finals yesterday at the Hilitais’ home field.
Hopwood Junior High’s boys team stunned the favored Saipan International School, 2-1, while Chacha prevailed against Hopwood’s girls squad in a shootout, 4-3.
Interestingly, yesterday’s victories were Hopwood and Chacha’s firsts.
Hopwood lost three times to SIS, while Chacha suffered the same fate against Hopwood in the girls division.
June Litulimar and Andres Keo had one goal apiece for Hopwood, which had Tungel Hilbert as goalie. Other members of the team are Kimo Olopai, Edward Ogo, Francisco Lieto, David Muna, Harold Aranda, Gerry Gottwald, Mark Trinidad, Tim Olopai and Sam Park. Frankie Angel and Timothy Williams are the Hilitais coaches.
In the girls’ finals, Andrea Camacho drilled the winning goal for Chacha.
The game was tied at 1-1 after the regulation and remained in a deadlock after the extension period. In the shootout, which had each team choosing five players attempting for goals, Chacha and Hopwood scored two goals apiece to send the game into a second shootout. In the second shootout, tournament rules state after a miss, the team to score next wins the match.
Jessmin Oscar stepped up to the penalty box first, made the kick, but Chacha goalie Bernie Sablan was there to deflect the ball. Camacho was up next for the kick and canned the goal to the left side of the post, as Hopwood goalie Jobie Pangelinan struggled for a save and failed.
Camacho ran to her teammates after scoring to celebrate. Joining the celebration were Chacha coaches Melody Matson and Blossom Inos. Other members of the winning team are Maggie Crisostomo, Emmalou Cabrera, Prene Torres, Doreen Ravell, Rilaena Babauta, Romana Chong, Veora Basa, Michelle Sablan, Jennifer Dela Cruz, Akioni Babauta, Ha’ann Fejeran, and Dionne Deleon Guerrero.
Northern Mariana Islands Football Association president Jerry Tan awarded trophies to the champion teams. Each team member also received balls and medals. The runners-up were also given trophies and medals.
