Geckos win boys soccer championship

The Saipan International School Geckos outlasted two-time defending champion Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays, 1-0, in Saturday’s four-team, double-elimination Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization playoffs held over the weekend on the Oleai Sorts Complex pitch.

The team is made up of seniors Dong Hyun Kim, Andrew Nutting, Ryan Ha Sei Higuchi and Taek Han Yoon, juniors Christopher Camacho, Jeonghwan Kim, Seoung Joon Lee, and Abel Pellegrino, sophomores Chris Lam, Greg Kim, Jong Seo Koo, Chris Park, and Clay McCoullough-Stearns, and freshmen Andrew Johnson, Jehn Joyner, Nam Ki Kim, Bob Kim, and So Hyuk Park.

Jaime Saiki and Rick Limkemhalt coached the team.

The Geckos were awarded the MISO team trophy after three exhausting rounds against SSHS, which proved to be quite a test to earn top honors. The trophy will be kept on display in SIS’ trophy case until next year’s champion is crowned.

The two finalists grinded out three marathon matches, which was ultimately decided by a clutch goal by SIS freshmen standout Joyner with just eight minutes left in the finals rematch on Saturday.

SIS finished the regular season in first place and was awarded a first round bye in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, third-ranked Kagman High School Ayuyus defeated fourth-seeded Marianas High School Dolphins, 2-0, in the opening tiff held last Friday, but were downed by SSHS, 2-1, soon after in the second round.

SIS then came away the victors after the first meeting with the Manta Rays, 3-2, via penalty kicks after regulation and overtime resulted in a draw.

Then on Saturday, KHS defeated MHS, 4-1, thanks to a hat trick by young up-and-comer Jack Tanapon in the first lower bracket elimination match, but came up short once again to SSHS, 0-3, in the semifinal.

SSHS then showed up the eventual champs, 3-1, via penalty kicks after another stalemate result through regulation and overtime.

Manta Rays’ goalkeeper Don Cabrera batted away two clutch saves to help give his team the nod after four penalty kick attempts, forcing a deciding Game 3.

The final showdown took place very similarly to the previous two ordeals, however both teams were visibly exhausted as the end of regulation neared in the third match and it became apparent that the game would one way or another be decided within the time limit.

With about eight minutes left before the final whistle, Joyner received a nice cross from the left side of shallow midfield. He then quickly powered home from top of the goalie box what would be the game winner dead center on the top shelf just out of reach of Cabrera.

SSHS tried to create a last-second comeback to force overtime and another possible shootout, but SIS played strong defense late in the match to secure the big win.