Close victories for Shirley’s, Kanoa

TanHoldings and Shirley’s players watch the action in the penalty area during the second half of their girls U15 division game in the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League last Saturday at the Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Shirley’s Football Club and Kanoa Football Club survived their respective opponents in the opening week of the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League.

Shirley’s banked on a solid first half to eke out a 5-4 victory over Kanoa FC in their boys U14 division game last Saturday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field. Rommel Mendoza knocked in a pair of goals in the first half to lift Shirley’s to a 3-1 halftime advantage. Mendoza made his first goal in the 10th minute and the second in the 30th, while Danel nailed one in the 23rd to give Shirley’s enough cushion. Mendoza added two more goals in the second half to foil Kanoa’s comeback bid.

Kanoa, which got its lone goal in the first half from Markus Toves, threatened Shirley’s behind the hat-trick of Markus’ older brother Merrick. Merrick started his string of goals in the 43rd minute, while his last two came in the 49th and 61st. Markus broke the ice for Kanoa in the 17th minute.

In other results in the boys U14 division, Matansa and MP United shut down their respective foes.

Matansa walloped Paire FC, 4-0. Lolobeyong Benito had a pair of goals for Matansa, finding the back of the net first in the eighth minute and drilling his last in the 52nd. Alex Christian and Razeff Altamirano also made it to the board in Matansa’s season debut after scoring in the 15th and 36th minute, respectively.

Duplicating Matansa’s shutout win was MP United, which earned a 2-0 triumph over defending fall season champion Tan Holdings. Richard Steele gave MP United its first goal this season with his conversion in the 25th minute, while the club was credited an own goal in the second half.

Meanwhile, in the girls U15 division, Kanoa edged Southern United, 5-4.

Kanoa nailed all its goals in the first half to set the tone of the match and hung tough on defense in the final 35 minutes of play to keep the win. Paulyn Joyce posted two goals for Kanoa, scoring in the 21st and 33rd, while Sharmaine Francisco, Princess Alcantara, and Kristelle Itaas also scored against Southern United. Francisco put their team on the board in the 14th minute, while Alcantara found the back of the net three minutes later and Itaas closed out for Kanoa in the 34th.

Jerlyn Castillo had a hat-trick for Southern United, posting her goals in succession as she registered the first in the eighth minute and the last two in the 14th and 37th. Keisha Deleon Guerrero recorded the other goal for Southern United with her conversion in the 46th minute.

In other results in the division, Paire nipped Matansa, 2-1. River Kramer posted the winning goal in the 41st minute, while Erin Frink gave Paire its first goal in the 26th. Matansa scored first in the match, courtesy of Jannah Casarino’s goal in the fifth minute.

With their close victories, Paire and Kanoa join defending champion Shirley’s in the win column. Shirley’s eased past TanHoldings, 9-0, in the division’s opening game last weekend.