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CNMI begins EAFF Asian Cup campaign
The CNMI Women’s National Team played its first game in the EAFF Asian Cup 2013 Preliminary Competition Round 1 at the Leo Palace Resort in Guam yesterday and bowed to the host, 0-6.
The Commonwealth’s female strikers fell behind at the break, 0-5. Other details of the opening match in the EAFF qualifier will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Thursday’s edition.
Starting out for the CNMI were goalie Jhaneeka Atalig, defenders Jeralyn Castillo, Mikky Vargas, and Carrie Schuler, forwards Natalie Hill, Phalai Frink, Jeraldine Castillo, and Katie Peters, and midfielders, Melody Johnson, Alexa Vergara, and Megan Herber.
Other members of the team are Gabrielle Race, Marielle and Marilou Gariguez, Rachel and Michelle Masga, Liezel Tiples, and Lyvette Lacina.
After the loss in the opening day of the EAFF qualifier, the CNMI Women’s National Team will take a break today and will try to recover against Hong Kong tomorrow. The CNMI-Hong Kong tiff will be played at 4pm.
Meanwhile, the CNMI’s male strikers will play their first game this afternoon, also against the host at 4pm.
Captain Steve McKagan will lead the team, which also has Nick Swaim, Kirk Schuler, Bo Barry, Lucas Knecht, Raphael Zapanta, Brian Lee, Kenneth Domingo, Enrico Del Rosario, goalie Gregzon Fontanilla, Eric Cooke, William Dunn, Dan Westphal, Peter Loken, Joe Miller, Arkie Reusora, Ruselle Zapanta, and Dan Stafford on its rosters.
After its duel against Guam, the CNMI will challenge Macau this Friday.
The winner of the three-nation tournament in the men’s division will advance to the second round against Chinese-Taipei and North Korea. Hong Kong will host the next round of the men’s EAFF qualifier. For the women’s division, the Round 1 winner will join Chinese-Taipei and host China in the second round.
By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter
