CNMI draws Guam in opener

The CNMI Girls U15 National Team flirted with victory in the opening day of the 2019 East Asian Football Federation U15 Girls Festival before settling for a 1-1 draw against Guam last Monday in Mokpo, South Korea.

Starting center midfielder Kaithlyn Chavez drilled the lone goal for the Commonwealth with her shot in the 34th minute giving their team the lead at the halftime break and early into the second half before Guam equalized in the 57th.

According to team manager Mae Ito, Chavez’s goal came off Paulynn Joyce’s corner kick, as Guam and CNMI players battled for the ball and the diminutive midfield joining the scramble and winning to kick the leather in.

Before Chavez’s conversation, the Luem Khen Koo-coached team had multiple scoring chances, starting in the 18th minute of the game, but just could not cash in on the opportunities. The CNMI players also managed to control possession past the halfway mark of the first half. On defense, after shaking off early jitters that allowed Guam to push the ball forward and threaten to score, the Commonwealth bets settled down and held their ground to frustrate their opponents.

“In the first half, we had a couple of corners against us, but our defense was doing great in sending the ball out of our box. And although Guam tried to penetrate through our defense line, our goalkeeper did an amazing job in stopping the balls from entering her goal,” Ito said.

Marinel Falalimpa was the starting goalie for the CNMI and was joined in the first 11 by Chavez, Joyce, Pia Ngewakl, Mary Joy Aniana, Christina Atalig, Allyssya Angeles, Jannah Casarino, Summer Manahane, and co-captains Julianne Hall and Nathanette Blas. Rizza Relucio, Julie Ann Capayas, Stephanie Flores, Aubrey and Audrey Castro, and Sophia Quintos also saw action against Guam in the second half.

In the final half, with Guam down, it remained persistent and made several attempts, which the CNMI’s defense, despite showing signs of fatigue, managed to foil. The Commonwealth players also went for some shots and muffed them. Then after exchanging misses, Guam finally lit up the board with one of its forwards scoring.

After Guam’s goal, the CNMI had a chance to break the deadlock in the closing minutes of the game. The exciting finish started when one of the Commonwealth’s forward went for a shot and the Guam keeper slid to pick up the ball. The goalie fumbled, forcing the opposing teams to clash for possession before Chavez again snuck into the play and have her foot on the leather.

“Kaithlyn got the last touch for a goal, but went too high above the crossbar,” Ito said.

Despite missing a win, Ito said the draw is a good result for the CNMI.

“We have lost to them in the past for this age group, but now we are progressing,” Ito said.

“Both teams played a high level of soccer. The crowd was amazing, cheering both teams and seeing both NMI and Guam playing so competitively. Our girls played hard and played with heart,” she added.

After the opening match against Guam, the Commonwealth players were scheduled to face Mongolia yesterday at the Mokpo International Football Training Center at 3pm (4pm Saipan time). Recovery is a concern for the CNMI, according to Ito, as the girls are not so used to playing in consecutive days.

“Back-to-back matches are not easy, and with such a short amount of recovery, players still feel the exhaustion from the match before. However, Ms. Pam (pysiotherapist Pam Carhill) and the coaching staff are fully on board in making sure our players are ready in mind, body, and spirit,” the team manager added.