Joyce, 3 others lead Golden Boot race

Kanoa Football Club’s Paulynn Joyce, right, sneaks in to steal the ball from a Southern United FC player during their semis game in the girls U15 division of the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League last Saturday at the Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Kanoa Football Club-1’s Paulynn Joyce and three others are ahead in the Golden Boot race in their respective divisions in the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League.

Joyce, based on the standings Northern Mariana Islands Football Association provided last week, has collected 10 goals in the girls U15 division and is just one goal up against Shirley’s Football Club’s Therize Millare and Southern United FC’s Jerlyn Castillo. Shirley’s’ Katherine Magat, Valeria Myers, and Katrina Costales round up the Top 5 with the former having eight and the last two posting seven each.

Joining Joyce on top are co-ed 12’s Andrew Chung of MP United, boys U17’s Sunjoon Tenorio, also of MP United, and boys U14’s Lolobeyong Benito of Matansa.

There is a neck-and-neck battle, too, for the Golden Boot in the boys U14 with Benito’s 10 (as of Oct. 28) and four others lurking behind him. Shirley’s Rommel Mendoza is Benito’s closest pursuer with the former getting nine so far, while MP United’s Richard Steele and Rintaro Miyawaki and Kanoa’s Merrick Toves are not far behind with eight each. TanHoldings’ Taka Borja is also in contention with his seven goals, while Paire’s Jon VIllagomez, MP United’s Rohan Basnet, and TanHoldings’ Oliver Fajardo have five each.

In the co-ed U12, MP United’s Andrew Chung is the likely winner as he has gained 35 goals with only two games left (including last Saturday’s match). Chung scored in all the first eight games of MP United, posting the most goals (6 each) in their duel against Paire and Kanoa-2 (twice).

Paire’s Dylan Mister is at second place with his 17 and is followed by TanHoldings’ Anthony Bergancia (13), Matansa’s Jin Wn Xen (13), TanHoldings’ Angelo Pulido (10), Kanoa-1’s Markus Toves (10) and Andrew Sablan (10), MP United’s Richard Castro (10), Garett Weaver (8), and Evan Mendiola (8), and Matansa’s Changyang Woo (8) and Alex Megino (eight).

In the boys U17 division, another MP United striker is ahead with Tenorio registering 17 going into the squad’s last two matches. Tenorio is upped by five against fellow MP United player Skyler Poon, while Anthony Fruit makes it a 1-2-3 for the club with his seven goals. TanHoldings’ Mark Esalan (6), Matansa’s Louie Calayag (5), National Development Academy’s Hark Joshua Galarion (5), Matansa’s Joshua De Leon (five), and MP United’s Kwang Ko Lim (five) are in the Top 5.

The final rankings for the Golden Boot race will be known later this month.

Goalkeeping clinic today at FMS
A goalkeeping clinic will be held today at the Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Field from 4pm to 6pm.

Chelsea FC Soccer School Hong Kong’s Jimmy Tang will conduct the clinic with the help of Christopher Aninzo of the CNMI Boys U18 National Team. The clinic is open to girls and boys in the 12 and above age group.