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MHS-1, FSM ease way to title win
Francisco M. Sablan Middle School players and coaches join Northern Mariana Islands Football Association officials and Public School System athletics program director Nick Gross for a group photo during the awards ceremony for the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Francisco M. Sablan Middle School and Marianas High School-1 were crowned champions of the 2021-2022 season of the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League after outclassing their respective opponents last weekend at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
In the girls middle school division, the FMS Napu Riders cruised past Saipan International School, 3-0, to clinch the season title and finish the competition unbeaten.
Rosie Saralu starred in FMS’ finals win after scoring all three goals in the match. She ended up recording 12 goals this season to earn both the Golden Boot and Finals MVP awards. Saralu and company defeated SIS and Saipan Community School in Group A of pool play to reach the semis where the Napu Riders pounced in on Chacha Oceanview Middle School last Friday, 9-1, for a finals berth at the top half of the draw. Saralu fired six goals in the semis victory, while Brienne Echalico added two.
Marianas High School 1’s Allyssya Angeles, right, dribbles away from Saipan Southern High School’s Christina Atalig during their title match in the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
In the other Final Four pairing, SIS, which had a 1-0-1 win-draw-loss record in Group B of pool play, stunned Hopwood Middle School, 3-0, to move into the title match. Julie Chavez, Phoenix Gross, and Lya Kim scored for the Geckos.
Meanwhile, in the girls high school finals, MHS-1 dominated Saipan Southern High School, 4-1, to also complete the season with a perfect record.
The Lady Dolphins swept their three opponents in Group A of pool play to march into the semis. They were then paired against Mt. Carmel School in last Friday’s Final Four and won, 3-0, to move one victory away from securing the division finals. MHS-1 went on to triumph in the championship game behind the goals of Allyssya Angeles, Tamia Hix, Amaya Reyes, and Jannah Casarino.
Angeles was later named Finals MVP, while Saipan Southern’s Summer Manahane took the Golden Boot award after recording nine goals in five games, including the Manta Rays’ lone goal in the finals.
Saipan Southern finished second behind MHS-1 in pool play in Group A and reached the finals after eliminating SIS last Friday, 4-1. Manahane tallied two goals in the Manta Rays’ semis win over the Lady Geckos, while Neriah Lumbad and Sophia Quintos chipped in one apiece.
