Shirley’s players lead in Golden Boot race

Shirley’s Football Club’s Katrina Costales, center, tries to dribble away from two Southern United FC defenders during an earlier game in Division A of the Dove Women’s Spring League 2021 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Contributed Photo)

Shirley’s Football Club’s Katrina Costales and Jeraldine Castillo are in the driver’s seat for the Golden Boot race in the Dove Women’s Spring League 2021.

In four games, Costales has collected seven goals to lead Division A. The Marianas High School student started the season by scoring a pair of goals in their 7-6 victory over Southern United FC last Feb. 28 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. Then in their second game last March 7, Costales, who also plays for the CNMI Women’s National Team, delivered a hat-trick to power Shirley’s to an 8-0 triumph over TanHoldings FC. The 18-year-old athlete did not score in their close win over Kanoa Footbal Club, 2-1, last March 14, but was back on the board when she made one in their 3-1 victory against Southern United last March 21.

Costales is ahead with three goals against Southern United’s Kathlyn Chavez and Britany Wally Kanoa’s Irish Pagarao.

Chavez earned twin goals in their 6-7 loss to Shirley’s during the season opening late February and knocked down one apiece in their game against Kanoa (3-3), and TanHoldings (9-1). Wally also tallied on goal apiece in their Shirley’s and TanHoldings and got two versus Kanoa. Pagarao matched Wally and Chavez’s four goals as the Kanoa striker registered two in their 7-3 win against TanHoldings and another pair when they forced Southern United to a draw last month.

Meanwhile, nine players recorded three goals apiece in four games. The list includes Kanoa’s Krizel Tuazon and Khristelle Itaas, Shirley’s Lilian Podziewski, Fiona Bucalig, Jerlyn Castillo, and Julianne Hall, Southern United’s Jannah Casarino and Summer Manahane, and TanHoldings’ Mia Abuan.

Paire Football Club-1’s Natalie Hill-Beyer, right, maneuvers her way out of the defense of a Matansa Football Club player during their Masters Division match in the Dove Women’s Spring League 2021 last month at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Contributed Photo)

In Division B, Jeraldine Castillo has earned nine goals to notch the top spot. She had three goals each in their 4-0 win over MP United last March 7 and in their 5-3 triumph over TanHoldings. Earlier in the season opening game, Jeraldine fired twin goals in their 5-2 victory against Southern United, while her other goal (one) came in their 5-1 win versus Kanoa last March 28.

Two goals behind Jeraldine at second place is Southern United’s Keisha Deleon Guerrero, who had two goals apiece in their first three matches (against Shirley’s, Kanoa, and MP United) before netting one versus TanHoldings.

Tied for third place in the Golden Boot race in Division B are Deleon Guerrero’s teammate Megan Elayda and TanHoldings’ Julie Anne Capayas, who have four goals apiece.

Close battle in Masters

Four players are in a tight race for the Golden Boot honors with Paire Football Club 2’s Tanuja Edvalson on top with four goals, just slightly ahead of Paire FC-1’s Linday Davis and Natalie Hill-Beyer and Matansa FC’s Bunruang Brasuelle.

Edvalson scored all her goals in their 4-1 win over TanHoldings during the first game of the season. Davis’ lone goal in the opener gave Paire-1 the victory over Kanoa and then she made two in their 4-1 win against TanHoldings. Hill-Beyer, on the other hand, notched one goal apiece versus Matansa, TanHoldings, and Paire-2.

Brasuelle joined the three-way tie for second place when she bagged a goal in their 1-2 loss to TanHoldings last March 28 to go with the pair she logged in their shutout win over Kanoa, 3-0.