Strong start for SSS, Armada

Isamu United’s Leisha Sally, left, and Marianas Health Armada’s Jerlyn Castillo fights for the ball during the first half of their girls U17 division game in the 2017 Youth Summer Futsal Tournament yesterday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan Soccer School and Marianas Health Armada kicked off their respective campaigns in the 2017 Youth Summer Futsal Tournament on a high gear after dominating their opponents yesterday at the TSL Sports Complex.

SSS played in the first game and crushed Kanoa Football Club 2 in their co-ed U12 tiff, 8-3, while Marianas Health Aramda eased past Isamu United, 7-2, in the second girls U17 match on opening day.

Sean Gil starred in SSS’ domination of Kanoa FC 2 after drilling four goals, while Garret Weaver chipped in two, and Richard Castro contributed one. Kristopher Pascual, Codie Forbes, Cody Shimizu, Dev Bachani, Audrey and Aubrey, and Praise Woo complete the roster of SSS, which got an own goal against Kanoa FC 2. John Mark Anastacio and Markus Toves scored one goal apiece for Kanoa FC 2, which was also awarded an own goal in the second half.

In the second girls U17 division game, Jeralyn Castillo tallied a hat trick and Britanny Wally added two goals in Marianas Health Armada’s debut win against Isamu United. Names of other scorers in the game were unavailable at press time.

While Marianas Health Armada had an easy time dispatching Isamu United, it was a different story in the first girls U17 match yesterday as Hakone FC won by only a point against F. Marinos, 3-2. Krizel Tuazon, Paulyn Joyce, and Katrina Costales registered one goal apiece to lift Hakone FC to a close victory over F. Marinos, which drew all its two goals from Guinevere Borja.

In other results yesterday, 4Gives FC and Saipan Elite settled for a draw in their first game in the two-round robin elimination, 6-6.

Andruw Omelau led 4Gives FC’s gallant stand after firing three goals, while Jether Yobech logged two, and Jonah Pohl chipped in one. Oliver Fajardo and Merrick Toves had two goals apiece for Saipan Elite, while Kohtaro Goto and Rohan Basnet recorded one each. Saipan Elite built a 5-2 advantage at the break, but failed to keep the lead in the second half, as Omelau anchored 4Gives FC’s fightback.

There were two boys U16 games played in the opening day, but results of the NMI U16 vs HK SSS tiff, which was the last match scheduled for yesterday, were unavailable at press time.

Meanwhile, action in the futsal tournament will resume tomorrow with one match each in the co-ed U12 and the girls U17 and boys U16 divisions. 4Gives FC will gun for its second win when it takes on NMI U16 at 5pm, while Kanoa FC 2 will try to bounce back quickly when it duels Kanoa FC 1 in the curtain-raiser at 3pm. In the 4pm match in the girls U17 division, Hakone FC will challenge Isamu United.