HMS 1, SIS in boys MS soccer finals
It’s a battle of reptiles in the 2023-2024 NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Boys Middle School Soccer League finals as Hopwood Middle School Hilitais and Saipan International School Geckos triumphed in their semifinal games last Tuesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
HMS went up against Mount Carmel School Knights and defeated them, 3-1.
Joshua Jay Lizama found the net early and put the Hilitais up, 1-0, in the 6th minute. The Knights had trouble maneuvering as the Hilitais’ defenses slithered and snaked tightly through the pitch.
The reset of the first half went on and expired quietly with both teams unable to get a proper foothold of the ball. But HMS hit the ground running in the second half and quickly added another goal off a kick by Aldric Antonio in the 35th minute to make it a 2-0 game.
Battle for possession continued and the Hilitais found a break in MCS’ defenses in the 41st minute for a 3-nil lead. However, MCS’ Damien Concepcion made a break for it and scored just a minute later to get on the board.
MCS couldn’t feed off that momentum though and time ran out without an additional goal for a 1-3 final.
Saipan International School Geckos then trounced Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Napu Riders, 7-2.
Both teams’ goalies had their work cut out for them as the Geckos made a barrage of attacks throughout the match. They were goal hungry and just two minutes in, SIS were up, 1-0 from a goal by Theo Joab.
FMS retaliated right away and tied it up, 1-1, in the 5th minute by De’Anthony Aldan.
However, SIS retained possession for most of the first half and capitalized as Taiga Namai-Scoggins and Joab put two more goals for a 3-1 lead by the 18th minute.
FMS had yet to find an opening and before they could score again, Scoggins made it 4-1 in the 28th minute. FMS’ goalie was bombarded with another goal just three minutes later and in a blink of an eye, SIS was up, 5-1.
Finally, Aldan got a break and scored the Napu Riders’ second goal in the 42nd minute for a 2-5 game. But it wasn’t enough as they were then shut down and attempted attacks at the goal later were far off and inaccurate.
SIS held on to the lead and added two more by Landon Springer and Quido Jambor for good measure, and FMS conceded, 2-7.
The championship game is set for today at 5:30pm, while the third-place game is at 4pm.
Published by Saipan Tribune - May 2, 2024
