Kanoa teams to vie for youth soccer champs

The 17U, 14U, and 12U boys and girls of the Kanoa Football Club have made their way to the finals of the TakeCare NMIFA Youth Spring League 2023 after their semifinals last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

The 17U boys tied it up with MP United, 2-2 but won, 5-4 via penalty kicks; the 17U girls silenced Shirley’s 8-0; the 14U boys won a lopsided 8-1 game against MPU Pink; and the 12U boys blanked Matansa, 9-0.

The 17U boys had a draw in regulation, 2-2, after an intense and aggressive battle on the pitch for both teams. Tyler Omelau found the back of the net for Kanoa’s early lead in the first minute, followed by the second goal made by Paul Lizama in the 26th minute.

They could not make any shots after that as MPU’s Casey Chambers put one up on the scoreboard via a penalty kick for a 2-1 game. Another penalty kick was made by Miles Linden in the 80th minute.

The tension was palpable as the winner was to be decided through a penalty shootout. Kanoa ended up with five penalty goals, while MPU had four, making for a final 5-4 game.

17U GIRLS 8X8 Kanoa 8, Shirley’s 0 The 17U Kanoa girls dominated the pitch as they silenced Shirley’s, 8-0.

Almost the whole roster contributed to their team’s goals with two off the cleats of Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez.

The barrage of goals started off just one minute into the game by Beatrice Gross. Then Aubrey Castro made it a 2-0 game in the 10 minute.

Elikristiana Iglecias, Ye Lynn Ha, Audrey Castro, Aubrey White, and Gianna Lizama scored the other team’s goals.

14U BOYS 8X8 Kanoa FC 1 8, MP U Pink 1 The 14U Kanoa FC 1 boys overpowered MPU Pink 1, 8-1.

Damien Concepcion led it off with a goal in the 10th minute. Five more goals were made by Maximus Taitano (2), Akoni Matsumoto, Rooney Gil, and Arstin Tagabuel before MPU made contact with the net in the 48th minute.

By this time, Kanoa was up 6-1 and counting as Taitano and Gil added one more goal each, followed by the last goal

by Matsumoto.

12U BOYS 7X7 Kanoa 9, Matansa 0 The youngest Kanoa boys had a field day against Matansa to win, 9-0.

Iziah Tenorio and R.J. Manabat were the leading scorers as they scored a hat-trick each. Two goals were added by his teammates.

The 14U girls played last April 29 against Tan Holdings and won, 3-0, and was the first Kanoa team to advance to the finals of their respective divisions.

The finals for the 12U boys is set for Saturday, May 13, at 6pm between Kanoa and Shirley’s FC; 14U girls finals between Kanoa and Southern United FC is scheduled for 2:25pm on the same day; 14U boys finals between Kanoa FC 1 and Matansa is at 2:35pm also on Saturday; 17U girls finals between SUFC is at 3:50pm; and the 17U boys finals between Kanoa and Tan Holdings is at 8pm.

Published by Saipan Tribune - May 11 2023