Bank of Guam Strykers Win SP17 Minetgot Cup Opener

[February 28, 2017 – Harmon, Guam] – Defending champions Bank of Guam Strykers managed to hold down Wings Black 3-2 in an opening week U18 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League Monday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The Strykers pulled ahead 2-0 in the first half with goals from Vincent Cruz and Joshua Calvo, but Wings Black cut their deficit in half on a goal by Tyler Presto just one minute into the deciding half.

Xavier Naputi scored the eventual game winner about 20 minutes later on a long-distance strike. Phoenix Pahl pulled Wings Black within one in the 80^th minute, but his team ran out of time to attempt a comeback.

In Monday evening’s late match, 2016 Fall season runner up Wings Red turned up the intensity in the second half with four goals to defeat Quality Distributors 5-2. Jordan Jasmin scored twice for Wings Red and teammates Noah Duenas, Devan Mendiola, and Takumi Ito also scored. Sam Larkin scored for Quality in the 79^th minute and teammate Eddie Huang scored on a 90^th minute penalty kick.

In the Minetgot Cup’s U15 division played Saturday, the ASC Trust Islanders Betde defeated the Strykers with goals from Jonathan Sevilla, Russell Anicas, Juan Sarmiento, Mackey Rasmussen, Blayde Blas, Sein Dela Cruz, and Caiyle Gogue.

Tigers defeated Community First/Days Inn Dededo Soccer Club 2-1 with goals from Kris Fernandez and Micah Hennegan. Christian Kido scored for Dededo.

In the Minetgot Cup’s U13 division, Islanders Betde defeated Strykers 10-1 with hat tricks by Mason Sanchez and Ethan Sablan, and two from Riley Rama. Ben Borja and Sarah Benavente also scored in the win. Shane Shedd scored for Strykers.

Wings Red defeated Dededo 11-0 with four goals each from Taiyo Kanekatsu and Nainoa Norton and one each from Justin Joseph, Daisei Watabe, and Annie Jones.

Guam Shipyard Wolverines defeated Wings Black 4-0 with two goals by Erwin Manibusan and one each from Tyler Concepcion and Samuel Epidendio.

Before the start of all weekend matches, league referees and players observed a moment of silence for Islanders youth coach Lester Layco, who recently passed away in a motorcycle accident. Layco was coach of the Islanders Asut team in the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League’s U13 division.

In Robbie Webber youth league Week 3 matches Saturday in the U13 division, Islanders Asut won 8-1 over the EFR Southern Cobras, Crusaders Edge slipped past MWR Trojans 3-2, Matson Southern Heat defeated Islanders Apaka 2-0, Tumon defeated Crusaders Chrome 8-0, Strykers defeated Dededo 4-2, and the Sidekick SC defeated Wolverines White 9-0.

In the U15 division, EFR Southern Cobras defeated the Wolverines 3-0, FC Barrigada Crusaders defeated Tumon Typhoons Soccer Club 4-0, and Islanders Asut defeated Quality.

In the U18 division, FC Barrigada Crusaders defeated the Wolverines 6-2, EFR Southern Cobras Black drew 2-2 with Islanders Betde, and Tigers defeated Matson Southern Heat 7-1.

Hundreds of other youth players, including six-year-old Liam Arroyo of the Bank of Guam Strykers U8 Level 1 team, also played Saturday as the league also continued with Week 3 matches in the U6, U8, and U10 divisions, as well as all-girls U10 and U13 divisions.

“I’m like playing soccer because I like running around outside and playing with my friends, but it’s just hot though,” said Arroyo after his team’s match against the MWR Thunder under a beaming Saturday morning sun. “I am excited about playing in my next game, even though it’s so hot outside.”

The Robbie Webber youth league takes a break Mar. 4 for the 10^th Annual Sugar and Spice Middle School Girls Soccer Festival and resumes Mar. 11.