Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup U15 Playoffs Set for Saturday

[October 29, 2017 – Harmon, Guam] – The ASC Trust Islanders kept their undefeated record intact and claimed the top spot in the U15 division of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League after their clash with No. 2 Wings Red Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The Islanders, needing only a draw to claim the league’s No. 1 spot in standings, split the spoils with defending champions Wings Red 3-3 after playing catch-up for most of the match.

Wings Red pressed the Islanders early, with a Tayler Bonner goal in the third minute of play forcing the Islanders’ defenders to regroup and polish their passing plays. A goal by Islanders’ Caiyle Gogue in the 14^th minute leveled the match, but Wings Red regained the lead with a goal by Fall 2017 Golden Boot winner Matthew Iseke in the 23^rd minute.

Wings Red later had an opportunity for a two-goal advantage before the half on a penalty kick, but Islanders’ goalkeeper Saena San Nicolas dove to his left side and managed to stop Iseke’s shot to keep the 2-1 score through to halftime.

After 10 minutes of scoreless soccer to begin the second half, the Islanders’ Christian Kido broke through from his team’s defensive third and maneuvered his way around a handful of Wings Red defenders on the left side to finish a shot past Wings Red goalkeeper Marcus Del Rosario to level the match again.

Wings Red had an answer three minutes later on a shot by Taiga Simon from the right side, but the Islanders continued its effort to push through the Wings Red defense. The Islanders caught a break in the 62^nd minute when Wings Red’ wingback Morgan McKenna was ejected from the match following a foul in the box. The Islanders’ Kris Fernandez successfully placed the spot kick into the right corner for the third and final equalizer of the match. Wings Red’s woes continued about 15 minutes later when Robert Niu also was sent off, leaving his team to finish off the match with only nine players on the field. Despite the 11 versus 9 advantage, the Islanders were unable to find the game winner.

In the day’s other match, Community First/Days Inn Dededo Soccer Club nabbed the fourth and final spot in playoffs with a 3-2 edge over the Bank of Guam Strykers. A slow start by the Strykers cost them, as Dededo managed to take a 1-0 lead at halftime on a Logan Concepcion goal despite playing down a man the entire half.

Although Dededo began the second half with only eight players, the Strykers were unable to capitalize on the opportunity. Dededo’s Patrick Haimin and Janeson Quitano each scored once before the Strykers’ Levi Buckwalter finally had an answer in the 76^th minute. Teammate Andrew Stenson scored two minutes later, but time expired before the Strykers could stage a comeback.

In final league standings released, Wings Red’s Matthew Iseke won the Golden Boot race with 18 goals scored, four more than this twin brother Mark Iseke and their teammate, Tayler Bonner. In the Golden Glove race, Wings Red’s Marcus Del Rosario won the Fall 2017 award, allowing an average of 0.7 goals per match in 640 minutes played. Islanders’ Saena San Nicolas, last season’s Golden Glove winner, had a similar goals allowed average but played less minutes than his Wings counterpart.

Playoffs begin Nov. 4 with No. 2 Wings Red taking on No. 3 Tigers at 8 a.m. followed by No. 1 ASC Trust Islanders playing against No. 4 Community First/Days Inn Dededo Soccer Club at 9:50 a.m.