Bank of Guam Strykers Win SP17 Minetgot Cup Opener

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 80th 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 79th minute and teammate Eddie Huang scored on a 90th 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 10th Annual Sugar and Spice Middle School Girls Soccer Festival and resumes Mar. 11.

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Bank of Guam Strykers’ Joshua Calvo attempts to get through Wings Black defenders en route to the goal during an opening week U18 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League Monday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Strykers won 3-2.

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Bank of Guam Strykers’ Kyle Potter attempts to advance the ball past ASC Trust Islanders Betde’s Joshua Bamba during an opening week U15 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Islanders won 9-0.

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Wings Red’s Nainoa Norton carries the ball through the midfield against Community First/Days Inn Dededo Soccer Club during an opening week U13 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Wings won 11-0.

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Matson Southern Heat’s Logyn Lallatin looks for an opportunity to turn to the goal against the Tigers in a U18 division match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Tigers won 7-1.

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ASC Trust Islanders Rosa’s Cadence Guzman looks to pass the ball forward against Community First/Days Inn Dededo Soccer Club Gold in a Week 3 U13 Girls division match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

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ASC Trust Islanders Asut’s Izaiah Ravela tries to stay in control of the ball on his way to the goal against EFR Southern Cobras in a Week 3 U13 division match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Islanders Asut won 8-1.

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Wings Black’s Tyanna Jacot manages to needle through Quality Distributors defenders in a Week 3 U10 Level 1 division match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

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Bank of Guam Strykers’ Liam Arroyo focuses on advancing the ball to the goal against MWR Thunder in a Week 3 U8 Level 1 division match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Photo courtesy of Marray Nauta, Guam Community College intern at GFA.

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Tumon Typhoons Soccer Club and Guam Shipyard Wolverines play in a Week 3 U6 division match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Photo courtesy of Marray Nauta, Guam Community College intern at GFA.