Guam Rosters Finalized for 2019 Marianas Cup Tourney

[July 18, 2019 – Harmon, Guam] Final rosters of players called up to represent Guam for Saturday’s 2019 Marianas Cup against their Northern Mariana Islands counterparts officially have been released by team coaches, with this year’s tournament featuring a U19 women’s division and a U19/U23 men’s division.

“It was extremely difficult to make the final selection with 30 players to choose from – on and off island – from the U19 category and the five U23 players selected to complement the squad,” said Karl Dodd, head coach of Guam’s U19/U23 Men’s Team. “It is great to finally see such competition for places for the national team. The important aspect is how those players that weren’t selected respond in a positive manner to the adversity by working harder and improving their game, whilst the ones who were selected are to remain humble, keep working hard to keep his spot, and to remember that he is always representing the island.

“The objectives of this upcoming match are for the players to display the Guam national team playing style, our proactive mindset, and to ensure that we dominate the match from start to finish,” Dodd added.

Called up to the Guam U19/U23 Men’s Team are goalkeepers Alexander Stenson and Allan Aranas and field players Aidan Dickson, Josiah Duenas, Ethan Elwell, Kris Fernandez, Grayson Garber, Kyle Halehale, Micah Hennegan, Mark Iseke, Matt Iseke, Isiah Lagutang, Jacob McDonald, Morgan McKenna, Devan Mendiola, Anthony Moon, Noah Mueller, Anthony Quidachay, Ryan Quitugua, Clayton Sato and Taiga Simon.

The U19/U23 Men’s match will kick off at 5 p.m. at the Guam Football Association National Training Squad.

Before the U19/U23 Men’s match takes center stage, Guam’s U19 Women’s National Team will take on NMI’s U19 Women’s National Team beginning at 3 p.m.

Selected to the Guam U19 Women’s team are goalkeepers Kiarra Hutcherson and Angelyn Sobrevilla and field players Thea Baker, Michala Connelley, Hannah Cruz, Candie Cura, Celine Doronila, Rylee Guzman, Yasmeen Lopez, Kaia Malakooti, Jadyn Palomares, Lauren Phillips, Minami Rabago, Richelle Ragadio, Ava Ramos, Shyann Roberto, Abigail San Gil, and Jinae Teria.

“Our objectives for this game are first and foremost to win,” said Maggie Phillips, Head Coach of the Guam U19 Women’s team. “This is a big rivalry for us and with the Guam holiday, it is a big deal for our girls to come out on top and represent their island. Secondly, we have made a few tweaks to our playing style since our trip to Hong Kong and since the implementation of the new Laws of the Game. I am looking to see the girls implement these changes on the field at match pace. This will be a good launch point for us as we finish off the year and prepare for tournaments next year.”

Both squads have recently completed Kamp Tinituhon, a weeklong induction camp, at GFA. During the induction camp, players engaged in football training on the pitch, as well as other activities including sessions on nutrition with Lenora Makela of Eat Right Guam, Chamorro language classes with Theresa E.G. Taitano, organizing a soccer skills carnival for Harvest House foster kids, team bonding activities at PanIQ 45, and yoga with Turning Leaf Yoga, among others. The induction camp was supported in great part by Mobil Oil Guam, Eat Right Guam, Triple J Auto Group, Triple J Five Star Wholesale, and Hertz.