Masakåda Play First June Training Match Ahead of EAFF Tourney

Masakåda Play First June Training Match Ahead of EAFF Tourney

[June 5, 2016 – Harmon, Guam] – The Masakåda training squad played its first official training match of the month against the Guam U14 Boys national training squad Saturday in preparation for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Round set to kick off June 29.

The training match is the first of weekly matches ahead of the team’s first match of the regional tournament. The women’s team defeated the U14 Boys team 3-0 at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Skyylerblu Johnson, Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Spring 2016 Golden Boot winner and IIAAG Girls High School Soccer League All-Island MVP, scored the team’s first goal in the first half. Anjelica Perez, former captain of the St. Martin University Saints, an NCAA Division II university in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, scored for the Masakåda training squad in the second half. The other goal came on a U14 Boys squad own goal.

“It was a good result, but (Saturday) was mostly for coaches to continue assessing all players training for a call-up to the Masakåda, Guam women’s national team,” said head coach Mark Chargualaf. “For individual players, we were testing out certain field positions for them, as well as evaluating their match fitness levels. We also wanted to see the players’ tactical IQ at this stage ahead of the tournament.

“We’re going to need more of these training matches so the players, particularly the new ones to the program, become more familiar with each other on the field and gain a better team chemistry. For some, this is the first time training for a possible call-up to the Masakåda and we want all to have a positive experience,” Chargualaf added.

GFA recently submitted its 30-player preliminary roster to EAFF, and out of the 30 players named, 18 will be called up, with two additional players named as alternates.

Of the 30 players named to the preliminary roster, 20 played in the recently concluded Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Spring season.

Ten are from the Spring 2016 champions Personal Finance Center Lady Crushers: Demie Rose Brennan, Ariya Cruz, Maria Abby Iriarte, Skyylerblu Johnson, Colleen Naden, Anjelica Perez, Mya Jade Sanchez, Kimberly Sherman, Kaeliana Taitano, and Simie Willter. Four are featured from the Isla Paint and Roofing Supply Lady Strykers: Jena Cruz, Yae Kawauchi, Koharu Minato, and Jaime Soriano. Other players from the women’s league are Kalila Kim and Randi Jo Paulino from the Islanders FC, Franshay Shippey and Sabrina Wiegand from Quality Distributors, Arisa Recella from Hyundai, and Brianne Leon Guerrero from Lady Rovers.

The rest of the players on the preliminary roster are Alyssa Cruz, Gabrielle Evaristo, Jalana Garcia, Kaycee Hoover, Samantha Kaufman, Cassandra “Cici” Kobinski, Inyssa Perez, Cianna Reyes, Demi-Rae Shimizu, and Paige Surber.

Chargualaf was most recently Matao Assistant Coach during the team’s FIFA World Cup qualification matches under then Head Coach Gary White and will be assisted by Rod Hidalgo and Sean Evans, the team’s goalkeeper coach. Lucy Johnson returns as the team’s manager and Nichole Paulino is the team trainer.

Guam will open the EAFF tournament with a match against Macau-China June 29 at GFA, kicking off at 5 p.m. The team will next play the Northern Mariana Islands on July 3, also kicking off at 5 p.m. Guam will be competing to advance to the tournament’s semifinal round set for November in Chinese Taipei.

The EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Round also features a men’s tournament with visiting teams Chinese Taipei, Macau, Mongolia, and Northern Mariana Islands competing for a semifinal round berth, where the Matao wait with DPR Korea and Hong Kong.

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Masakåda training squad defender Kaeliana Taitano stays in control of the ball facing pressure from Guam U14 Boys national training squad’s Shaun Paul Martinez during a training match Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The women’s squad defeated the boys’ squad 3-0.

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Masakåda training squad goalkeeper Mya Jade Sanchez prepares to send the ball to a teammate against the Guam U14 Boys national training squad during a training match Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The women’s squad defeated the boys’ squad 3-0.

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Masakåda training squad midfielder Anjelica Perez advances to the goal against the Guam U14 Boys national training squad during a training match Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The women’s squad defeated the boys’ squad 3-0.

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Masakåda training squad midfielder Demi-Rae Shimizu attempts to get around the Guam U14 Boys national training squad defense during a training match Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The women’s squad defeated the boys’ squad 3-0.

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Masakåda training squad forward Jalana Garcia races to the goal against the Guam U14 Boys national training squad during a training match Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The women’s squad defeated the boys’ squad 3-0.

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Masakåda training squad midfielder Colleen Naden looks to send a through ball against the Guam U14 Boys national training squad during a training match Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The women’s squad defeated the boys’ squad 3-0.

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Guam U14 Boys national training squad defender Shane Larkin kicks the ball away from Masakåda training squad forward Jalana Garcia after she managed to get past her mark during a training match Saturday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The women’s squad defeated the boys’ squad 3-0.