Panthers deny Geckos preseason title in final PK shootout

Panthers deny Geckos preseason title in final PK shootout

[March 7, 2017 – Harmon, Guam] The St. John’s School Knights topped two-time defending champions Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School Obispos 1-0 to win the 2017 Guam Football Association Sugar and Spice Middle School Girls Soccer Festival Saturday at GFA.

In the final showdown, interrupted momentarily by an early-evening power outage, the Knights managed to shift momentum in their favor in the closing minutes. With just two minutes left on the match clock, the Knights’ Kaia Malakooti took advantage of a mistimed ball clearance by Obispos defenders and lofted her shot into the upper near post for the eventual game winner.

The 10th annual festival, realized with assistance from FIFA and support from Japan Football Association, featured 11 teams from both the IIAAG Middle School Girls Soccer League and the Interscholastic Middle School Girls Soccer League.

For the teams, the festival is the lone opportunity for the teams from the two different leagues to compete against each other.

Following the championship match, GFA Executive Committee Member Gian Tenorio presented the Knights with the champions trophy. Also recognized in the ceremony were the runner-up Obispos team, third place Luis P. Untalan Middle School Wildcats, and silver bracket winner F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School Hawks.

A Rylee Guzman goal helped the Wildcats to a 1-0 third-place finish over the St. Anthony Catholic School Raiders. The Hawks won 2-1 in a sudden death penalty kick shootout against the Harvest Christian Academy Eagles in the silver bracket final.

The festival kicked off a series of women’s and girls’ football events in celebration of AFC Women’s Football Day, recognized across the continent on Mar. 8. AFC is the only football confederation to mark International Women’s Day on the pitch through girls’ and women’s football activities.

Other events at GFA this month include the Take Care Achieve Your Goals Women’s Recreational Festival held Sunday afternoon, the upcoming launch of the first-ever Bud Light Women’s Soccer League W2 division Mar. 12, and the 6th Annual Girls High School Soccer Pre-Season Challenge Cup set for Mar. 18.

The Guam High School Panthers pose for a team photo with the championship trophy of the Guam Football Association 6th Annual Girls High School Soccer Preseason Challenge Cup, presented by GFA Executive Committee member Tina Esteves (right). The event, put on by the GFA Women’s Committee with support from Japan Football Association, featured nine schools competing for the preseason title Saturday evening at the GFA National Training Center. The Panthers defeated the George Washington High School Geckos 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout for the title.

The George Washington High School Geckos pose for a team photo with the runner-up trophy of the Guam Football Association 6th Annual Girls High School Soccer Preseason Challenge Cup, presented by GFA Executive Committee member Tina Esteves (left). The event, put on by the GFA Women’s Committee with support from Japan Football Association, featured nine schools competing for the preseason title Saturday evening at the GFA National Training Center. The Geckos, 2016 preseason champions, fell to the Guam High School Panthers 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout for the title.

Representatives from the Notre Dame High School Royals pose with the third-place trophy of the Guam Football Association 6th Annual Girls High School Soccer Preseason Challenge Cup, presented by GFA Executive Committee member Tina Esteves (right). The event, put on by the GFA Women’s Committee with support from Japan Football Association, featured nine schools competing for the preseason title Saturday evening at the GFA National Training Center. ND fell to eventual champions, Guam High School Panthers, in the semifinals, and bounced back to defeat the Southern High School Dolphins to secure third place in the tournament.

The Okkodo High School Bulldogs pose for a team photo with the silver bracket winners’ trophy of the Guam Football Association 6th Annual Girls High School Soccer Preseason Challenge Cup, presented by GFA Executive Committee member Tina Esteves (right). The event, put on by the GFA Women’s Committee with support from Japan Football Association, featured nine schools competing for the preseason title Saturday evening at the GFA National Training Center. The Bulldogs fell to the silver bracket after losing to eventual champions, Guam High School Panthers, 1-0 in the first round, but stayed perfect in the silver bracket, eventually winning in a sudden-death penalty kick shootout against the St. Paul Christian School Warriors.