Players Look to Improve Skills During Youth League Season

This season, 11-year-old Tayler Bonner hopes to incorporate some soccer tricks he’s been practicing at home during a match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

“Our coaches always tell us that we should also practice skills and tricks at home to continue to improve,” said Bonner, a student at Jose L.G. Rios Middle School and a member of the Wings FC Black U12A team. “The coolest trick I’m trying to learn is the rainbow – where you flick the ball from behind you over your head and then dribble forward with the ball.

“I really like soccer because it involves a lot of running and helps me to stay fit. Playing in the youth league is really fun and I like being part of a team,” added Bonner, who is in his eighth youth league season after starting in the U6 division with the Sidekick SC a few years ago.

Bonner scored both goals for the Wings Black in his team’s 2-2 draw with the Tigers in the U12A division. Nathan Chomel and James Lee scored for the Tigers.

In other U12A division matches, the Guam Shipyard Wolverines edged the ASC Trust Islanders Betde 3-2. Michael Lee, Steven Perez, and Ryan Lee scored for the Wolverines. Javian Cruz scored both goals for the Islanders.

The Wings Red defeated the Sidekick SC 8-1 led by Niclas Vavra’s five goals. Kyle Halehale scored twice and Matthew Iseke chipped in one goal in the tally. Jonah Paulino scored for the Sidekick SC.

In the U14 division, the Wings blanked the Islanders 4-0 led by Tyler Presto’s two goals. Leon Morimoto and Lars Peterson also scored.

The Paintco Strykers White shut out the Southern Cobras led by Xavier Naputi’s four goals. Vince Cruz and Anthony Moon finished with a hat trick and Aidan Dickson and Clayton Mitchell also scored.

Community First Dededo Soccer Club defeated the Wolverines 2-0 with goals from Tino Buekis and Russell Calpatura.

Quality Distributors forced a 2-2 draw with the Strykers Red. Alan Thomas and An Truong scored for Quality. Josh Calvo scored for the Strykers Red and the team’s other goal came on a Quality own goal.

The Sidekick SC picked up a 4-0 win over the Tigers with goals from Tyler Talai, Roben Morellano, Giancarlo Abril and Noah Bamba.

In U17A division action, the Strykers edged the Wings Black 3-2 led by a pair of goals from Brandon Flores. Kazuki Yoshida also scored in the win. Fujin Shimoda and Derek Okuhama scored for the Wings Black.

Quality slipped past the Wolverines 3-2 with a pair of goals from Jason Kim and one from Sol Kim. Jestin Escobar scored both goals for the Wolverines.

The Islanders Betde shut out Dededo 4-0 with goals from Jeffrey Ho, Devan Mendiola, Rai Santos, and Scott Ishizu.

The Wings Red defeated the Southern Heat 8-0 led by Misaki Cramer’s hat trick. Shashikant Kotwal and Kaito Inoue each scored twice and teammate Isiah Lagutang also scored.