21 Mar Royals Flex Football Muscles Early in Preseason Tourney Win
[March 19, 2019 – Harmon, Guam] The Notre Dame High School Royals demonstrated its football prowess early, winning against the Academy of Our Lady of Guam Cougars in the championship match of the 2019 Challenge Cup Girls High School Annual Preseason Tournament late Sunday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.
The preseason tournament, supported by Japan Football Association, is held annually before the start of the IIAAG Girls High School Soccer League. In addition to the Royals and Cougars, this year’s tournament also featured the George Washington High School Geckos, Guam High School Panthers, John F. Kennedy High School Islanders, Okkodo High School Bulldogs, Simon Sanchez High School Sharks, Southern High School Dolphins, St. Paul Christian School Warriors, and the Tiyan High School Titans.
Following the final match, GFA Executive Committee Member and Competitions Committee Chairman Gian Tenorio and GFA Executive Committee Member Tina Esteves presented trophies and medals to the top two schools in the tournament.
The Royals last won the preseason tournament in 2013. The Royals join the Geckos and Sharks as the lone school teams to win the tournament at least twice.
Previous winners of the preseason tournament were:
• 2012: Harvest Christian Academy Eagles
• 2013: Notre Dame Royals
• 2014: George Washington High School Geckos
• 2015: Simon Sanchez High School Sharks
• 2016: George Washington High School Geckos
• 2017: Guam High School Panthers
• 2018: Simon Sanchez High School Sharks
The Notre Dame High School Royals pose with the champions trophy and gold medals of the 8th Annual Girls High School Soccer Challenge Cup Preseason Tournament, a grassroots event supported by Japan Football Association and part of Guam Football Association’s month-long celebration of AFC Women’s Football Day. The Royals defeated the Academy of Our Lady of Guam Cougars in the tournament final played Sunday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Also in the photo with the team are GFA Executive Committee members Tina Esteves (left, in black jacket) and Gian Tenorio (right, in light-colored polo shirt). Photo courtesy of Samantha Bautista / GFA
The Academy of Our Lady of Guam Cougars pose with the second place trophy and silver medals of the 8th Annual Girls High School Soccer Challenge Cup Preseason Tournament, a grassroots event supported by Japan Football Association and part of Guam Football Association’s month-long celebration of AFC Women’s Football Day. The Cougars fell to the Notre Dame Royals in the tournament’s final played Sunday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Also in the photo with the team are GFA Executive Committee members Tina Esteves (left, in black jacket) and Gian Tenorio (right, in light-colored polo shirt). Photo courtesy of Samantha Bautista / GFA