Simon Sanchez Sharks win girls high school soccer crown

[May 26, 2015 – Harmon, Guam] The Simon Sanchez High School Sharks put on a championship-caliber performance in the final match of the IIAAG Girls High School Soccer League playoffs, upending No. 2 Notre Dame Royals 1-0 at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Tuesday evening.

The Sharks took advantage of miscues from the Notre Dame defensive line to find pathways to the goal and were rewarded in the 35th minute following a foul called in the box against ND. Sharks senior Maria Abbey Iriarte knocked in the eventual game winner, opting to go for the left side in the ensuing penalty kick opportunity.

Despite falling behind 1-0 at the half, the Royals continued to try to break past the Sharks midfield, only to be stymied by a highly organized Sanchez defensive line, led by central defender and championship match MVP Franshay Shippey. Sharks goalkeeper Caylani Estoy also proved her worth between the posts frustrating ND shooters, including stopping a one-on-one with IIAAG All-Island First Team Destiny Castro.

The Sharks defense also creatively initiated build-up plays that also kept the Royals defense busy for the night. Frequent tandem substitutions for the Sharks attacking positions also contributed to wearing down of the ND defense, but the Yigo school couldn’t find the finishing piece to settle for the 1-0 victory.

In the battle for third place, the Southern High School Dolphins edged the George Washington High School Geckos 3-2. The Geckos took a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute off an Erlissa Delfin free kick through to halftime, but the Dolphins came back in the second half. League MVP April Talledo opened scoring for Southern and later sent teammate Colleen Naden to the goal with a through pass for the Dolphins’ second goal. A minute later, Anastasia Vaughan scored the eventual game winner.

GW’s Jalana Garcia scored her team’s other goal, but time expired before the Geckos could find the equalizer.

At the end of the night, all All-Island First Team selections were honored with plaques and League MVP April Talledo also received a trophy.

Trophies also were awarded to the the Sharks (champions), Royals (finalists), and the Dolphins (3rd). Sharks defender Franshay Shippey was selected as the championship match MVP.