07 Mar St. John’s School wins 2023 Sugar and Spice girls soccer festival
[March 2, 2023 – Harmon, Guam] The St. John’s School Knights added another trophy to its display case after winning the 14th Annual Sugar and Spice Middle School Girls Soccer Festival held Sunday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.
The Sugar and Spice tournament, supported by Japan Football Association, returned for its 14th edition this year after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID19 pandemic.
The Knights had recently garnered the 2023 IIAAG Girls Middle School Soccer League title ahead of the festival-style tournament at GFA, which featured schools from both the IIAAG league and ISA Middle School Girls Soccer League.
The Andersen Middle School Dragons came in second place and the Cmdr. William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School Seahawks claimed third place.
GFA Women’s Committee Chairperson Tina Esteves and committee members Kelley Barnhart and Jean Cepeda presented the top teams with trophies and medals.
The 2023 edition of the event featured 12 middle schools: Andersen Middle School, Astumbo Middle School, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School, Cmdr. William C. McCool Elementary and Middle School, F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, Guahan Charter School, Harvest Christian Academy, Inarajan Middle School, L. P. Untalan Middle School, Oceanview Middle School, St. Anthony Catholic School, and St. John’s School.
The Sugar and Spice tournament was one of several events set up for Mar. 5 in celebration of AFC Women’s Football Day.
During the festival, Guam Cancer Care was on site for a wellness fair and health screening. VARO (Victim Advocates Reaching Out) also was on site for GFA’s Donation Drive to benefit the non-profit organization. GFA also organized special Mother-Daughter fun matches for event attendees in addition to ongoing leagues: the Bud Light Women’s Futsal League championship and consolation matches with Quality Distributors, Bank of Guam Strykers I, and Guam Shipyard emerging as the top three teams in that order, and another week of regular season play for the Docomo Pacific Soccer Moms League and the GFA Women’s Recreational League.
The St. John’s School middle school girls soccer team pose with the champions trophy of the 14th Annual Sugar and Spice Middle School Girls Soccer Festival, supported by Japan Football Association. The Knights defeated the Andersen Middle School Dragons in the final match of the festival Sunday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Following the match, the GFA Women’s Committee presented top teams with trophies and medals. Photo by Kyeisha Camacho / GCC Student Intern
The Andersen Middle School Dragons pose with the second-place trophy of the 14th Annual Sugar and Spice Middle School Girls Soccer Festival, supported by Japan Football Association. The Dragons fell to IIAAG Girls Middle School Girls Soccer League 2023 champions, St. John’s Knights, in the final match of the festival Sunday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Following the match, the GFA Women’s Committee presented top teams with trophies and medals. Photo by Kyeisha Camacho / GCC Student Intern
The Cmdr. William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School girls soccer team pose with bronze medals of the 14th Annual Sugar and Spice Middle School Girls Soccer Festival, supported by Japan Football Association. The Seahawks finished in third place behind the champions, St. John’s School Knights and the Andersen Middle School Dragons Sunday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Following the match, the GFA Women’s Committee presented top teams with trophies and medals. Photo by Kyeisha Camacho / GCC Student Intern