Strykers Hand Defending Champs Loss in U18 Elite Opener

Strykers Hand Defending Champs Loss in U18 Elite Opener

[August 22, 2017 – Harmon, Guam] – The Bank of Guam Strykers dealt defending U18 division champions Quality Distributors FC a 5-0 loss to begin its 2017 Fall season bid in the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Monday evening.

The Strykers set the tone early on offense, earning two corner kicks in just the first five minutes of play. Despite the constant attack, Quality managed to quell most attempts by the winning team through to the 42nd minute, when Clayton Mitchell buried the first of his three goals in the contest. Teammate Xavier Naputi followed up with another goal that escaped the reach of Quality keeper Taka Ward two minutes later for the 2-0 halftime score.

Micah Hennegan scored the Strykers’ other goal in his U18 division debut, finishing a header assist from Mitchell three minutes into the second half.

The Strykers avenged a 5-2 loss to Quality in the semifinals of the league’s 2017 Spring season. Quality, ranked No. 3 at that time, went on to win the Spring championship with a 3-1 win over Wings Red.

The U18 division continues Thursday evening featuring a 7 p.m. fixture between the division’s newest teams in the league: the ASC Trust Islanders and the Tigers. The other team in the division, 2017 Spring season runner up Wings, received a bye in the first week of play.

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Bank of Guam Strykers’ Alan Thomas looks for a teammate to pass the ball as Quality Distributors’ Kenta Terai tracks his movement in the opening U18 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Monday evening. The Strykers won 5-0.

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Bank of Guam Strykers’ Aidan Dickson gains control of the ball in the midfield against Quality Distributors in the opening U18 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Monday evening. The Strykers won 5-0.

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Quality Distributors’ Matthew Calip attempts to stop a pass by Bank of Guam Strykers’ Samuel Quan in the opening U18 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Monday evening. The Strykers won 5-0.

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Bank of Guam Strykers’ Joshua Calvo makes a run past Quality Distributors’ Melvin Cristobal in the opening U18 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Monday evening. The Strykers won 5-0.

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Quality Distributors’ Kenta Terai looks over his shoulder after receiving a throw-in in the opening U18 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League against Bank of Guam Strykers at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Monday evening. The Strykers won 5-0.

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Bank of Guam Strykers’ Micah Hennegan gets ready to sprint to the goal with the ball against Quality Distributors in the opening U18 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Monday evening. The Strykers won 5-0.

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Quality Distributors’ Sam Larkin attempts to run the ball behind Bank of Guam Strykers’ Jacob Herring as teammate James Lee (No. 48) makes a run to the goal for support in the opening U18 division match of the Aloha Maid Minetgot Cup Elite Youth League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Monday evening. The Strykers won 5-0.