By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
SAIPAN International School remains one of the top contenders in the girls middle school division of the PSS-NMIFA Interscholastic Soccer League as the team stays unscathed with an improved 4-0 record after edging Dandan Middle School, 2-1, in a match held Tuesday afternoon at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
Both teams started evenly matched, filling the first 10 minutes of the opening half with back-and-forth action.
After getting their footing, however, SIS built momentum and began applying pressure. Complemented by proper ball movement and spacing, they created scoring opportunities that were capitalized on by Leilani Ruszala, who found the back of the net in the 11th minute to give SIS a 1-0 lead.
Although DMS failed to even the score before halftime, they used the break to reassess their strategy and made adjustments heading into the second half. Within the opening minutes, their efforts paid off as they gained control of possession and broke through SIS’ line of defense, with Talina Aguon-McClure finishing off a transition play in the 28th minute to level the match at 1-1.
The game seemed destined to end in a draw, as neither team could maintain control of possession, with most of the action taking place in midfield. However, at the 48th minute, SIS turned the tide after a defensive stop and a quick counterattack that caught DMS off guard, leaving Melisa Namai-Scoggins with enough space to score and regain the lead, 2-1.
With little time left on the clock, DMS was unable to find an equalizer, allowing SIS to hold on for the win.
TMS vs SCS
In the second match of the day, Tanapag Middle School avoided defeat with a second-half goal to force a 1-1 draw against Saipan Community School.
SCS struck first, with Scarlett Burrell scoring in the 7th minute of the opening half. However, TMS’ Haley Roberts saved her team from defeat by responding early in the 27th minute of the second half to even the score.
