THE Northern Mariana Islands Football Association hosted an exciting exhibition game Monday that ended in a draw between the Women’s All-Star Team and the Women’s U18 National Team at the NMI Soccer Training Center.
Both teams have the best players on island, and the result was a hard-fought game.
After 10 minutes of back and forth action, the U18 WNT started to gain control of the game’s tempo. At the 14th minute, they drew first blood with speed playing a huge factor in their assault that created an opening for Jannah Casarino who found the back of the net and gave her team a 1-0 lead.
The U18 squad’s chemistry continued to shine as Casarino connected her second goal just four minutes later to stretch the gap 2-0.
The Women’s All-Star finally broke their silence when Jhaza Mirano delivered a goal at the 20th minute mark to reduce the deficit, 1-2.
In the second set, the Women’s All-Star launched another offensive that featured precision passes and well-timed pushes. Several openings were created allowing All-Star Britany Wally to score at the 33rd minute mark to tie the game, 2-2.
The battle continued as U18’s Allyssya Angeles regained the lead for her team, but All-Star Alexa Vergara responded with a goal of her own at the 54th minute mark to once again tie the game, 3-3.
In the third and final set, both teams went all out on both ends of the field.
At the 71st minute mark, the Women’s All-Star seemed to have the game in the bag after Shawna Brennfleck scored her first goal which also handed her team its first lead of the night.
But Tamia Hix was able to save the U18 WNT from defeat as she fired the game-saving goal at the 83rd minute, ending the match in a 4-4 draw.
The CNMI Women’s All-Star team
The CNMI Women’s U18 National Team
