THANKS to a late-game penalty kick, Hopwood Middle School drew its match with Saipan International School in the middle school girls division of the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League at the NMI Soccer Training Center on Thursday last week.
Both teams had their own highlights during the first half of the game with a few close calls, but in the end, neither team could break through and both remained scoreless going into halftime.
In the second half, as soon as SIS gained possession, they weaved their way through the defensive line where Anne Lee capitalized with the quick finish to find the back of the net at the 27th minute mark for the first goal of the day.
HMS tried to even the score but was denied at every attempt. Eventually, however, HMS’s relentlessness finally paid off.
During a scuffle deep within its territory, SIS was called for a handball while trying to protect its goal, giving HMS a chance at a penalty kick from just 10 yards away.
Yelyn Ha aimed toward the lower right of the goal post, leaving SIS’s goalie little to no time to react. She failed to reach the ball, and HMS tied the game 1-1.
With only a few minutes left on the clock, neither team could deliver the game-winning shot.
It was SIS’s second draw of the season.
FMS vs Chacha
In the second game of the day, Francisco M. Sablan Middle School edged Chacha Oceanview Middle School, 2-1.
After just two minutes of play, FMS drew first blood courtesy of Jadine Higgins. The opening goal ignited the team’s momentum as they continued to apply pressure and eventually created another opening that allowed Briannie Echalico to connect one more goal and extend the deficit, 2-0.
COVMS finally had enough and tightened their defensive line, successfully denying any more shots from coming through.
The team then managed to build enough momentum to strike back and was rewarded with Mya Abraham’s goal at the 23rd minute mark to cut FMS’s lead, 1-2.
But FMS maintained defensive control throughout the remainder of the second half and emerged victorious, 2-1.
Beatrice Gross of SIS and Alyssa Borlongan of HMS battle for the possession during a girls middle school division game of the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League on Thursday last week at the NMI Soccer Training Center.
HMS’ Yelynn Ha slips between defenders during a girls middle school division game of the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League on Thursday last week at the NMI Soccer Training Center.
