KANOA Football Club celebrated twice as hard on Saturday as its boys and girls triumphed over their respective opponents in the U16 championship matches of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League at the NMI Soccer Training Center.
In the battle for the U16 boys division title, Kanoa edged MP United Football Club, 3-2.
Both teams were equally matched as they filled the first 10 minutes of the opening half with back-and-forth action and neither was able to grab the lead.
However, Kanoa’s constant pressure started to overwhelm MPU, eventually swarming the lanes and creating an opening for Markus Toves to give Kanoa the lead, 1-0.
MPU’s Isiah Hossain responded by finding the back of the net three minutes later.
But Kanoa’s Tyler Omelau scored to give his team the lead once again, 2-1.
Both teams continued the head-to-head battle until MPU’s defense turned a successful stop into an offensive play, allowing Cody Shimizu to strike and even the score once more, 2-2.
With only a few minutes left on the clock, Kanoa’s persistency paid off during a scuffle when Markus Toves fired at the right moment to connect the shot and give his team the lead for the third time, 3-2.
MPU still had a chance to fight back, but they failed to score again.
Girls division
In the U16 girls division, Kanoa barely broke a sweat as they shut down MP United, 5-0.
Kanoa established control early as they worked their way through the defensive line where Audrey Castro executed the highlight finish after just two minutes of play.
MPU tried to kill Kanoa’s momentum but failed to keep up, allowing a goal delivered by Kanoa’s Deseha Mendiola.
MPU still did not have an answer in the second half while Kanoa added three more goals: Kaithlyn Chavez at the 30th minute mark followed by Aubrey Castro three minutes later and Vianca Mangulabnan who added the icing on the cake at the 41st minute mark for a 5-0 victory.
The championship games concluded the 2022 Spring Season of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League.
Awardees
U13 Girls Division
Southern United
Rosie Saralu with 30 goals
U13 Boys Division
MPU Pink
Taiga Namai-Scoggins with 15 goals
U16 Girls Division
Southern United
Pia Ngewakl with 25 goals
U16 Boys Division
TanHoldings
Anthony Bergancia with 26 goals
Congratulations to the Fair Play winners for Spring 2022!
U13 Girls Division
Kanoa Team 1 – Aubrey White
U13 Boys Division
Shirley’s – Bennet Haro
Matansa – Anton Megino
U16 Girls Division
Southern United – Pia Ngewakl
U16 Boys Division
Paire – Cody Mettao
Kanoa’s Kaithlyn Chavez battles for the possession during a U16 girls division game of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League at the NMI Soccer Training Center.
Kanoa’s Markus Toves pushes forward in transition during a U16 boys division game of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League at the NMI Soccer Training Center.
