KANOA Football Club celebrated twice as hard after claiming both the U17 boys and U17 girls division titles in the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Spring 2025 season at the NMI Soccer Training Center on Saturday.
In the U17 boys division title match, Kanoa silenced Matansa Football Club, 4-0.
Kanoa established the tone early in the opening half. Matansa stood their ground for the first five minutes, but they were eventually overwhelmed by Kanoa as Paul Lizama capitalized off the weakside to score a goal in the 7th minute and take the lead, 1-0.
Matansa’s play started to cohere over the next 15 minutes, building momentum with several offensive and defensive highlights. However, they remained scoreless while Kanoa maintained a high-paced tempo, using long overhead passes to stay ahead of the defense, with Rooney Gil finding the back of the net in the 27th minute.
With Kanoa riding the momentum, Izeah Jolo scored the team’s third goal, extending the lead to 3-0.
Throughout the second half, Matansa withstood most of Kanoa’s offensive plays but failed to break through the defensive line, remaining scoreless for the rest of the match.
Not taking any chances, Kanoa sustained their forward pressure, allowing Lizama to slip through the cracks in Matansa’s defensive wall and score in the 70th minute, adding the icing on the cake in a 4-0 victory that secured the U17 boys division title.
KNFC’s Paul Lizama received the Golden Boot Award with an impressive 34 goals scored throughout the season.
U17 girls division
The girls of Kanoa also topped their division by defeating MP United Football Club, 4-1.
MPU controlled the possession early in the opening half with Yeji Jang drawing first blood in the 2nd minute. Kanoa then gradually took over with Aubrey White leading the rally by scoring three goals in the 19th, 49th, and 55th minutes while teammate Beatrice Gross slipped in a goal in the 27th minute to secure the win, 4-1.
Kanoa’s Aubrey White was awarded the Golden Boot for scoring 17 goals throughout the season.
Kanoa’s Ye Lynn Ha battles for the possession against MP United during the U17 girls division title match of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Spring 2025 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville on Saturday.
Kanoa’s Akoni Matsumoto extends in an attempt to intercept the possession during the championship match against Matansa in the U17 boys division of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Spring 2025 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville on Saturday.
NMIFA photo
Kanoa Football Club players pose with the U17 girls division championship trophy during the awards ceremony of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Spring 2025 on Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
NMIFA photo
Kanoa Football Club players pose with the U17 boys division championship trophy during the awards ceremony of the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Spring 2025 on Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
NMIFA photo
