By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE balance of power in girls high school soccer officially shifted Tuesday night as Marianas High School reclaimed the PSS-NMIFA Interscholastic Soccer League SY25-26 title, dethroning two-time defending champion Saipan International School with a dominant 5-0 victory at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
The match was defined by a stellar individual performance from sophomore standout Aubrey White, who scored the majority of MHS’ goals.
MHS entered the finals riding the momentum of an undefeated season. Although they faced a resilient SIS squad, the overall skill gap between the teams was evident.
MHS established control of the tempo early, with all five goals coming in the opening half. While the team’s offensive production stood out, its defense also made its presence felt — winning aggressive midfield battles and turning stops into scoring opportunities.
MHS struck first in the third minute, with Fiona Regan drawing first blood. SIS attempted to make adjustments but struggled to find openings as its rhythm was repeatedly disrupted by MHS’ constant pressure, managing only a handful of shot attempts.
After 15 minutes of back-and-forth play, MHS resumed its assault — this time with White taking over. She scored back-to-back goals in the 17th and 18th minutes.
Despite SIS’ efforts to stop the bleeding, it was frequently stripped of possession — at times before even reaching midfield — and was forced into a defensive posture. White later completed her hat trick with two more goals in the 22nd and 27th minutes, extending the lead to 5-0 before halftime.
The break appeared to help SIS regroup. The team returned in the second half with renewed aggression, creating more defensive stops and generating a few scoring opportunities. However, MHS continued to control the pace and dominate the midfield.
SIS successfully prevented further damage in the final 35 minutes, but it could not close the gap and ultimately fell 5-0.
Following the match, White was named Golden Boot winner with 20 goals on the season and Finals MVP for her standout performance.
“It feels good,” White said. “We were undefeated, and this is our first championship for MHS. We had a really good mindset going into the game. We trained together, and our chemistry blends well.”
White noted that she had been a member of SIS’ championship teams the past two seasons before transferring to MHS.
“It’s a new school, and I wanted to do my best for the school,” she said. “I wanted to show that I can play with the girls and do well.”
As for her individual awards, White said one goal was clear from the start.
“My main goal was to win the Golden Boot, but MVP, I did not expect it at all,” she said. “We have so many good players on our team.”
As a sophomore, White is already looking ahead. She confirmed plans to return next season to help MHS defend its title.
The MHS roster includes Stacy Arriola, Alyssa Borlongan, Yelynn Ha, Xyriel Pascual, Aubrey White, Orica George, Iris Rasa, Fiona Regan, Alana Hayes, Precious Castro, Ella Hall, Elyza Brillo, Alyssa Brasuell, Richelle Sune and Rhodalyn Zandueta.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
