SAIPAN International School and Hopwood Middle School are off to strong starts in the girls middle school division of the PSS-NMIFA Interscholastic Soccer League SY25-26, defeating their respective opponents in debut matches Tuesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
Saipan International School dominated from the outset, shutting out Chacha Ocean View Middle School, 9-0.
All eyes were on striker Leilani Ruszala in the first half as she proved unstoppable on the attack. She scored her first goal in the opening minute, then added four more in the 6th, 10th, 18th, and 28th minutes — earning a hat-trick along the way — to give SIS a commanding 5-0 lead at halftime.
With Chacha unable to respond, the rest of the SIS squad joined in after the break. Neveah Arriola rekindled the scoring with back-to-back goals in the 37th and 44th minutes, followed by Melisa Namai-Scoggins’ strike in the 49th. Ruszala capped the rout with her sixth goal in the 50th minute, sealing the 9-0 victory.
Hopwood Middle School delivered a similar blowout, blanking Francisco M. Sablan Middle School, 7-0.
Angel Calayag led the charge with a hat-trick, scoring in the 9th, 39th, and 47th minutes. She was backed by goals from Anica Aquino (14th), Princess Gariguez (25th, 49th), and Althea De Belen (50th).
