SSHS’ Jonald Gutierrez and SIS’ Casey Chambers chase after the loose ball during a boys high school division semifinal match of the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League SY23-24 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville on Tuesday.
SSHS’ Simon Tang and two SIS players leap for a header in an attempt to control the possession during a boys high school division semifinal match of the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League SY23-24 at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville on Tuesday.
SAIPAN International School and Marianas High School secured their seats in the boys high school division final of the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League SY23-24 by defeating their respective adversaries at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville on Tuesday.
SIS edged Saipan Southern High School in an overtime shootout, (5)1-1(4).
Both teams excelled in the first half of the match.
SSHS played well as a whole thanks to their defensive coverage, which allowed them to control most of the possessions in the first 15 minutes. Each successful stop was turned into scoring opportunities. Due to the constant pressure, SIS’ walls were eventually torn down as SSHS’ Mark Patubo capitalized off the weakside to find the back of the net at the 11th minute mark for the lead, 1-0.
SIS eventually found their rhythm by using long overhead passes. At the 26th minute mark, their efforts were finally rewarded as they managed to set up Ian Song who slipped past SSHS’ goalie to connect the shot and even the score, 1-1.
In the second half, both teams fought hard for the lead, but neither was able to deliver the decisive blow. The game then went to an overtime shootout to determine the winner.
Both teams excelled in penalty kicks but in the end, it was SIS that triumphed with five goals against SSHS’ four. Ian Song, Xavier Lee, Casy Chambers, Andrew Chung, and Jun Kim were the contributors for SIS while Anthony Austria, Mark Patubo, Jonne Navarro, and Christian Lucero scored for SSHS.
MHS vs MCS
MHS took the other spot in the finals by outscoring Mount Carmel School, 9-3.
In the opening half, MHS led by Cody Shimizu bombarded MCS with goals. MCS’ Markus Toves slipped in his team’s lone goal at the 7th minute mark, but MHS simply picked up where they left off with Shimizu’s second consecutive goal. Teammates Isiah Hossain, Paul Lizama and Anthony Bergancia then followed with a goal each to further extend the deficit, 5-1.
Toves scored two more goals for MCS, but they were outgunned by MHS who added four more goals to secure the win, 9-3.
MHS will face SIS in the finale today, Thursday.
