
Guam’s Thaddeus Atalig (17) leaps for a header in a match against Australia during the East Asian Cup semifinal round in Hong Kong in December 2012. Atalig recently accepted an athletic scholarship from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and will play soccer for the Falcons this fall. (courtesy photo)
[sixcol_five_last]
PRESS RELEASE – Recent St. John’s School graduate Thaddeus Atalig will change out his red and white Knights soccer jersey for an orange and brown Falcons jersey when he plays for Bowling Green State University in Ohio this fall.
Atalig recently was granted an athletic scholarship – thanks in part to Matao head coach Gary White and the Guam Football Association technical department – to play for the NCAA Division I school that competes in the Mid-American Conference against teams like Kent State, Northern Illinois and Akron, the latter ranked No. 5 in the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament.
“I’m excited at the opportunity to play soccer at a high level in college,” Atalig said. “I hope to contribute a lot to the team through my hard-working nature and also bring my international playing experience from matches I’ve played in for the Matao, Guam men’s national team.”
Atalig first traveled with the Matao in June 2012 to the Philippines for an international friendly match against the Azkals. He later made his debut with the Matao during the Philippines Football Peace Cup as a second-half substitute in Guam’s 3-0 win over Macau. Atalig later earned his first starting spot with the team at the East Asian Cup semifinal round in Hong Kong in Guam’s match against Australia, a team ranked No. 36 in the world in 2012. Earlier this year, Atalig played key starting roles in Guam’s matches against India and also in the island’s 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifier in Myanmar. In Guam’s win over Chinese Taipei, Atalig assisted Ian Mariano’s goal in the 54th minute.
“We are extremely excited about bringing TJ into our program,” said Eric Nichols, the Falcons’ head men’s soccer coach, through E-mail. “His experiences with the GFA have afforded him the opportunity to play at a very high level. Those experiences are invaluable and we can’t wait to introduce his skill set into our system.
“We have been very impressed with the progress of the GFA since Coach White took over. There is a ton of potential and with the leadership that is in place, the future is extremely bright,” Nichols added.

Guam’s Thaddeus Atalig (16) passes the ball facing defensive pressure from an opponent from India during the AFC Challenge Cup qualifier in Yangon, Myanmar in March 2013. (courtesy photo)
Atalig began playing soccer when he was six years old, playing for Community First Dededo Soccer Club. He later moved to the Wings FC and eventually played for Guam on the island’s U13 Boys National team. Atalig received a scholarship to attend St. John’s School for high school and helped the Knights win back-to-back IIAAG Boys Soccer League championship titles his junior and senior years at the Tumon school.
“We at GFA are very proud of TJ and his accomplishments thus far,” said White, who also is GFA’s technical director. “TJ can only move up from here with the experience he will gain at the collegiate level. He is an excellent example of a player who has achieved what he has through hard work and persistence.”
Atalig plans to leave Guam for Ohio in mid-August, he said. Currently, Atalig is training with the Guam U19 national team training squad preparing for the AFC U19 Championship qualifier later this year in Indonesia.
[fbshare url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/atalig-to-atte…wling-green-st/” type=”button”] [fblike url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/atalig-to-atte…wling-green-st/” style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]
[/sixcol_five_last][useful_banner_manager_banner_rotation banners=53, 69, 38,9 interval=8 width=120 height=600 orderby=rand]


GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs