[sixcol_five_last]
By GSPN
The Simon Sanchez Sharks are just one step away from a perfect season. After two 30-minute halves, two five-minute overtime halves, and sudden death, the Sharks advanced to the championship game beating the GW Geckos 10-7 Tuesday at Wettengel Field in their semifinal bout.
The Sharks have been dominating all season thanks to their strong forward play and their opponents know it. But that standout forward game seemed distant in the semis.
“Our forwards were playing a little nervous. Towards the end they picked it up,” said Sharks’ head coach John Arceo.
By the end of regulation and overtime the score was still tied at 7-all; teams gathered in preparation for sudden death. And in sudden death format, whoever scores first, wins.
“How bad do you want it?” said Arceo to his team at the break. That question never goes unsaid in the huddle of the Simon Sanchez Sharks. His players silently answer in the way they play.
His team prevented the Geckos from scoring when they were knocking on the door of the try zone. Geckos’ kicker Tevin Santos attempted a penalty kick from about 20 yards out, in the same spot he had kicked and missed in overtime. Santos missed again, and after such a close call, the Sharks kicked it up a gear. They would then bring it all the way back to the other end, and attempt to score at the one-yard line, but the Geckos put up a stop. After a GW player was red carded for rough play, the Sharks opted to Wes Shiroma for a penalty kick from about 20-yards out as well.
“I was pretty confident because I practiced the kick a lot at practice, but I was still nervous because you know what if I missed?” said Shiroma on his thoughts before the kick. “But I practiced so that boosted my confidence, then it was just muscle memory.”
Shiroma took two steps and sent the kick straight through poles and that was the game.
He always says, “Never give up. Never stop fighting,” said Shiroma.
“I always tell them ‘Fight to the end. Fight to the last whistle,’” said Arceo.
In the first half, both teams put points on the board, however it was the Geckos who struck first. Frank Troy punched in the short try off a five-meter scrum, and kicker Santos knocked in the extra points.
Sharks’ Jaython Leon Guerrero gave his team their first points stretching out from under the pile and placing the ball down in the very corner of the try zone. Placed along the sideline, Shiroma kicked for the extra points and the ball sailed through the uprights, knotting the game a 7 a-piece with only seconds left in the half.
“I tip my hat off to the coaches, they prepared their team. They brought it. They played a well-fought game,” said Arceo.
But the Sharks aren’t done yet.
The Sharks will play the Southern Dolphins, who beat the 4-time defending champion FD Friars 22-15.
[fbshare url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/?p=24962″ type=”button”]
[fblike url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/?p=24962″ style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]
[/sixcol_five_last][useful_banner_manager_banner_rotation banners=38, 53, 9 interval=8 width=120 height=600 orderby=rand]
GPS Sports Calendar
March 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
1st
ISA SOFTBALL
IIAAG MS GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for March
2nd
HS RUGBY
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
2nd
Events for March
4th
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
ISA SOFTBALL ALL-ISLAND COACHES MEETING
Events for March
5th
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for March
8th
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS
Events for March
9th
ISA SOFTBALL FINALS
HS RUGBY FINALS
Events for March
9th
Events for March
14th
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
Events for March
16th
Events for March
17th
Events for March
18th
Events for March
19th
Events for March
20th
Events for March
22nd
Events for March
24th
Events for March
25th
Events for March
27th
Events for March
28th
Events for March
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for March
30th
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
COMING SOON …
4th Quarter Sports
- Guam Marathon