[sixcol_five_last]
By Patrick Lujan

Southern’s Paige Surber eludes Sanchez goalkeeper Lowella Diramos en route to the goal. (photo by Jill Espiritu)
They’re gonna do it again.
The top-ranked Southern Dolphins and second-ranked Notre Dame Royals took care of business Tuesday night in the IIAAG Girls Soccer League semifinals to set up a rematch from last year’s epic championship game.
The Dolphins survived a slight scare from the Sanchez Sharks in the first game with a 3-2 win while the Royals shutout their long-time rivals Academy Cougars 2-0.
Dolphins 3, Sharks 2
“It was nerve-racking being down,” MVP Paige Surber said about trailing 1-0.
Sanchez put the pressure on the champions early on as Maria Abbey Iriarte scored off a breakaway with Shaeina Torres getting the credit for the assist in just the eighth minute of the match.
The Dolphins kept pushing and finally found the back of the net when sophomore Zoe Surber scored off her older sister Paige’s free kick from the left side from 40 yards out to tie the score in the 31st minute.

Dolphin Zoe Surber powers in a follow-up shot after Sharks goalkeeper Amy Besagar (on ground) initially blocked a Paige Surber shot attempt off a free kick. (photo by Jill Espiritu)
“My sister followed through with it. Thank God someone was there. That settled us down a little bit,” mentioned Paige.
The two-time MVP put the Dolphins ahead right before halftime dribbling past the goal keeper for an easy goal.
Southern got some breathing room deep in the second half when Tianna Sakaba scored on a one-touch shot after a 1-2 combo with Zoe Surber at the 70th minute to make it 3-1.
Just three minutes later, Paige Surber could’ve put the game away on a penalty kick but she conceded the kick on a push on Akiko Naval.
“I was the one that got pushed down,” Paige said. “It was unlucky for us.”
Naval would score off the PK rebound moments later to slice the lead to 3-2.
Southern, however, would manage to stave off the upset and advance to the championship game Friday night.
“We just played until the last whistle was blown,” Surber added.
Royals 2, Cougars 0
The Royals are peaking at the right time.

Notre Dame’s Demi-Rae Shimizu (13) attempts to steal the ball from Academy’s Andrea Odell during a semifinal match. (photo by Jill Espiritu)
After getting off to a rocky start to the season, the talented Royals are poised to reclaim the title that was last theirs in 2010.
Senior All-Island midfielder Demi Rae Shimizu scored both goals to kick the Royals back into the championship game.
Shimizu put ND on the board in the 26th minute when she drilled a shot from 30 yards out from the right wing that went off the hands of the Academy goalkeeper.
The Royals defense played phenomenal, keeping the Cougars offense at bay.
Shimizu sealed it for the Royals in extra time, putting in a penalty kick after a handball call.
The Royals lost to the Dolphins 4-0 early in the regular season.
GSPN thanks GFA’s Brett Maluwelmeng for his awesome soccer insights to these games!
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Southern High’s Tianna Sakaba (center) races to gain control of a through pass as Simon Sanchez defenders Tayler Naputi (11) and Ha’ane Taitano (24) sprint to put defensive pressure on Sakaba. (photo by Jill Espiritu)

Sanchez’s Maria Abbey Iriarte looks to pass the ball as she carries the ball up from the midfield. (photo by Jill Espiritu)

Academy’s Serafina Paulino brings the ball forward toward the goal as Notre Dame defenders begin to converge on Paulino. (photo by Jill Espiritu)
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

Baseball
FRIARS EDGE ROYALS IN PITCHER’S DUEL

Basketball
FRIARS TAKE DOWN PANTHERS 74-68

Running/Track
’23 TRACK SEASON OPENS
