AGUEDA PIRATES SAIL PAST OCEANVIEW KNIGHTS

By Michael J.A. Nauta Jr.

After losing their Interscholastic Middle School Girls Soccer League season-opener by a mere goal, the Agueda Johnston Middle School Lady Pirates were looking to bounce back onto a winning track. Playing host to the visiting Oceanview Middle School Lady Knights yesterday afternoon, the Pirates executed well on both sides of the field and was able to clinch a 3-0 shutout victory and improve their record to 1-1 on the season. With the loss, the Lady Knights drop to 0-3.

“Communication and teamwork was very key to our team getting the win today,” said Agueda’s Jalana Garcia. “Everyone on our team deserves credit whether you score goals or not. Today we played an Oceanview team that has a tough defense so that just meant we needed everyone to play as one.”

In the first 11 minutes of the game, things seemed pretty evenly matched defensively as neither team was willing to give-up any goals. The Lady Pirates had the game’s first shot-on-goal, but that’s all it was as Oceanview goalkeeper Nicole Diras would make the save.

Agueda continued to keep possession of the ball on their side of the field, but to no avail. The Lady Knights had their golden opportunity in the tenth minute of play, when Edrianna Lorenzo found an open Inina Topasna on a cross pass. However, Topasna wasn’t able to get a full boot on the ball that eventually sailed out of bounds.

It wasn’t until about two minutes left in the half when the Lady Pirates turned a scoreless game into a 1-0 lead. After Agueda’s Johnia Siguenza cleared the ball from near midfield, an open Celine Quintanilla was able to take control of the ball. Despite running into heavy traffic inside the goal box, Quintanilla managed to get a shot off that went right past Diras.

“That was my first goal ever in middle school soccer and it felt really good,” said Quintanilla. “After making that goal, it just motivated me more to continue to work and play hard.”

Second half action began with the Lady Knights immediately coming out hard and aggressive. Looking to equalize the game, Oceanview quickly pushed the ball into Agueda territory and created back-to-back shots on goal, only to be denied by Agueda goalie Jaeleen Leon Guerrero. It wasn’t too long before the Pirates responded with answers of their own and would take control of possession.

Agueda Pirates’ Autumn Cruz takes the corner kick. (photo by Joey Blas)

In the 47^th minute of play, Agueda’s Garcia used her speed and agility to get around the Lady Knights defense and create a scoring opportunity for herself. Garcia placed a shot into the top left corner of the goal to give her team a 2-nil lead. Not satisfied with the two-goal lead, the Lady Pirates continued to work their offense and eventually made their way scoring another goal making it a 3-0 lead.

The time on the clock continued to tick away and Oceanview would run out of chances to put a goal on the board. When the final whistle was blown, it was the Pirates who raised their hands in victory.

“Agueda has a very good and aggressive offense that kept attacking,” said Oceanview’s Diras. “Their defense got the job done by denying us and at the same time creating opportunities for their strikers. In the end they made my teammates and I work on trying to stop all attempts.”

Interscholastic Middle School Girls Soccer League action resumes play this Thursday with the Lady Pirates travelling north to take on the FBLG Lady Hawks, while the Lady Knights will have a bye. Other games scheduled include the Jose L.G. Rios Lady Voyagers taking on the Astumbo Lady Dragons and the L.P. Untalan Wildcats battling the Vicente S.A. Benavente Lady Roadrunners.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Agueda Pirates’ Celin Mundo dribbles the ball past Oceanview defenders. (photo by Joey Blas)

Oceanview’s Cari Meno clears the ball from going into their goal. (photo by Joey Blas)

Agueda Pirates’ Celin Mundo dribbles the ball past Oceanview defenders. (photo by Joey Blas)