PRESS RELEASE – Having an extra avenue to meet new friends and playing soccer in a fun, pressure-free environment are some of the top reasons players have been giving in support of the Guam Football Association & The Score’s “Just Kick It” All-Girls League, currently in season at the GFA National Training Center.

“I like the All-Girls league very much because it’s a place where I can just have fun playing the sport with my friends,” said Celine Doronila, a seventh-grader at Guam Adventist Academy who also will play for the Guam Shipyard Wolverines in the upcoming Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League. “Not only do we just have fun in the league, we gain confidence to continue playing in other leagues – like the upcoming youth league with boys and school leagues.

“The All-Girls league gets us used to playing matches, used to getting hit by the ball for some, and used to passing and shooting. If there’s anything to improve in the league, it’s getting more girls involved and playing soccer in the league,” added Doronila, a Santa Rita resident who played for the St. Francis School middle school girls’ soccer team last year.

Bianca De Guzman, in blue vest, closes her eyes as she kicks the ball as hard as she can toward the goal with a pair of red-team opponents trying to block her shot during a Week 3 U8 match of the Guam Football Association & The Score’s “Just Kick It” All-Girls League at the GFA National Training Center.

Other than players having fun during the league, developing referees also have an additional platform to improve as officials.

“The players seem to be more comfortable with each other during the All-Girls League than during the youth league, which also makes it more fun as a referee to officiate the matches,” said Aubrienne Pangindian, a second year referee and 15-year-old student at Academy of our Lady of Guam. “Although it seems more fun for the players, it’s still competitive so it also helps with developing as a referee.”

Pangindian has been called up to officiate in U12 matches in both the All-Girls League and youth league. With more match experience and attendance at additional referee development courses, Pangindian and other referees at the same level may be promoted to officiate at the U14 and middle school level, the next step in GFA’s referee pathway.

The All-Girls League will conclude Saturday, with the last round of matches in the U8, U10, and U12 divisions. The girls will then join their male counterparts in the youth league, set to officially kick off Sept. 13.

For more information about the leagues or other GFA soccer intiatives, call the GFA Main Office at 637-4321.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Celine Doronila, in pink shirt, excitedly gets in a foot race with green-team opponents to the ball during a Week 3 U12 match of the Guam Football Association & The Score’s “Just Kick It” All-Girls League at the GFA National Training Center.

Jaelyn Han, in red vest, sprints in excitement back to the center line after scoring a goal during a Week 3 U8 match of the Guam Football Association & The Score’s “Just Kick It” All-Girls League at the GFA National Training Center.

Kaylee Benavente is all smiles as she sees an opening for a break away during a Week 3 U10 match of the Guam Football Association & The Score’s “Just Kick It” All-Girls League at the GFA National Training Center.