BUSY WEEKEND OF SOCCER

PRESS RELEASE – For 10-year-old Dominique Ungacta, Guam Football Association & The Score’s “Just Kick It 2” All-Girls Event was a way for her to get some extra soccer matches with her friends and sisters – even if just for a few weeks.

“Me and my sisters, we all play in the All-Girls Event and the (Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber) Youth League,” said Ungacta, who plays the sport with twin sister Daneeka, as well as older sisters Aubree Ungacta and Taisha Palma. “I enjoyed the All-Girls event because us girls had time to play extra matches without the boys.

“I also enjoy the youth league, too, and we still have a lot more matches to play,” added Dominique Ungacta, a fifth grader at Maria Ulloa Elementary School. All four sisters play for the ASC Trust Islanders in the youth league.

Particularly for Dominique and Daneeka Ungacta’s U10 group, coach Walter Benavente gave each of the team members a commemorative green and pink bracelet – green to symbolize the Islanders’ main color and pink for the All-Girls Event – for playing on the team. For team member Jodee Rose Halili, Benavente presented her a yellow and pink bracelet, as she plays for Community First Dededo Soccer Club in the youth league.

The All-Girls Event spanned four weeks and featured festival-style matches for the U8, U10, and U12 divisions, and tournament-style matches for the U17 division. GFA Women’s Administrator, Grace Martinez, said the event, held twice yearly, will start up again about a month before the fall season of the youth league.

“It’s always a great opportunity for the girls to get some extra matches in to build their confidence before playing together with the boys in youth league,” Martinez said. “We specifically planned to have the event before the youth league for this purpose. The event has been well received by players, their parents and their coaches, officials, and other spectators and we hope it continues to grow in participation.

“We’d like to thank all who participated in and assisted with the event. Additionally, we’d like to thank The Score for its continued support of this event and other initiatives for women’s football development in Guam,” Martinez added.

Next up is the GFA Soccer Moms League, set to kick off Mar. 16. Several teams already have committed, but the league still is open for additional teams. For more information about the Soccer Moms League or upcoming girls’ and women’s leagues, contact Martinez at 637-4321 or send an E-mail to [email protected]

ROBBIE WEBBER SOCCER

Major adjustments were necessary for shots, goal kicks, corner kicks and throw-ins due to the weekend’s windy conditions in Week 3 of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

“Especially on corner kicks, it was so hard to control the ball,” said 11-year-old Mark Iseke, who plays for the Wings U12A division. “The wind was pretty strong and it made some plays difficult.”

Iseke and his Wings team attuned well to the day’s weather and managed to shut out defending champions Guam Shipyard Wolverines in a re-match of last season’s final. Iseke and teammate Kyle Halehale led all scorers. Niclas Vavra and Iseke’s twin brother Matthew, also scored in the contest.

“We learned more about our opponents after last season and got better as a team,” Iseke said. “In this match, we were able to find more opportunities to pass through them and take shots.”

In the day’s other U12A division match, the ASC Trust Islanders Betde settled for a 4-4 draw with the Tigers.

In the U17 division, the defending champions, ASC Trust Islanders Betde, managed to slip past the Strykers 1-0, with the lone goal scored on a Strykers own goal.

Quality Distributors Red defeated the Sidekicks 3-1 with goals from Eric Kim, Andrew Baldwin and Seo Hyun Kim. Eric Kim also finished with two assists in the win.

The Wings Black defeated Community First Dededo Soccer Club 5-1. Sean Evans led all scorers with two goals and teammates Jordan Jasmin, John Anthony Cruz, and Phillip Caguioa each scored once for the winning team. Tyler Pangelinan scored Dededo’s lone goal.

The Islanders Apaka settled for a 2-2 draw with Quality Blue. Brittany Meno and Daniel Lanquin scored for the Islanders. Kyle Grifin and Terrance Lopez scored for Quality.

The Islanders Asut edged the Southern Heat 2-1 with goals from Logan Mance and Christian Quichocho. Donovan Reyes scored the Heat’s lone goal.

The Wings Red defeated the Wolverines 6-0. Daniel Kim and Isiah Lagutang each scored twice and teammates Kaito Inoue and Agustin Choi each scored once.

In the U14 division, the Strykers Red defeated the Strykers Blue with goals from Vincent Cruz, Clayton Mitchell, Xavier Naputi, Ethan Elwell, Anthony Moon, Errett Bainum and Enrique Macias.

The Southern Cobras picked up a shut out win over the Lil’ Bombers. Russell Perez, Alexander Jimenez, Cody Maestrecampo, Luke Surber and Inina Yatar all scored for the Cobras.

Quality Distributors defeated the Sidekicks 4-0 led by Sam Larkin’s two goals. Micah Hennegan and Alan Thomas also scored in the win.

Community First Dededo Soccer Club edged the Wolverines 4-3. Russell Calpatura scored twice and teammates Peter Garland and Logan Bracamonte also scored for the winning team. Michael Lee scored twice and Noah Camacho once for the Wolverines.

Week 4 action continues Saturday.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Coach Walter Benavente’s U10 team in the GFA & The Score’s “Just Kick It 2” All-Girls Event pose for a photo with their gift bracelets from their coach. From left to right, standing, are Daneeka Ungacta, Gabby Manansala, Melanie Damian, Jodee Rose Halili, Kaylee Duenas, Jadyn Palomares (partially hidden) and Dominique Ungacta. Kneeling, in front, are from left, Sarah Benavente and Jada Han.

Dominique Ungacta, in green vest, prepares to stop a pass during a final-week match in the U10 division of the GFA & The Score’s “Just Kick It 2” All-Girls Event at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

Teams play in final-week matches of the GFA & The Score’s “Just Kick It 2” All-Girls Event in the U12 division at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

Teams play in final-week matches of the GFA & The Score’s “Just Kick It 2” All-Girls Event in the U8 division at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The Wolverines and the Sidekicks play in a Week 3 U8 division match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

Community First Dededo Soccer Club’s Russell Calpatura attempts to get around his Wolverines opponent during a Week 4 U14 match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Dededo Soccer Club defeated the Wolverines 4-3.

Southern Heat’s goalkeeper Celvin Lujan shields the ball from his ASC Trust Islanders Asut opponent during a Week 4 U17 match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Islanders Asut edged the Heat 2-1.

Quality Distributors’ Alan Thomas, left, tries to block a pass from his Sidekicks opponent during a Week 4 U14 match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Quality defeated the Sidekicks 4-0.

The Tigers and the Wings play in a Week 3 U10 division match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The Wings’ Mark Iseke attempts to pass the ball facing defensive pressure from the Wolverines’ Shyann Roberto in a Week 3 U12A division match of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Wings shut out the Wolverines.