PRESS RELEASE – Guam Shipyard hoisted the GFA Cup championship trophy for the third time in eight years after defeating the Payless Supermarkets Strykers FC 1-1 (5-3) in a penalty kick shootout in the final of the Bank of Guam 8th Annual GFA Cup Sunday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.
The Strykers took the early lead with a shot by Christian Dickson in a goalmouth scramble in the 20th minute. Ten minutes later, Shipyard’s Ken Karosich took on Strykers defenders down the left flank and crossed the ball into the box for the finish by Mark Chargualaf to equalize the contest through to halftime.
Both teams had chances to put away the match in the second half and after two 15-minute extra time halves, but after 120 minutes of play, the teams entered into a penalty kick shootout to determine the tournament champions.
A goal from Chargualaf and a save by Shipyard keeper Joe Laanan on Strykers’ Min Choi’s shot set the tone early for the rest of the shootout. All remaining Shipyard shooters – Camden Aguon, Dominic Gadia, Donald Weakley, and Jason Landstrom – finished their shots, as with the Strykers shooters – Isiah Lagutang, Dylan Naputi, and Marcus Lopez, for the final 5-3 shootout result.
Following the match, all Guam Shipyard players accepted champion medals and posed with the tournament’s perpetual trophy in an awards ceremony.
Guam Shipyard also won the Cup in 2010 and 2012, and was a finalist in 2009.
Quality Distributors FC holds the most GFA Cup championship titles with four – 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013. Quality also was a finalist in 2010 and 2012.
The Rovers FC is the only other team to win the Cup, winning in the tournament’s 2014 edition.
The Strykers made their finals debut this year, after finishing as high as third place in both 2008 and 2010.
Champions from the 2014-2015 Budweiser Soccer League divisions also were recognized in the awards ceremony.
In the Masters Division, a representative from Hyundai Family FC accepted the division championship trophy. The Rovers FC’s Carlos Barajas took the division’s Golden Boot award and Strykers Masters received the Fair Play award.
In Division II, the Rovers FC DII swept all categories, winning the division championship and Fair Play award. The team’s top scorer, Jeremy Boldt, also earned the division’s Golden Boot award.
In the league’s Premier Division, the Rovers FC accepted the championship trophy and the team’s top scorer, Ian Mariano, was recognized as the division’s Golden Boot winner. Doosan FC won the division’s Fair Play award.
(AP/Carlos Osorio)
