LADY TRITONS CAPTURE SECOND-STRAIGHT W1 TITLE

(The University of Guam women’s soccer team poses for a photo with the champions trophy of the Bud Light Women’s Soccer League W2 Division after winning the division’s title match 4-2 against ISC/Calvo’s SelectCare Team Slay Sunday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. In the photo are, kneeling, from left to right, Veronica Dydasco, Ashley Borja, Koholali’i Maertens, Elisha Benavente, Mellanne Rasmussen, Jestyne Sablan, and Shaeina Torres. In the back row, standing from left to right, are UOG coach Dylan Naputi, GFA Women’s Committee Member Annette Roberto, Aiyana Shedd, Aubrey Yatar, Aiesha Castro, Philana Lopez, Ariya Cruz, GFA Women’s Committee Member Yvonne San Nicolas, UOG coach Rod Hidalgo, and UOG coach Jacques Diambra-Odi.)

PRESS RELEASE – The University of Guam Tritons avenged its lone regular season loss to ISC/Calvo’s SelectCare Team Slay, capturing its second-straight W2 Division championship title of the Bud Light Women’s Soccer League, with a 4-2 victory in Sunday evening’s title match at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

UOG struck first in the 22nd minute when W2 Division Golden Boot winner Elisha Benavente managed to chase down a through ball from teammate Ariya Cruz for the finish past Team Slay keeper Kara Duenas. A little over 10 minutes later, UOG doubled its advantage with a shot from Veronica Dydasco from outside the penalty box to lead 2-0 at halftime.

Team Slay stayed alive in the match on successful second-half set pieces, with the first in the 49th minute off a 20-yard shot from the right side by Bella Shimizu to the near post.

Ten minutes later, Dydasco scored the eventual game-winner for UOG on a follow-up shot after Benavente’s long-distance attempt was denied by the crossbar.

In the 61st minute, UOG keeper Aubrey Yatar was charged with holding on to the ball for over six seconds in the penalty box and Team Slay took advantage of the ensuing indirect free kick. Raelene Tajalle directed the ball to Shimizu, who calculatingly lofted her shot above the entire UOG squad lined up on the goal line.

Benavente buried her second goal of the night in the 64th minute, finishing a pass from Dydasco for the final score.

In the teams’ regular-season fixture, Team Slay defeated UOG 3-1.

The full match may be viewed on GFA’s Internet TV channel, https://mycujoo.tv/guamfa?id=11217

Following the title match, GFA Women’s Committee Members Annette Roberto and Yvonne San Nicolas presented the champions trophy and runner-up trophy to UOG and Team Slay, respectively. Also receiving awards were Benavente, who was honored as the division’s Golden Boot winner, and Duenas, the division’s Golden Glove winner.

In the division’s consolation match played Sunday afternoon, FC Familia defeated Team Mosa’s 2-0 to claim third place in the division. Glendale Hattig and Candice Connelley scored Familia’s goals in the contest.

The consolation match footage also is on GFA’s Internet TV channel, https://mycujoo.tv/guamfa?id=11216

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