
By Nolan Miles
A career night for GW Geckos star Jalana Garcia led to a dramatic win over the St. Paul Warriors on Wednesday afternoon in the IIAAG Girls Soccer League. Garcia scored all FIVE of her team’s goals and each one was needed to hold off the Warriors in a thrilling 5-4 win.
Garcia did a little bit of everything to help her team to a victory; scoring five goals and then proceeding to play keeper towards the end of the game and making a couple of saves.
When asked about her all-around effort Garcia said: “ I just kept working, trying to set up my teammates, but when I saw the opportunities for shots I made sure to take them, and it turned out pretty well.”
The game featured plenty of offense and plenty of goals, with three lead changes and five goals in the second half alone.
The Geckos wasted no time in the first half, starting the game with a goal in the 1st minute, almost immediately after kickoff. Garcia raced downfield with the ball and shocked the Warrior goalkeeper with a shot to put her team up 1-0 early.
It only took seven minutes for the GW offense to strike again. Keeping up the intensity, Garcia slotted it past the keeper for her second goal of the game and a 2-0 lead within the first 10 minutes of the game.
After the fast start the Warriors were finally able to settle into a rhythm and were able to answer back with a goal of their own from striker, Jan Quintanilla. Quintanilla capitalized on a 1-on-1 opportunity with the GW keeper, blasting it into the net to get her team on the board in the 22nd minute.
The Warriors tied things up right before halftime with Lily Franklin beating the Gecko defense and converting her opportunity for a goal in the 40th minute. The goal put the score at 2-2 heading into halftime.
St. Paul carried their momentum into the second half with Quintanilla striking again, this time chipping it over the keeper for her second goal of the match in the 43rd minute. The goal put the Warriors in the lead at 3-2 and it seemed as if the match had shifted in their favor.
Down a goal, Garcia stepped up her play, frequently pressuring the Warrior keeper and defense with shots on goal. In the 59th minute Garcia cleared the Warrior defensive line and booted it past the keeper for her third goal of the match. Her hat trick tied things up at 3-3.
It didn’t take long for Garcia to strike again this time putting away a rebound off a free kick from Autumn Cruz in the 66th minute. Her fourth goal of the afternoon put her team back in the lead.
Still not satisfied, Garcia raced past the Warrior defense one more time in the 74th minute to score her fifth goal of the night and seal their win.
The Warriors caught a break in the 76th minute, earning a penalty. Chloe Miranda slotted it home to bring her team within one goal, with time running out.
With her offensive duties done, Garcia stepped in as goalkeeper in the final minutes when the Geckos’ starter went down with an injury. The Warriors gave everything they had to try and even the score, but Garcia came up big, with a couple of saves to preserve her team’s 5-4 victory.
The come from behind victory was attributed to a more concentrated effort in the second half. “My mindset was just to be more aggressive, and I told that to my teammates as well, I think that’s what helped us to comeback.”
“ This win is a big confidence booster, but we won’t think about it too long because every team is different and presents a new challenge.” said Garcia after her big day. The win puts the Geckos’ record at (4-1-0) while the Warriors fall to (2-2-1).
Moving on, the Geckos will challenge the JFK Islanders next Monday at GW. Meanwhile the Warriors will look to rebound at their home field next Monday against the Sanchez Sharks.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
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- The GW Geckos got a huge lift from Jalana Garcia as they outlasted the St. Paul Warriors in a scoring fest. (photo by Victoria Smith)
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- The GW Geckos got a huge lift from Jalana Garcia as they outlasted the St. Paul Warriors in a scoring fest. (photo by Victoria Smith)
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- The GW Geckos got a huge lift from Jalana Garcia as they outlasted the St. Paul Warriors in a scoring fest. (photo by Victoria Smith)
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- The GW Geckos got a huge lift from Jalana Garcia as they outlasted the St. Paul Warriors in a scoring fest. (photo by Victoria Smith)


GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs