PRESS RELEASE – Team Gadao brushed off an early goal deficit to win the Guam Football Association Boys High School Soccer All-Star Match against Team Hurao, 5-3, Wednesday evening at the GFA National Training Center.
Team Hurao, made up mostly of the IIAAG Boys High School Soccer League All-Island First-Team players, engaged in a season-ending, one-time contest against Team Gadao, made up primarily of players in the Second Team or Honorable Mention listing, in the annual event.
Team Hurao’s Micah Hennegan gave his team the early lead on a one-touch, left-footed chip shot after chasing down a free kick from Takumi Odell in the 12th minute, but Team Gadao leveled the match just a minute later. Team Gadao’s Joshua Calvo worked the left side of the pitch and muscled his way along the goal line to send the ball into the goal box, where teammate Sam Larkin was credited with the final touch on the ball in the ensuing scramble.
Larkin later put his team in the driver’s seat on a follow-up shot on Calvo’s blocked penalty kick shot in the 35th minute for the 2-1 halftime score and Team Gadao never looked back.
Team Gadao extended its lead to two goals five minutes into the second half on a Matthew Iseke shot from a Brandon Auayan assist, forcing Team Hurao to play catch-up for the rest of the contest.
Kyle Halehale breathed some life into Team Hurao’s attack, connecting on a corner kick from Xavier Naputi to break his team’s 40-minute scoring drought. Thirteen minutes later, Morgan McKenna scored the eventual game winner, finishing an opportunity from a scramble in front of the goal off a Larkin corner kick.
Eddie Huang answered back for Team Hurao with just three minutes left in the match to get within one goal, but Calvo’s speed off a quick counterattack in the final seconds and a chip-shot finish over opposing-team goalkeeper Allan Aranas sealed Team Gadao’s 5-3 victory.
Match footage and highlights are available for viewing on GFA’s Internet TV page https://mycujoo.tv/guamfa?id=12317
The All-Star match was the first official contest of 2018 at the GFA National Training Center. The Budweiser Soccer League is set to resume Jan. 17 after its holiday break and the Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Premier Division (W1) is set to kick off Jan. 21. For youth players, the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League will kick off Feb. 10, after a pre-season GFA 3v3 Grassroots Tournament on Feb. 3.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
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- Team Hurao’s Xavier Naputi looks for a way to get around Team Gadao’s Morgan McKenna during the Guam Football Association Boys High School All-Star Match Wednesday evening at the GFA National Training Center. Team Gadao defeated Team Hurao 5-3. Photo by Jesse Mesa/GFA.
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- Team Gadao’s Joshua Calvo attempts to maneuver his way between Team Hurao defenders to the goal during the Guam Football Association Boys High School All-Star Match Wednesday evening at the GFA National Training Center. Team Gadao defeated Team Hurao 5-3. Photo by Jesse Mesa/GFA.
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- Team Gadao’s Matthew Iseke attempts a shot as Team Hurao’s Kyle Halehale stays close on defense during the Guam Football Association Boys High School All-Star Match Wednesday evening at the GFA National Training Center. Team Gadao defeated Team Hurao 5-3. Photo by Jesse Mesa/GFA.
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- Team Gadao’s Mark Iseke tracks the ball’s movement to attempt a shot in a goalmouth scramble as Team Hurao goalkeeper Allan Aranas (in pink) stays focused on the ball during the Guam Football Association Boys High School All-Star Match Wednesday evening at the GFA National Training Center. Team Gadao defeated Team Hurao 5-3. Photo by Jesse Mesa/GFA.
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- Team Hurao’s Kyle Halehale looks for options to break down Team Gadao’s defense during the Guam Football Association Boys High School All-Star Match Wednesday evening at the GFA National Training Center. Team Gadao defeated Team Hurao 5-3. Photo by Jesse Mesa/GFA.
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The ND Royals have only lost one soccer game in the past four years (2016-2019), which was an early season loss to the St. Paul Warriors in 2019. ND was coming into 2020 as the four-time defending champions.
The ND Royals on their victory lap after defeating the Academy Cougars 3-2 to become four-time IIAAG Girls High School Soccer Champions. (Photo by Michael Blas)
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