
By Robert Balajadia
The JFK Islanders girls soccer team shook off a tough 17 minutes of soccer as they stared down a 1-0 deficit in their first game of the season against the home team Southern Dolphins. It took persistence, but a string of goals to close the first half opened the flood gates as they scored seven unanswered goals to secure a 7-2 kick-off victory.

Wendy’s Players of the Game: JFK Islanders Kiyoni Yamaguchi and Aubree Ungacta scored two goals each in the teams 7-2 opening week win over the Southern Dolphins in IIAAG Girls Soccer. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Dolphin Isabella San Nicolas netted the first goal of the game in just the 4th minute of action to put Southern up 1-0. JFK would keep up the attack before tying the contest in the 17th minute off a goal from the left side.
JFK would get a big boost from Ungacta as she gave the Islanders a clutch goal in the 34th minute to take the lead 2-1. Ungacta would score quickly in the 36th minute, followed shortly by teammate Kyoni Yamaguchi’s goal in the 39th minute for a 4-1 advantage at halftime.
“We just needed to get the ball to our scorers and we did better after the slow start,” said Ungacta, who also was on the receiving end of a tough fight for an airborne ball which led to a slow get up.
Yamaguchi would further the lead in the second half with a score in the 67th minute with the offense finding their footing. JFK would tack on two more goals to complete the 7-0 run before a late Dolphin goal in the 78th minute would final the score 7-2.
“We knew we still had a lot of time to play despite starting slow. Our mentality from that point on was very positive and we just kept pushing,” said Yamaguchi.
The Islanders consider their 2019 unit a new squad so they didn’t set lofty goals for their opening game of the season. Although, winning big and getting contributions from all over were all positive signs for the veterans Yamaguchi and Ungacta.
“We played as a new team today since we’re made up mostly of underclassmen, but we showed good signs. I think the other girls gained a lot of confidence after winning big today,” said Ungacta.
“We already knew that this year we were going to focus on rebuilding since we have a lot of new faces, but that’s good for the future. It’s going to give us a lot of time to get used to each other so that we’re prepared for each game,” said Yamaguchi.
The Islanders will play the Harvest Eagles this Friday and the Dolphins won’t see action until next week Monday against the Okkodo Bulldogs.
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
12th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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