
By Robert Balajadia
In his first game back since injuring his wrist, Friar striker EJ Sablan put in three goals for a hat trick in the teams 5-2 victory over the #2 seed St. John’s Knights in IIAAG Boys Soccer. Wednesday evenings matchup was the second time the undefeated Friars (6-0) and Knights faced off, this time with the Knights hosting to begin the second round of games between the five IIAAG teams.
The last time Sablan had played in a high school soccer game was last years Championship game which the Knights had won over the Friars. Sablan wasn’t on the field for the teams first victory over the Knights this season so he felt he needed to make up for lost time.
“First game back was fun. I felt like I needed something to prove since I missed most of the season, but I’m still coming for that MVP title,” said Sablan.
With the game knotted at 2-2, Sablan put a through ball to teammate Riley Rama who used a single tap to get his right foot on the ball for a go-ahead goal at the 59th minute.
“I just felt like if I put myself in that position then I’d be able to score, and it all happened. I was waiting for a play like that to happen because we didn’t play too great in the first half, but we got more chances in the second. I think that goal really got us kick started… it really helped us win the game,” said Rama.
Sablan didn’t waste much time adding to the lead after scoring off a header from a throw in at the 62nd minute. Sablan put the finishing touches on the game scoring in extra time to complete the hat trick on a goal that bounced off the left post for the 5-2 final.
“I’m glad he’s back,” said Rama on the return of Sablan. “He’s a playmaker… He helps motivate the team every time, week in week out, and hopefully he can get that spot on the 1st Team and we’re all rooting for him.”
Back and forth they go
Friars senior Nainoa Norton quickly got the Friars on the board by scoring the games first goal in the 9th minute. Sablan started the attack from the left side before the ball eventually found Norton, who rocketed a shot towards the left of the box for a 1-0 lead.
Sablan scored his first goal in the 30th minute off a free kick just outside the goal box, getting through the only window the Knights defensive wall allowed.
Down 2-0, Knight Meto Harmon would strike to breathe some life into his team. Harmon got a pass from teammate Justin Joseph, which he turned into his teams first goal in the 37th minute just before the half.
St. John’s tied up the game early in the 2nd half as Andrew Stinson scored after a through ball got past the Friar defense. Stinson outran every Friar to the ball using a tap to get past the closing keeper, scoring the games fourth goal to tie the game at two each.
“We were telling each other the game wasn’t over. We’re not a team that backs down and we always want to finish the game. We wanted to push even harder than [the Knights] because we saw them getting tired. Everyone who went into the game put in their shift so I’m glad that happened,” said Rama on the mindset shifting after the game was tied.
Neither side was letting up before Rama’s goal in the 59th minute with Sablan putting the game out of reach.
“We just needed to hit the outsides more. We kept going through the middle and they kept locking us, so in the 2nd half we changed our attack and got three goals out of it,” said Sablan on how the offense attacked differently in the 2nd half.
The Friars have a BYE on Saturday while the Knights prepare to host the Harvest Eagles.
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GPS Sports Calendar
May 2022
- MO
- TU
- WE
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- FR
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- 25
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- 1
Events for May
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #4
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
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3rd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
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5th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
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Events for May
6th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
7th
GPD HOT PURSUIT 5K
MARIANAS OPEN
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for May
9th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #5
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER All-Star Meeting
IIAAG GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
Events for May
12th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
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Events for May
12th
Events for May
14th
14th JUDICA CRABAO 5K
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
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ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
Events for May
16th
ISA TRACK & FIELD ALL-ISLAND MEET
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ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE All-Star Meeting
Events for May
17th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
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Events for May
18th
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Events for May
19th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
20th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL All-Star Meeting
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
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21st
Pre-Memorial Day 13-Miler
GETTING GUAM HEALTHY 5K BUBBLE RUN/HEALTH FAIR
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD All-ISLAND MEET
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE FINALS
ALPHA WARRIOR ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
2022 Guam Track & Field National Championships
Events for May
23rd
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
23rd
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24th
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26th
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27th
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28th
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Events for May
29th
Events for May
30th

Baseball
NINETE, JR. WINS 2022 BASEBALL MVP

Basketball
WILDCATS WIN MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS HOOPS

Volleyball
TITANS DON’T DROP A SET ALL SEASON

Baseball
NINETE, JR. WINS 2022 BASEBALL MVP

Running/Track
PANTHERS SWEEP ALL-ISLAND TRACK & FIELD MEET
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COMING SOON …
- IIAAG & ISA Championships
- YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE KICKOFF June 4
- GSPN Boys Volleyball All-Star Game
- Pacific Mini-Games in Saipan