Connect with us

Soccer

SABLAN SCORES HAT TRICK IN RETURN FROM INJURY, FRIARS DOWN KNIGHTS

The Friars welcomed back EJ Sablan, who celebrated his first game of the season with a hat trick.

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.

Wendy’s Players of the Game: EJ Sablan, Nainoa Norton and Riley Rama.

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.

SJS Knight Hayden Crisfield tackles the ball for possession. (Photo by Michael Blas)

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.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

February

March 2024

April
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
25
26
27
28
29
1
2
Events for February

1st

Events for March

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for March

2nd

No Events
Events for March

4th

Events for March

5th

Events for March

6th

Events for March

7th

Events for March

8th

Events for March

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for March

9th

No Events
Events for March

11th

Events for March

12th

Events for March

13th

Events for March

14th

Events for March

14th

No Events
Events for March

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for March

16th

No Events
Events for March

17th

No Events
Events for March

18th

No Events
Events for March

19th

No Events
Events for March

20th

No Events
Events for March

22nd

Events for March

22nd

No Events
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for March

24th

Events for March

24th

No Events
Events for March

25th

No Events
Events for March

27th

Events for March

27th

No Events
Events for March

28th

No Events
Events for March

29th

No Events
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
Events for March

30th

No Events

COMING SOON …

4th Quarter Sports

  • Guam Marathon

QUICK HITS

The Oceanview Knights are your 2024 ISA Middle School Girls Soccer League champions! The Knights beat out the Astumbo Dragons 3-2 in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw after regulation and OT of the championship game.
————————————–
Roque Martinez regains his Deep MMA megaton belt with a unanimous decision win over Ryo Sakai in Tokyo Saturday night.
It was a unification bout in which Sakai won the title after Martinez vacated it in 2019, prior to joining the UFC. Martinez just turned 38 on March 4.

More in Soccer