OKKODO, JFK WIN TO STAY ATOP ISA STANDINGS

By Ben Leon Guerrero

The Okkodo Bulldogs improved to 3-0-1 in the ISA Boys Soccer league after defeating the Southern Dolphins 3-2 Wednesday at the JFK Ramsey Field.

Right wing senior Jayven Mendiola powered the Bulldogs to victory recording a hat-trick.

In a game preceded by a severe thunderstorms, both teams worked hard early on to get traction from the wet conditions.
Though both teams came out strong in the first half, it was the Bulldogs who maintained control of the ball spending most of the half in the Dolphins side of the field.

In the 32nd minute, Okkodo’s Bradley Cruz received a pass taking a shot at the goal which hit the left side of the net on what was their best scoring opportunity since the start.
It wasn’t until the 35th minute that Mendiola would take an open pass on the right side dribbling toward the goal, with the keeper moving away from the goal, hit a chip shot over the head of the keeper and into the open net for the first score of the game.

The second half would see a fired-up Dolphins team who didn’t take long to strike.

Forty seconds into the start of the second half, the Southern’s Cody Pangelinan took a shot from 25 yards out that sailed over the keeper’s head to tie the game at 1-1.
Both teams would have their share of shots on goals and it would be the Dolphins who would control the first 15 minutes of the half.
Mendiola would strike for the second time in the 55th minute from the right side once again to give the Bulldogs the 2-1 advantage.

Two minutes later, the Dolphins would get called for a penalty in the penalty box giving the Bulldogs a PK.
Mendiola would take the kick for the Bulldogs sending the shot to the right side of the net just out of the reach of the keeper for the third goal of the game giving him a hat-trick and his team the 3-1 lead.

The Dolphins, however, would continue their attack on offense led by Pangelinan, who had three solid attempts that couldn’t get through.

As time winded down, the Bulldogs were called for a penalty in the penalty box giving the Dolphins another PK.
Pangelinan would be called on to take the shot which he sent over the goal keeper into the back of the net to cut the lead to 3-2 as the official singled the end of the game.
With the win the Bulldogs remain unbeaten at 3-0-1 tied with the JFK Islanders while the Dolphins fall to 2-2.

“I’m a bit disappointed with the output of my team today…we didn’t play Okkodo ball today like we normally do,” said Mendiola. “I don’t know if it was the weather or that we were just taking our record for granted, but we have a lot of work to do. I’m just glad we got the Dub.”

“Our goal is keep our record (undefeated), no more ties and to prevent any losses, and with all the teams bringing more intensity we just have to keep up our momentum, execute every day and stay healthy and prepared.”

Islanders remains unbeaten in 6-1 rout of Sharks
In a rematch of last years championship game, the JFK Islanders powered past the Sanchez Sharks 6-1 in the second game of the double header.

JFK standout C.J. Sablan scored two goals for the Islanders.

The islanders didn’t take long to net their first goal as Noah Medler dribbled past three defenders taking a shot from 10 yards out past the goal keeper giving the Islanders an early 1-0 lead just 2 minutes into the game.

In the 16th minute, on an attack by the Islanders, a Sharks penalty in the box would award a penalty kick to the Islanders which Sablan sent wide right.
The Islanders would get another open look at the goal when David San Agustin passed to Medler for a shot on goal which missed just left of the net.

The Islanders struggled for the better part of the first half missing numerous shots on goal until the 38th minute when Sablan would be on the receiving end of a pass by Medler which he sent just past the outstretched arms of the keeper extending the lead 2-0.

The Islanders controlled the first half outshooting the Sharks 17-3 and taking a 2-0 lead into halftime.

The second half would see much of the same from the Islanders offense as Alex Jorlang would take a long pass and attack the right side sending a shot to the back of the net for a 3-0 lead just five minutes into the second half.
In the 51st minute, Sablan all alone from 27 yards out, senT a towering shot over the head of the keeper and into the back of the net for his second goal of the game and extending the Islanders lead to 4-0.
The Sharks, however, would get an opportunity to score on a penalty kick in the 55 th minute but the shot sailed wide right.

In the 70th minute, the Sharks took advantage of a mishandled ball by the Islanders keeper in front of the goal, sending the ball into the back of the net for the Sharks only score of the game.
The Islanders would get two more goals from Irvin White in the 78th minute and Ayden Rios in the 80th minute as time expired to give the Islanders the 6-1 victory.

With the victory, the Islanders remain tied for first with the Okkodo Bulldogs who they tied 2-2 in their meeting last week Friday.

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