FRIARS BLANK ISLANDERS TO EARN CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

By Patrick Lujan

The FD Friars controlled the tempo throughout and blanked the JFK Islanders 3-0 Monday night in the GSPN’s High School Boys Soccer Champion vs. Champion game from the Guam High School field.

Sophomore midfielder Sean Halehale scored two goals that he considered ‘lucky’ and Beau Perez put the Friars on the board first for the Friars.

“Honestly, (JFK) really inspired me to play harder,” the young Halehale said. “In the beginning, our team started off slow. My first goal, I wouldn’t say it was beautiful, but it was definitely lucky. Honestly, you have to take those chances.”

The Friars offered a steady dose of ball control and precision passing, all the while keep the Islanders offense at bay.

FD finally struck first in the 25th minute when Perez found an opening on the left side to drill in the Friars first goal. Eight minutes later, Halehale punched in the second Friars goal.

“They are really confident with their skills,” JFK head coach Lan Manansala said about the Friars. “It’s a big difference.”

Sitting with a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break, FD’s ball control continued into the second half, but they managed only a lone goal by Halehale in the 67th minute.

Much credit must go out to JFK and the gutsy performance they displayed despite showing fatique from their overtime win over the GW Geckos just two nights earlier in the ISA championship game.

The Friars defense, too, gets a lot of credit for their dominating play, barely allowing the Islanders any scoring opportunity.

“They’re a good team,” FD goalie Jacob Toves said. “They are four-time (ISA) champions, so it feels good to get a shutout.

“Even all season, they didn’t make mistakes,” Toves described his defense. “Even the season, the goals they got scored on wasn’t even their fault. The defense was solid all year.”

Long-time Guam men’s national team captain Jason Cunliffe was behind the microphone doing play-by-play on the live broadcast had had this to say…

“Credit to both teams and their coaches for doing an outstanding job tonight. They were great representatives for their respective schools.”

“FD is an experienced, well-oiled machine, and they were deserved winners on the night. They played some great football.”

“JFK had the arduous task of playing this match on just one day’s rest. That said, their young team gave a great account of themselves, and they will only grow from this experience.”

“Hats off to GSPN for giving these athletes the opportunity to test themselves in a Champion vs Champion format. Guam comes out on top from giving our athletes these types of platforms.”

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY: