ROVERS FC STRIKES FIRST EVER G-LEAGUE TITLE

PRESS RELEASE – The NAPA Rovers FC secured the inaugural Bud Light G-League Women championship in dramatic fashion, defeating the Bank of Guam Strykers FC in a penalty kick shootout 2-2 (5-3 PSO) on a rainy Sunday afternoon at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. 

The Strykers were first to the goal in the 12^th minute on a Sarah Benavente shot, after she finished a Giselle Dahilig pass from the right side to the opposite post for the early advantage. The Rovers equalized about 20 minutes later from a Yae Kawauchi free kick that had enough height and pace to escape past the outstretched arms of Strykers goalkeeper Feah Fejeran; however, Koharu Minato’s shot from distance in first-half stoppage time put the Strykers back on top before the halftime whistle.

The Rovers broke the second-half scoreless deadlock in the 71^st minute on a Marlena Connelley free kick to eventually send the match into penalty kicks.

The Rovers, kicking first in the shootout, were perfect from the spot, with Cassandra Kido sealing her team’s win as the fifth kicker. An attempt by the Strykers’ second kicker, Koharu Minato, hit the crossbar and out of the goal to give the Rovers some breathing room through the shootout.

Cadence Guzman, Yae Kawauchi, Mony Marquez, and Jodee Halili were all also successful for the Rovers in the shootout, while Sarah Benavente, Ariya Cruz, and Brienna Herdrich kept the Strykers in the match until the fifth round of kicks. 

Presenting awards in the short ceremony following the match were GFA President Valentino San Gil, GFA Vice President Tina Esteves, and Ambros Marketing Manager Jojo Camacho. The referees of the match – James Oh, Joshua Bamba, and Joshua Samonte – each received a commemorative Referees medals in the presentation ceremony followed by individual league winners, Taylor Camin and Kiarra Hutcherson – the league’s Golden Boot and Golden Glove winners, respectively receiving trophies. The Strykers were next given the league’s second-place trophy and the Rovers presented the league’s first Champions trophy.

The Rovers last won the women’s football crown in the Fall 2016 season, while the Strykers were three-time champions in 2019, 2022, and 2023. The league was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.