JFK: QUEENS OF HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER ONCE AGAIN

By Mya Owens

On a hot Saturday afternoon, the high school soccer finals were held at the Guam Football Association field. The St. John Knights faced off against the JFK Islanders. Both teams had worked hard all season, and it all came down to this game, but it was the Islanders coming away with a big 6-0 win to take their fifth straight title.

The heat didn’t stop the fans from showing up. The stands were packed with students, parents, and supporters, all cheering loudly for their teams. You could feel the energy in the air as the players walked onto the field, ready to give it their all.

From the first whistle, the game was fast and intense. Both teams showcased their great skills and teamwork.

Islanders strike first
Right from the whistle, the Islanders applied pressure on the Knights and kept the ball in their zone. Just two minutes into the game, Aubrey Ibanez put the Islanders on the board with an early goal.

“We worked together, trusted each other with the ball, communicated, and pushed each other to
our limits,” reflected Ibanez

Despite the quick setback, the Knights stayed confident and pushed forward, trying to even the score. But every shot they took was stopped by Islander goalkeeper Karen Merza, who stayed alert in the goal.

The Islanders then cleared the ball from their zone and regained control. With strong teamwork and quick passes, they moved the ball back toward the Knights’ goal. Before halftime, Leah San Agustin added another goal, giving the Islanders a strong 2-0 lead going into the break.

Islanders stay strong
In the second half, the Knights came out determined to close the gap. They pushed the ball into the Islanders’ zone, created several scoring chances, and kept their pressure on JFK’s defense. However, each attempt was either blocked or saved by goalkeeper Merza, who continued her strong performance.

Zoe Whitehead stood strong on defense for the Knights, stepping up each time the Islanders
tried to break through.

Despite the Knights’ efforts, Ibanez managed to push the ball back into the St. John’s zone. With strong ball control, the Islanders set up another multiple scoring opportunities, allowing Jaelyn Han and Ibanez to add to the lead.

Both teams continued to give their all, putting pressure on each other throughout the match. In the 80th minute, the Islanders kept their momentum going. Mylie Navarro and San Agustin each scored, securing a dominant 6–0 victory.

“We were able to transition from defense to attacking and we were able to see opportunities through their defense and set a shot up.” San Agustin stated.

Islanders remain champions
The Islander coaches and supporters were with the team every step of the way. They grew alongside their players, learning, adjusting, and staying committed to the team’s journey from start to finish.

“We kept our same game plan and tried to adjust to playing on a bigger field.” said Islander
head coach Patson. “Our goal is the same every year, that is to be here. Hopefully we will be back again next year.”

“Our main concern was the quality of our game. We wanted to play the best game we could play, and I believe we did a fantastic job today,” reflected Islander assistant coach Shiao. “They worked hard for it, they earned it.” he added.

As the final whistle blew, the Islander players, coaches, and supporters erupted in celebration,
taking their fifth championship victory.

In the consolation game, the Academy Cougars defeated the Harvest Eagles in penalty kicks 3-0.