Strong start for Tanapag, Hopwood

Hopwood Middle School and Tanapag Middle School had rousing debuts in the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League 2021-2022 after dominating their respective opponents last Tuesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Hopwood played in the curtain-raiser and took no sweet time in hammering Saipan International School, 10-0. In the second game, Tanapag duplicated Hopwood’s lopsided win after pouncing on Mt. Carmel School, 11-3.

Jayven Camacho, Nolan Ngewakl, and Danilo Bumakod teamed up in the Tataga’s rout of the Knights with the former catching fire in their season debut after delivering four goals. Ngewakl and Bumakod contributed three apiece, while Prince Espiritu chipped in one.

Bumakod started things off for Tanapag with his goal in the fourth minute, while Camacho made it two in a row for the Tataga a minute later. Tanapag went on to nail five more goals in the first half to set up the blowout win, while Mt. Carmel could only counter with three goals in the second half—courtesy of Arstin Tagabuel’s hat-trick.

In the second game, Hopwood went all out in the second half to ease past SIS.

A Hopwood Middle School player, right, tries to navigate his way out of a Saipan International School defender during their game in the NMIFA-PSS Interscholastic Soccer League 2021-2022 last Tuesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Contributed photo)

Paul Lizama recorded two of his three goals in the second half for Hopwood, while Izeah Jolo also had a pair in the final half of the one-sided match. Mark Costales had twins goals, too for Hopwood and logged them in the first half, which ended with the Hilitai ahead at 3-0.

Hopwood pulled away in the second half as Jolo and Lizama found their target and three of their teammates also scored. Tyler Omelau, Jimenez Sernante, and Emerson Brillo contributed one goal each for Hopwood’s strong start.

Hopwood, Tanapag, Mt. Carmel, and SIS are in Group A of the middle school competition, while Group B has Dandan Middle School, Francisco M. Sablan, Saipan Community School, and Chacha Oceanview.

Group B teams will have their season-debut matches today with Dandan taking on Chacha at 4pm and FMS battling SCS in the second game at 5:10pm. Squads will play a round-robin regular season and the Top 2 teams in each division will advance to the playoff round. Group A top finisher will take on Group B second placer for the first finals berth, while the last slot to the championship game will be contested by the No. 1 team in Group B and No. 2 squad in Group A. Semis matches are schedule for Oct. 5, while the one game finals is slated for Oct. 8.

Meanwhile, the elementary division games of the ISL started yesterday with six teams playing their opening games. The division has four groups with SIS, Oleai, San Vicente 1, and Koblerville 2 in Group A. Group B has SCS, Gregorio T. Camacho, Koblerville 2, and Garapan 2, while Group C is made up of San Vicente 2, William S. Reyes 1, Mt. Carmel, and Garapan 1. WSR 2, Kagman, Grace Christian Academy, and Seventh Day Adventist are in Group D.

Published by Saipan Tribune - Sep 16 2021