Senri Osaka’s Kotaro Yoshitomo, left, keeper Eiki Nagase and Perry’s Jalen Cooley converge on the ball. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – Thirteen times before, Matthew C. Perry tried to win the boys soccer tournament it hosted.
It was denied just as many times.
Thanks to Most Valuable Player Noah Charles and a stingy defense, the Samurai finally captured the title on their 14th try Saturday in the Perry Cup.
Charles rifled a shot past goalkeeper Eiki Nsgase in the 18th minute, followed four minutes later by Landon DeMarsico-Birkland, and the defense took over from there, leading the Samurai to a 2-1 win in Saturday’s gold bracket final over Senri Osaka.
“Long time coming,” said Perry coach Mark Lange, who has been at the Samurai helm for 22 seasons and helped found the Perry Cup back in 2010. “Wow. I’m so proud of these guys. They played so determined.”
All during Lange’s years coaching the Samurai, he has preached that defense wins championships. Samurai senior and Perry Cup defensive MVP Ren Spinosi said Lange has continued to do that this season, and that philosophy helped keep Perry unbeaten through eight matches.
“Understanding situational soccer, more communication on and off the ball, elevating the level of play of everybody out there and working on defense,” Spinosi said.
Entering Saturday’s final, the Samurai had not allowed a goal through seven previous matches. That streak finally ended in the 30th minute of Saturday’s final when the Sabres’ Taiki Fukushima scored. But the Samurai defense held firm from there.
“This should help set the tone for us the rest of the season,” Spinosi said.
Tournament MVP Noah Charles shoots for the first of two goals for Perry in the gold bracket final. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)
An emotional Perry coach Mark Lange embraces senior defensive MVP Ren Spinosi. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Perry Cup MVP Noah Charles and tournament offensive MVP Taiki Fukushima of Senri Osaka go up to head the ball. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Perry’s Jalen Cooley tries to dribble away from two Senri Osaka defenders. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Perry’s Noah Charles sends a centering pass through Senri Osaka defenders. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Perry’s Nikoto Ortiz darts away from two Senri Osaka defenders. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Red Devils snag Perry Cup silver bracket title
While the Samurai won the tournament’s top tier, Nile C. Kinnick bounced back from a lackluster first day Friday to win the Perry Cup’s equivalent of a consolation bracket.
Gianni Stevens scored five goals and the Red Devils poured it on in the first half to down Kyoto International University Academy 8-1 in Saturday’s silver bracket final.
Kinnick’s players held a discussion Friday evening, Stevens said, after the Red Devils went 1-1-1 and just missed out on a gold bracket berth.
“Chemistry on the field, how well we play with each other,” Stevens said of the meeting the players had. “Shot accuracy, passing more and keeping our heads up.”
Kinnick’s Koboyo Awesso goes up to head the ball in the silver bracket final. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kinnick’s Gianni Stevens fires one of his five goals toward the net in the silver bracket final. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Red Devils, Trojans share top spot in Panther Cup
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Kinnick and Zama shared top honors in the Panther Cup soccer tournament for girls over the weekend at Yokota High School’s Bonk Field. Each team went 4-0-1, playing to a scoreless draw during Friday’s Day 2 of the three-day event.
It was a breakout weekend for Charlotte Callicott, a senior who transferred from Hawaii and scored seven goals in the Panther Cup.
“It’s going to be a good season,” Trojans coach Jill Smith said.
Kinnick, which won the Panther Cup outright a year ago, made some midfield adjustments during this weekend’s iteration, but need to do a better job of finishing, coach Nico Hindie said.
“We’re creating (scoring) opportunities; we just need to work on putting the ball in the back of the net,” Hindie said.
Fujinuma tosses a no-hitter for Samurai baseball
SASEBO, Japan – Pacific baseball could be picking up where it left off last season.
Perry senior left-hander Aira Fujinuma tossed a no-hitter to lead the Samurai to a 1-0 win over E.J. King on Saturday at Sasebo’s Nimitz Park. Pacific pitchers threw a combined 16 no-hitters in baseball and softball last season.
“He looked great. He had good command throughout,” Perry coach A.J. Edwards said of Fujinuma, who struck out 14 and threw 46 of 78 pitches for strikes. “The defense backed him up. All the players came through for a good first win against a good team.”
The Cobras bounced back to beat the Samurai 7-3 in the second game of Saturday’s twin bill. Friday’s scheduled game was rained out.
“We have a couple of things to work on, but I’m proud of the team,” Edwards said. “The kids are grinding and it’s playing off.
AloJapan.com