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Leone Lions are American Samoa Boys JV champs

Henry Nautu of the Leone Lions’ JV team in action against the Faga’itua Vikings on April 7, 2018 during an ASHSAA Boys Soccer game at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]A Leone Lions’ player controls the ball against the Faga’itua Vikings during an ASHSAA Boys Soccer JV game on April 7, 2018 at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]A Leone Lions’ striker races a Samoana defender one-on-one to score a goal during an ASHSAA Boys Soccer JV game on April 20, 2018 at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Leone clinched the 2017-2018 ASHSAA Boys’ JV soccer title with 17 points, just a point better than two other teams — second place Samoana Sharks, and the Tafuna Warriors.

Leone (5-1-2) had clinched the title a week ago, with Samoana (5-2-1) and Tafuna (5-2-1) battling for second place.  There was no way both teams could have overcome the Lions’ lead with their remaining games.

After the official completion of the season on Saturday, April 28, 2018, both the Sharks and Warriors were tied with a similar record of 5-2-1 for 16 points.  On a head-to-head match-up, Samoana came out ahead with a differential in goals.  Tafuna won the first game 2-1, but the Sharks won big in the second, 5-1.

This is the second year in a row Tafuna has finished second in the JV division, second place last year to the Faga’itua Vikings.

Leone lost only one game all year, a 3-2 win by the Tafuna Warriors on April 9.  It was a game Leone had controlled, only to lose their composure late in the second half.  A similar thing happened in their second meeting with Samoana, taking a 3-0 lead into the half before the Sharks stormed back to tie it 3-3 on April 20.  Their other draw was a 2-2 ending against the Vikings on April 18.

The Lions would avenge their first-game loss to Tafuna with a 2-1 victory on April 21.

Tautasi Falanai Jr. coached the team.