KOREA
Sasha Malone (6) is the key to the Samurai, coach Daniel Burns says.

(Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa – Kubasaki’s and Matthew C. Perry’s girls soccer teams have at least two things going for them entering next week’s Far East tournaments: Speed and quickness among their top strikers … and bellies filled with motivation.

Last May 1, the Dragons and Samurai each lost in their respective tournament finals, Kubasaki in penalties to American School In Japan and Perry on a last-second goal to Yokota. The Dragons won the Division I tournament in 2023 and Perry was seeking its second D-II title.

Loaded with scoring firepower and seeking redemption, each team feels they have a strong shot at taking that last step to the top.

Read more at stripes.com.

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