Sasha Malone 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.

“It’s a huge motivating factor,” Dragons senior midfielder Hailey Stoudemayer said. “We’ve talked about it. We’re trying to regain what we lost, especially the returners. Win back what was once ours.”

They and the Samurai get their chance starting Monday, with the Division I tournament at Humphreys and Division II at Perry. The events run through Wednesday.

The Dragons and Samurai each have plenty of offensive firepower.

Perry has scored 104 goals and has allowed just 13 in fashioning a 20-2-2 record. Kubasaki has 67 goals to its credit while allowing 17 en route to an 8-0-2 record.

Freshman Priscilla Ramirez of Perry paces the Pacific with 44 goals. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Sophomore Leilani Zuniga with 25 goals and 18 assists is a valued playmaker for Perry. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Lily Sanchez and Osan have won a record eight D-II titles, but are seeking their first in 12 years. (Ashley Angell/Special to Stripes)

Leading the way for the Samurai are freshman Priscilla Ramirez, with her Pacific-best 44 goals; sophomore Leilani Zuniga, second on the team with 25 goals and a team-best 18 assists; and senior midfielder Sasha Malone, who has 14 goals and is viewed as the team’s glue.

“They have ability to get behind defenses and finish one-on-ones,” Samurai coach Daniel Burns said.

He likens Ramirez to a former Samurai star Bobbi Hill, who holds the DODEA-Japan record with 155 career goals.

“She is constantly moving, she plays with a passion and fire, she’s great with possession and even without it, she’s able to backtrack and defend,” Burns said. “That’s something we’ve been missing since I’ve been here, somebody who can finish in the final third.”

Zuniga “has come a long way (and) and having Priscilla this year has taken a lot of pressure off her. Having those two is a great 1-2 punch,” Burns said. “And Sasha is the key to it all. Anyone who watches Perry knows that Sasha Malone is the key piece to our success.”

Perry’s strongest competition may come from Osan, which won the Korea Red Division regular-season title and also has collection of scorers, Clarice Lee (9), Brianna Lowe (10) and Camrynn Tuigamala (7). The Cougars have won a record eight D-II titles, but none since 2013.

Zama, aiming for its first D-II title since 2019, is also in the hunt, with the Hunter sisters Bella (12 goals) and Jessie (13).

Senior Solares Solano is Kubasaki's leading goal scorer. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Defenseman Brooke Brewer is a three-year starter for Kadena. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Senior Sakura Lopez is a three-year starter for the Dragons. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Senior Sydney Pontious is a four-year starter for Kadena. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Kinnick's Alyssa Staples leads the Red Devils and Pacific Division I with 40 goals. (Lauren Casey/Special to Stripes)

The Dragons are the most decorated D-I team with eight tournament titles. Reigning D-I Golden Boot winner Solares Solano paces Kubasaki with 33 goals; fellow senior Sakura Lopez has 16 plus 10 assists and junior Amaya Schaffeld has nine.

“We definitely have some girls who can run,” Kubasaki coach Chris Eastman said. “Overall team speed is an advantage over multiple days. I think as a group we can definitely keep it going.”

The team is also senior-heavy with eight, including Solano and Lopez. “We’ve been fortunate to keep many of the same people,” Eastman said. “Next year will be the interesting year; we’ll be losing a ton.”

One other team with scoring firepower is Nile C. Kinnick, seeking its third D-I title and first since 2019. Leading the Red Devils is Alyssa Staples with a D-I-leading 40 goals. Giovanna Kennedy has 16 goals and is tied with Victoria Jackson with a team-leading 23 assists.

Guam High, with its two-time All-Far East striker Ny’Kale Penn, could be a threat. Kadena and host Humphreys round out the field.