Hagåtña, Guam - After helping the Niagara men’s soccer team to the 2012 Metro Atlantic Athletic title and a trip into the NCAA Tournament, sophomore Micah Paulino is suiting up for the Guam national soccer team to take part in the second round of preliminary competition for the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup. 
 
The EAFF East Asia Cup is a four-team tournament held every four years rotating between Japan, Korea Republic and China PR as the host nation.  Paulino, and the remaining 20-man roster for Guam will be competing in the qualifiers with North Korea, Australia, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei between Dec. 1 and Dec. 9, with the winner of the group advancing to the final tournament in Seoul, Korea Republic from July 20-28, 2013.   

Paulino and his teammates earned a trip to the second round of the East Asian Cup by winning the tournament’s preliminary round in July, where the team pulled out victories against the Northern Mariana Islands and Macau.

“We are excited about Micah and his opportunity to play for his national team," head coach Chase Brooks said.  "This is great experience for him that will help continue to grow his game.”
  
The team spent the opening portion of the trip to Hong Kong with a four-day training camp to make final adjustments prior to the tournament before hitting the pitch on Dec. 1 against opening opponent, Hong Kong.  The team dropped a 2-1 decision at Mong Kok Stadium, before falling to North Korea, 5-0, in the second contest of the tournament on Dec. 3. 
 
Paulino, a midfielder for the Purple Eagles, was a key contributor in Niagara’s first-ever MAAC championship title after assisting on the game-winning tally to beat No. 1 Loyola (Md.) in the final.  The Guam native contributed four assists on the year, and earned a spot on the MAAC All-Academic Team.
 
Guam’s final two games against Chinese Taipei and Australia on Dec. 5 and Dec. 7, respectively, will be played at Hong Kong Stadium.