An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | May 26, 2015

Army wins Armed Forces Soccer Championship

By Gary Sheftick Army News Service / Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 21, 2015) -- All-Army beat Air Force 1-0 Wednesday afternoon to capture the Armed Forces Soccer Championship after a week of competition at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.

A goal by Pvt. Alan Ibarra Lepe of Fort Irwin, California, put Army on the scoreboard 28 minutes into the first half of the final match and good defensive play for the rest of the game helped Army clinch the title.

In the consolation match Wednesday afternoon, Navy beat Marine Corps, 2-1.

It was actually an uphill tournament for the All-Army players, who lost their first-round match in overtime to the Marines 9-5 on May 14. That game was tied 5-5 at the end of regular play, following three goals scored by Army's Sgt. Christopher Krueger of SHAPE headquarters in Belgium and one by Sgt. William Arnell of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. However, the Marines went on to score four unanswered goals in overtime.

In the second round, Army beat Air Force 1-0, thanks to a goal from Capt. Andrew Hyres of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

In the third round, Army beat Navy 1-0, with a goal by Spc. Aaron Casper of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Overall, Army finished the tournament 3-1 in match games. Air Force and Navy both ended up with a 2-2 record in games. Marine Corps finished 1-3 with their only win coming early against the Army.

Along with crowning a service champion, this week's soccer at Miramar also provided a venue for officials to evaluate individual performances and select members of the U.S. Armed Forces Men's Soccer Team, according to Steven Dinote of Armed Forces Sports.

Service members selected for the U.S. team will compete against other nations Sept. 30 - Oct. 11 at the 6th Military World Games of the Conseil International Sports Military, or CISM, in Mungyeong, South Korea.

Click here for complete daily results

Click here for photos
 

Armed Forces Soccer All-Tournament Team:

#2 Capt. Edward Pinnell (USMC, MCAS Miramar, Calif.) – Goal Keeper

#5 1st Lt. Stephen Pickett (Army, Fort Carson, Colo.) - Defender

#10 Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Afaisen (Navy, Reserve Com.) – Defender

#4 2d lt. Eric Wilson (USAF, FE Warren AFB, Wyo.) – Defender

#20 2d lt. Caleb Downey (USAF, Peterson AFB, Colo.) – Defender

#21 Ensign Martin Sanchez (Navy, Navy Supply Corps School) - Mid-Fielder

#10 2d lt. John Melcher (USAF, Fort Meade, Md.) – Mid-Fielder

#10 Capt. Andrew Hyres (Army, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.) - Mid-Fielder

#8 Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Handlin (Navy, Norfolk, Va.) - Mid-Fielder

#13 Ensign Alex Wilson (Navy, NAS Pensacola, Fla.) – Forward

#10 Lance Cpl. Adrian Brown (USMC, MCB Camp Butler, Japan) – Forward

  

2015 U.S. Armed Forces Soccer Team

(Competing at the Military World Games):

Goal Keepers:

Capt. Edward Pinnell (USMC, MCAS Miramar, Calif.)

Sgt. Hector Zapata (Army, Fort Carson, Colo.)

Defenders:

Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Afaisen (Navy, Reserve Forces Command)

2d lt. Eric Wilson (USAF, FE Warren AFB, Wyo.)

2d lt. Caleb Downey (USAF, Peterson AFB, Colo.)

Spec. Raul Quinones (Army, San Antonio, Texas)

Mid-Fielders:

Ensign Martin Sanchez (Navy, Navy Supply Corps School)

2d lt. John Melcher (USAF, Fort Meade, Md.) – Mid-Fielder

Capt. Andrew Hyres (Army, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.)

Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Handlin (Navy, Norfolk, Va.)

Sgt. Christopher Krueger (Army, SHAPE, Belgium)

1st Sgt. Gabriel Jaramillo (USMC, MCB Pendleton, Calif.)

Petty Officer 1st Class Ian Schinelli (Navy, San Diego, Calif.)

Capt. Kevin Rosser (USAF, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.)

Pvt. Alan Ibarra (Army, Fort Irwin, Calif.)

Forwards:

Ensign Alex Wilson (Navy, NAS Pensacola, Fla.)

Lance Cpl. Adrian Brown (USMC, MCB Camp Butler, Japan)

2d lt. Zane Dydasco (USAF, Keesler AFB, Miss.)

Head Coach – Capt. Roye Locklear (Army, St. Augustine, Fla.)

Asst. Coach – Lt Col. Derrick Weyand (USAF, RAF Lakenheath, UK)

Match Delegate – Chief Petty Officer Gavin Nathan (Washington, D.C.)

Team Captain – Master Sgt. Mario Morales (MCB Hawaii, Hawai’i)

 

Scoring Leaders:

Ensign Alex Wilson (Navy) – 6 goals

Lance Cpl. Adrian Brown – 5 goals

Sgt. Christopher Krueger – 3 goals

Ensign Martin Sanchez – 3 goals

 

Eight players with 1 goal each