AF Flies High
Captures Gold in Championships

09 November 2003
2nd Lt. Ali Tedesco
436th AW Public Affairs
Photos by Bill Plate

Saturday marked the end of the Air Force men's soccer team stay at Dover Air Force Base, and they celebrated with gold medals. Air Force beat Army on Friday and the Marines on Saturday to secure first place in the Armed Forces Services Championship.

With 20 minutes to go in the first half against Army, Air Force midfielder Brandon Jones put a perfect crossing pass into the mouth of the goal. Midfielder Keith McDaniel was there to put a head on the game-winning goal.

"It's been a long tournament," said Air Force head coach Orville Reid. "We had to play tough all six games to win."

Friday's match-up against Army proved pivotal to the outcome of the tournament. Prior to the game, Army was leading the tournament with three wins. A loss in this game would have made a first place finish impossible for Air Force.

"Every game is a key game and we always play to win," said Reid. "We're going to try to not throw away our chances today (against Army) and put the ball in the back of the net."

The two teams fought evenly for much of the first half. As the game got more physical, Air Force midfielder Ryan Sagastume received a yellow card that prevented him from playing in the final game of the tournament. Neither team expected anything less.

"It's going to be a battle," said Army forwardCraig Cudzillo. "This is the game that counts."

When Air Force midfielder Matt Anderson was taken down in the box while setting up for a shot, Air Force got the chance they were looking for. The referee called a penalty kick and forward Britton Miller put the ball past the Army goalkeeper.

Less than three minutes later, Jones crossed a ball reminiscent to his pass that Miller had headed in the net two games earlier to tie Army with a minute to go. This time, it was McDaniel on the receiving end.

"Brandon sent in a perfect ball that ricocheted off my face and a defender and then went in," said McDaniel.

At half time, Air Force led 2-0. The Army would not be counted out. With 30 minutes still left to play, Army forced the play into Air Force goalkeeper Rich Cullen's box. As Air Force defenders tried to clear the ball, Army forward John Kruger challenged hard and knocked the ball past Cullen to put Army on the board.

This would be Army's only goal, however, as the Air Force team increased their intensity and fought to maintain the lead. With 10 minutes on the clock, Air Force began to turn on the heat. Five straight plays led to Air Force chances that left the crowd cheering. The game ended with Air Force on top, 2-1.

"The penalty kick goal and quick follow on goal sort of deflated our team," said Army assistant coach Edmundo Gordon. "It was hard to recover and their (Air Force) level of fitness was very good. Today, they were the better team."

Although beating Army was imperative, the Air Force team still had to face the Marines on Saturday.

"We kept our composure today against Army." said Air Force forward Delroy Mattis. "The Marines are going to come out tomorrow fired up and we can't take them lightly."

After five hard games, the Air Force team needed just one more win to become champions.

"We're going in playing to win," said Reid. "No one is going to give the Air Force anything."

Early in the game, it was obvious Air Force had stepped on the field ready to play. They created several early chances, although none found the back of the net. Before time ran out in the first half, midfielder Matt Anderson put a cross from defender Donovan Kneuer away.

"I was just in the right place at the right time," said Anderson. "He (Kneuer) gave me a great ball and I just had to touch it in."

Despite a physical match from the Marines, the game ended 1-0.

"This tournament has been disappointing for us," said Marine goalkeeper Luke Bosek. "We had high hopes coming in this year, but as a team overall, we just couldn't pull it together."

The Army team took the silver medal, finishing only one point behind Air Force, followed by the Navy and Marine teams, respectively.

Armed Forces Soccer Team Announced

2nd Lt. Ali Tedesco
436th AW Public Affairs

The 2003 All-Armed Forces soccer team was announced at Dover Air Force Base Saturday at the closing ceremony for the Armed Forces Services Championship.

With seven players, head coach, and the team captain selected, the Air Force is the service best represented.

"Deservingly so," said Air Force head coach Orville Reid. "The Air Force team played the better soccer as far as ball possession and teamwork."

"It's a terrific honor to represent the USA at the CISM Championships," said 436th Services marketing director Mindy Rolkowski. "I greatly appreciate the confidence M. Steve Brown, Air Force Sports and Mr. Suba Saty, Armed Forces Sports, have in my ability to take this team to such an important event and I'm grateful I was selected."

The team will compete internationally in January. The players selected were:

Air Force

Staff Sgt. Delroy Mathis, forward, Mildenhall Air Base, England
2nd Lt. Brandon Jones, midfielder, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
1st Lt. Keith McDaniel, midfielder, Vance AFB, Okla.
2nd Lt. Lewis Vaughn , midfielder, Holloman AFB, N.M.
2nd Lt. Jason Kneuer, defender, Misawa AB, Japan
2nd Lt. Armando Ruiz, defender, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
1st Lt. Robert Cullen, goalkeeper, McCord AFB, Wash.
Maj. Orville Reid, head coach, FE Warren AFB, Wyo.
Mindy Rolkowski, captain, Dover AFB, Del.

Army

1st Lt. John Krueger, forward, Las Vegas, Nev.
Spc.Jesse Hardeman, midfielder, Ft. Eustis, Va.
Sgt. Geoffrey Ferguson, defender, Ft. Hood, Texas
Sgt. Chad Henderson, defender, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Sgt. Aziz Williams, defender, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Navy

Petty Officer 2nd Class Moses Osaikhuwu, forward, Navel Station San Diego, Calif.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Barrett, defender, Fleet Composite Squadron SIX
Petty Officer 3rd Class Craig Canavan, defender, USS Leyte Gulf
Ensign Brian Steckroth, goalkeeper, US Naval Academy, Md.
Rene Clavijo, assistant coach, San Diego, Calif.

Marines

Lance Cpl. Wale Akintunde, defender, Marine Camp Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Staff Sgt. Mario Morales, defender, Marine Camp Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay