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| Marine Corps in white vs the Navy team in blue. |
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The Armed Forces Men’s Soccer tournament began at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Jan. 31.
The tournament brought the Marine Corps, Navy, Army and Air Force together on the field of battle to determine who possessed the best soccer team.
Game 1 – Air Force sinks Navy in tournament opener (USAF 2 – USN 0)
The Air Force took to the field against the Navy to open the tournament. Both teams fought hard during the first half leaving the score 0-0.
During the second half the Air Force, led by midfielder Cody
Fournier, overcame early game jitters and put two points on the board ultimately grabbing the first victory of the tournament.
“It was persistence that won the game for us,” said Air Force head coach Roy Dietzman. “In the 2nd half we settled down and were able to put more focus into execution. Fournier was a steady player in the
midfield and was key to our victory, he was able to see the field and create plays.”
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| Marine Corps Maj. DJ Abogunrin fights for control against a Air Force member. |
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Game 2 – Joshua Blodgett leads Army to victory over Marines (Army 3 – USMC 2)
The Army took on the Marines for game two of the tournament. Army forward Joshua Blodgett, scored a hat trick and all three of the Army points giving the Army an early lead in the first half while not
allowing any goals. In the 2nd half, the Army lost their intensity and allowed the Marines to score two points finishing the game with a final score of 3-2.
“We started with three good goals and were able to keep up the momentum,” said Agustine Mendez, the Army head coach. “We were able to let some of our players rest.”
Game 3 – Alfaro leads Army over Air Force (Army 3 – USAF 1)
The Army and Air Force clashed in the third game of the tournament. The Army
was led by defender Jose Alfaro and Goalie Andrew Filauro who prevented the Air Force
from scoring more than 1 goal in the game.
“We played well together today,” said Mendez. “The Air Force has a very talented team. Ultimately, we got lucky there were a couple of times that they could have scored.”
Game 4 – Marines top dog in sea service battle (USMC 3 – Navy 1)
Game four was a tournament within the tournament as the sea services battled each other for dominance. Led by Mid-fielder Jose Don Juan the devil dogs lapped up the Navy, winning the game 3-1.
“With the field conditions the way they were, we had to play a very compact defense, but we still played a very sloppy game,” said Bamidele Abogunrin, the Marines head coach. “We still made less
mistakes than the Navy and were able to pull out the win.”
Game 5 – William McGillivary leads air strike against Marines (USAF 3 – USMC 0)
The Air Force struck early to score two goals in the first half against the Marines. They were able to keep the momentum up and keep the Marines from scoring, while scoring once more in the second half,
winning the game 3-0.
“We scored two goals early on in the game,” said Dietzman. “That gave us a confidence boost and allowed us to be more relaxed. Defender William McGillivary played well in defense and was able
to move right into the attack. He was a good influence on the rest of the team.”
Game 6 – Navy brings Army down a notch with tie ( Army 0 – Navy 0)
In the closest game of the tournament so far the undefeated Army was tied by the 0-2 Navy. Both teams were led by excellent defense.
“We felt this was a huge morale victory for us,” said Greg Knepper. “We lost our first two games and Army was in first place. In our mind we beat them, which gave us a huge confidence boost.”
Army’s opinion was slightly less enthusiastic in their view of the tie.
“It’s just a tie, it happens,” said Mendez. “Navy played not to get beaten and the achieved their goal. If we could have scored one goal we would have the won the game.”
In gut-wrenching battles on an open field of grass turned-to-mud, some of the military's best
athletes faced off here during The Armed Forces Men’s Soccer tournament, Jan. 31-Feb. 5.
The tournament brought the Marine Corps, Navy, Army and Air Force together on the field of
battle to determine who possessed the best soccer team.
Game 7 – Air Force sinks Navy second time (USAF 1 – Navy 0)
In a near repeat of the tournament opener the Air Force began the second half of the tournament
by defeating the Navy. Both teams played tough defense making it hard for each other to score. But
the Air Force finally put one point on the board to walk away with the 1-0 win. The Air Force was led
by mid-fielder Cody Fournier who was key to the team’s winning defense.
“The team played excellent defense,” said Air Force head coach Roy Dietzman. “We were able
to collect the ball and in turn put pressure on the Navy. We basically got a lucky bounce ball that
went in for us. Mid-Fielder Quincy Collins helped us score by causing havoc in the Navy’s defense.”
Game 8 – Army takes bite out of Devil Dogs (Army 3 – USMC 0)
The Army took on the Marines for game eight of the tournament. The Army started strong scoring
three goals within the first five minutes of play. They kept up the momentum, not by scoring more
goals, but by not letting the Marines score a single point finishing the game with a 3-0 win.
“We just went out and played hard,” said Agustine Mendez, the Army head coach. “We had
things together and it all worked for us. Our goalie was a big factor, he had a save in the first half that
really helped shape the game.”
Game 9 – Air Force squeezes win over Army in final two minutes of game (USAF 2 – Army 1)
The Air Force won a key victory in the tournament by defeating the Army in game nine of the
tournament. Both teams played excellent offense and defense only allowing one point each for the
majority of the game. In the final two minutes, when it looked like a tie was imminent, the Air
Force punched the ball into the net giving them a 2-1 victory and first place in the tournament.
“This victory was key for us, because we’re now in first place,” said Dietzman. “This win was
really a team effort, we didn’t have any individuals who stood out. The guys just wanted to win, they
believed in themselves and kept going and going and going and never quit.”
Game 10 – Navy victorious in sea service battle (Navy 2 – USMC 1)
The Navy left the field of battle victoriously after overcoming its rival, the Marines. The Navy
started the onslaught early putting the first point on board. The Marines tied the game 1-1 in the
second half, but the Navy was quick to regain the initiative and eventually won the game 2-1.
“Hard work is what won the game for us,” said Rohan Hall, an All-Navy defender. “We didn’t
give at all during the entire 90 minutes of play.”
Game 11 – Air Force take down Marines, clinches gold (USAF 2 – USMC 0)
The Air Force took on the Marine Corps and clinched its first place finish in the tournament.
Both teams played well defensively, but the Air Force pummeled the Marines defenses and scored
two points leaving the final score 2-0.
“We have a good, talented team. We always try to persevere and keep believing in ourselves,”
said John Reay, the Air Force assistant coach. “We haven’t deviated from the game plan and it
seems to have brought us success with the last few games.”
Game 12 – Navy puts round on target to defeat Army (Navy 1 – Army 0)
The tournament closer brought the Army and Navy head to head. Both teams played excellent
defense moving the ball up and down the field, not allowing the other team to score. Navy was
able to put one shot into the goal late in the second half, winning the game, 1-0, and taking home third
place in the tournament.
“Heart and hard work led us to victory,” said Greg Knepper, Navy coach. “No one gave up on
the team and we played hard to take third place.” Immediately following the final game of the
tournament the first and second place teams were presented with medals.
The final standings were: Air Force taking the gold with a 5-1-0 record; Army second place with
a 3-2-1 record; Navy third place with a 2-3-1 record; and Marines in fourth place with 1-5-0 record.
2008 Armed Forces Men’s Soccer Championship
30 January – 6 February 2008
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC
Final Standings:
W L T
Air Force 5 1 0
Army 3 2 1
Navy 2 3 1
Marine Corps 1 5 0
All Scores:
31 Jan
Air Force def Navy 2-0
Army def Marine Corps 3-2
1 Feb
Army def Air Force 3-1
Marine Corps def Navy 3-1
2 Feb
Air Force def Marine Corps 3-0
Army-Navy tied 0-0
3 Feb
Air Force def Navy 1-0
Army def Marine Corps 3-0
4 Feb
Air Force def Army 2-1
Navy def Marine Corps 2-1
5 Feb
Air Force def Marine Corps 2-0
Navy def Army 1-0
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
(GK) 2LY Andrew Filauro (USA) Fort Carson, CO
(D) LTJG Scott Cook, (USN) Naval Base Norfolk, VA
(D) Sgt Jeshua Laurin (USMC) MCRD Parris Island, SC
(D) SSGT Janusz Jawerok (USAF) RAF Lakenheath, UK
(D) Cpl Franklin Mershon (USMC) MCAS New River, NC
(M) HM1 Nathan Gavin (USN) Naval Base Norfolk, VA
(M) Sgt Jose Don Jaun (USMC) MARFORRES New Orleans, LA
(M) 2LT Cody Fournier (USAF) F.E. Warren AFB, WY
(M) Cpl Andrew Richard (USMC) MCB Butler, Okinawa, JPN
(F) SGT Titus Kammau (USA) Walter Reed AMC, Washington, DC
(F) CAPT Paul Gagliardi (USAF) McChord AFB, WA |
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