AFWA intramural soccer team wins close one

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  On Wednesday night, outside the Offutt Field House, freezing temperatures and blistering winds seemed to bring things to a standstill. Inside, however, was a completely different matter.
 
The location was Offutt's indoor soccer field and the event was a rematch between the Air Force Weather Agency and the 55th Security Forces Squadron soccer teams, a fiercely fought contest AFWA won 3-2, thanks to timely scoring and the outstanding play of goalie Matt F. Weeks, of Omaha.

Mr. Weeks blocked 30 shots, many times diving to prevent a score.

"I was just trying to predict where the ball was going to go and put myself there," Mr. Weeks said. "I'm (older) now so it's harder to move fast. I have to try and predict where the ball is going to go and hope it goes there."

For most of the game the security forces team kept the ball in AFWA territory taking shot after shot. The cops had more than 50 shot attempts in the game with 27 coming in the first half. Comparatively, AFWA only managed to get off 15 shot attempts for the entire game.

Despite this, the night's first goal was scored by AFWA midfielder Mr. John W. Brooks, on a pass from Mr. Thomas F. Deppe, which split the defender's defense. Once the ball was at his feet, Mr. Brooks swiftly slammed it into the back of the net giving his team an early lead.

Shortly after Mr. Brook's goal, AFWA extended their lead when their center, midfielder and team coach Staff Sgt. Mark W. Kern, kicked a loose ball into the net, putting AFWA up by two.

However, the security forces team battled back, pushing the ball up the field led by Airman 1st Class James L. Rees, from Salt Lake City. After several shot attempts were blocked by Mr. Weeks, Airman Rees finally got a clear view of the net and wasted no time slamming the ball past Mr. Weeks for the score, pulling the cops to within one.

The competition was fierce after halftime as well, as the security forces team desperately tried to tie the game, taking several shots only to be denied by Mr. Weeks.

Four minutes into the second half, AFWA quickly maneuvered past the cop defenders. Mr. Brooks dribbled the ball down the field, passed it to Sergeant Kern, who found himself in perfect position to once again put AFWA up by two points. He swiftly kicked the ball past the security forces goalie giving AFWA a 3-1 lead.

Airman Rees soon answered with a score of his own late in the second half, but, three goals proved to be enough to give AFWA the victory, as Mr. Weeks only allowed one goal in the second half despite the defenders taking 29 shots.

"I was pretty surprised," Airman Rees said after the game. "Their goalie was in the right place at the right time, I couldn't get a shot (off) where he wasn't expecting it."

"We dominated the field in the second half," he added. "We were taking shot, after shot, after shot; I thought at least a couple of them would go in. Their goalie was pretty good and he played very well," he added.

Sergeant Kern said speed at the right time was the reason for the win.

Sprinting past their defenders and having more speed and getting to the ball first on their end was a big reason for the win, he said.

"We just beat them to the ball when it counted," said Sergeant Kern.

Sergeant Kern also said it feels really good to win, adding, "The competition was so close and everyone worked so hard. I'd hate to see all our work go for nothing; plus, these guys beat us last time."

With the win, AFWA improves to 8-4 on the season and became one of five teams with at least eight wins. With the loss, the security forces team falls to 9-4, but remains in second place.

After the game, Staff Sgt. Brian J. Flanagan, 55th SFS coach, said "it's terrible to lose close games like this, especially when you know your team played so well."

"But we look forward to playing AFWA again in the playoffs and putting some more shots in the back of the net," he said.

The intramural soccer season continues through Jan. 27 and playoffs are set to begin around Jan. 31.

For more information about intramural sports programs at Offutt, call 294-5413.