Photo By Sgt. Jonathan Thibault | Sgt. Hector Zapata, All-Army team goalie, AH-64 Apache repairer, Company C, 4th...... read more read more
SAN DIEGO - An Air Force player advanced the soccer ball to the upper right corner outside of the Army goalie's peripherals and kicks it within five yards of the goalie. But the goalie relentlessly lunges out and blocks it with his shoulder to stop the ball on the Air Force's last attempt, making the All Army team champions.
Sgt. Hector Zapata, All-Army team goalie, AH-64 Apache repairer, Company C, 4th Aviation Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, and Lt. Stephen Pickett, All-Army team defensive sweeper, training officer, Company B, 404th Aviation Support Battalion, both are from 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, helped the All Army Soccer Team win the Armed Forces Soccer Tournament that was held at Miramar in San Diego, May 13-20.
"Sgt. Zapata and Lt. Pickett are extremely talented soccer players, not to mention great Soldiers," said Capt. Roye Locklear Jr., All-Army team soccer coach, Florida counterdrug operations officer and 356th QM Supply Company commander. "Sgt. Zapata is a goalkeeper that brings National Collegiate Athletics Association, Division I experience to our program having played for Oral Roberts University and spent some time in the professional ranks with the Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League. (USL) Hector is a great vocal leader and an excellent shot-stopper. His directional punting is also an asset that allows us to penetrate the opposing defensive third very quickly."
"Having lettered all four years at the United States Military Academy, Lt. Pickett brings a wealth of experience to our team," said Locklear. "He plays the position of a central defender. Although this was his first year with our program, he stepped right in and played like a true veteran. He brings great positional awareness to our backline and his ability to anticipate the play which more often than not results in a loss of possession for the opponent."
After helping the All Army Team, Zapata earned chance to play for Team USA to play in the Conseil International du Sport Militaire 6th Military World Games which will take place in South Korea, Oct. 2-11.
"I am ecstatic about getting the chance to play for Team USA," said Zapata. "It is a great honor and privilege to be chosen. It is something I have been dreaming of even before joining the military. One the great things is I not only get represent this great organization [Army] and now I get represent now I get represent the United States Military as a whole."
Pickett and Locklear said the competition was very challenging to make the All-Army Team.
"Every year hundreds of Soldiers submit applications to just get a chance to try-out for the team. Only 28-30 players are invited to a trail camp in Fort Benning, Georgia. We had to battle it out for 18 spots on the team."
"The majority of our Soldiers have played at the collegiate level or semi-professional," said Locklear. "The drills, training sessions and exercises that the players are put through during camp allow the coaching staff to assess the technical and tactical ability of each of the players. Competition for places on the All Army Team is challenging."
Pickett and Zapata showed great admiration for one another after their win at Miramar, California.
"I didn't know Zapata till we met at Camp," said Pickett. "He is a great teammate and leader. He is a goalie and I play defense so we created a great relationship at camp and in the tournament which carries over to the Fort Carson leagues. I think it's awesome that he earned a chance for a spot on Team USA in his first year."
"Pickett has a tremendous amount of athletic ability," said Zapata. "I don't think we could have won without him. He was one of my go to defenders on the team. He always deflected the high balls and I don't think we would have been as successful without him near the goal helping me."
Locklear got picked to coach for Team USA in their upcoming tournament in South Korea and said Zapata will play a pivotal role in the success of his team.
"Obviously the goal is always to go out and win and that will be no different in terms of the way Team USA will approach preparations for the 2015 World Military Games," said Locklear. We will represent the US Armed Forces in the most professional manner possible and hope to play an attractive attacking style of soccer."
"Sgt. Zapata will play an integral role within our team," said Locklear. "He has shown that he is a goalkeeper of the highest standards and has a knack for coming up big in the most crucial of games. His experience at the collegiate and professional level will be an asset during such a high-level competition like the World Military Games."
Zapata discussed how he felt when he lunged after the ball with an uncertainty that he deflected it enough to miss the goal.
He said he knew it was too close for him to get his hands on it, so he made himself as big as possible and ended up deflecting the shot with his shoulder. The ball went over the corner crossbar of the goal. He laid on the ground thankful that he got enough of it to make the save on their opponent's last drive.
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.07.2015 15:18 |
| Story ID: | 169283 |
| Location: | MIRAMAR, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 76 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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