Photo By Sgt. Samuel A. Nasso | Joseph Ohoro, a Marine on the II Marine Expeditionary Force soccer team, shoots a...... read more read more
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MARINE CORP AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - The 2010 East Coast Regional Soccer Tournament commenced on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Sept. 20 and wrapped up, Sept. 25. The five teams in competition were Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Marine Corps Base Quantico, MCB Camp Lejeune, MCAS New River and the II Marine Expeditionary Force.
The tournament began with each team playing every other team once to determine seeding for the single-elimination playoff. Cherry Point and II MEF battled Sept. 24 to kick-off the tournament weekend.
The Cherry Point team, the Eagles, went down in a thrilling match that had to be settled by penalty kicks.
II MEF started off in the lead and continued to profit with its speed and made a well-aimed shot to gain another point. The scoreboard read 2-0, with the Eagles falling into a hole.
In an attempt to transition, the Eagles squad aggressively moved the ball into II MEF’s, drawing a penalty when the ball handler was tripped up in the penalty area. The referee announced a penalty kick for the Eagles putting them back in the game.
Another MEF penalty shot and goal later it was halftime and II MEF was up 3-1.
Marcos Gonzalez, the Eagles coach, encouraged his players to perform at their maximum capability.
“Our defense got beat a few times by speed; we can’t let that happen again,” said Gonzales. “We need to win more 50-50 balls and get more shots on goal. This is our game.”
The second-half whistle blew, and the Eagles came out determined to prove themselves. The momentum started to shift as Eagles player Juan Torres kicked the ball to the right corner of the net. Just like that, the deficit was back to one as the Eagles celebrated.
As the time ticked, the sense of urgency increased. Playing with everything they had, the Eagles attacked II MEF’s defense and put just enough together to deliver the equalizer.
The score was tied at the end of regulation play, leaving penalty kicks to decide the game. Both teams missed one shot and were awarded one shooter. The Eagles shooter’s shot went high, but the II MEF shooter drilled the ball into the corner of the goal and won the match.
“Overall, I think we did well,” said Jesse L. Coffey, an aviation electronics technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14. “We couldn’t capitalize on our opportunities, and it came down to them just outplaying us.”
The season is over for many of the players in the tournament, but for five Marines on the Eagles’ squad the opportunity to compete to be on the all-Marine team extends their season.
The five Marines from the Cherry Point squad are: Joseph Ohoro with the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, Jesse Coffey with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, Alberto Reategui with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, Juan Torres with Marine Wing Communication Squadron 28 and Irving Tamayo with MWSS-271.
“Having five of our Marines selected for the camp shows the caliber of our players and how strong our team is,” Gonzalez said.
The camp began Sept. 27 and concludes Oct. 17. Forty Marines are participating in the camp, and only 18 will make the final team. The team will then proceed to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., for the Armed Forces Soccer Tournament hosted by the Air Force, Oct. 18 – 25.
“It’s a great honor to be selected to this camp,” Coffey said. “To play with this caliber of players and to learn from this caliber of coaches is a privilege.”
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2010 11:00 |
| Story ID: | 57685 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, US |
| Web Views: | 142 |
| Downloads: | 7 |
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