FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 28, 2014) --�In a heated match between Western Hemisphere for Security Cooperation and 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, WHINSEC came out on top 2-1 in the Commander's Cup soccer championship game May 20 at Doughboy Stadium.
WHINSEC's Fredy Benitez scored the first goal in the first half. They played an aggressive offense, which was evidenced by some friction between the teams on the field.
"Everyone wants to win," team captain Carlos Mora-Pacora said of the friction. "But, at the end of the day it was a friendly game."
Mora-Pacora said the team was motivated to win because the game was dedicated to Command Sgt. Maj. Martin Barreras, who was the S-3 at WHINSEC at one time. Barreras died May 15 from injuries suffered in Afghanistan on May 6.
WHINSEC coach Jose Riva said the team couldn't have won without hard work and dedication at practices.
1-19 kept the game close on a goal by Efren Mila, but WHINSEC secured the win in the second half with another goal.
"I wanted to beat WHINSEC this year," said Coach Kenneth Gahley of 1-19. "We lost to them last year in the semifinals, so I wanted some revenge ... we just needed to hustle a little bit more."
He said the team struggled with injuries throughout the season, but in the long run just couldn't overcome WHINSEC.
"We came a long way," Gahley said. "We lost our first game and we fought all the way back to the championship."
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