WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 21, 2015) -- All-Army beat Air Force 1-0 to capture the Armed Forces Soccer Championship after a week of competition at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, May 20.
A goal by Pvt. Alan Ibarra Lepe, of Fort Irwin, California, put Army on the scoreboard 28 minutes into the first half of the final match. Good defensive play for the rest of the game helped Army clinch the title.
In the consolation match, also that afternoon, Navy beat Marine Corps, 2-1.
It was actually an uphill tournament for the All-Army players, who lost their first-round match in overtime to the Marines 9-5, May 14. That game was tied 5-5 at the end of regular play, thanks in part to three goals scored by Army's Sgt. Christopher Krueger of SHAPE headquarters in Belgium. However, the Marines went on to score four unanswered goals in overtime.
In the second round, Army beat Air Force 1-0, with a goal from Capt. Andrew Hyres of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
In the third round, Army beat Navy 1-0, with a goal by Spc. Aaron Casper of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Overall, Army finished the tournament 3-1 in match games. The Air Force and Navy both ended up with a 2-2 record. The Marine Corps finished 1-3 with its only win coming early against the Army.
Along with crowning a service champion, this week's soccer at Miramar also provided a venue for officials to evaluate individual performances and select members of the U.S. Armed Forces Men's Soccer Team, said Steve Dinote of Armed Forces Sports.
Service members selected for the U.S. team will compete against other nations at the 6th Military World Games of the Conseil International du Sports Militaire, or CISM, in Mungyeong, South Korea, Sept. 30 - Oct. 11.
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