JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- With all of joint basing's upsides, one concern has been that service identities and cultures might be lost. If you were at Cowan Stadium May 23, you'd know that Joint Base Lewis-McChord is in good hands in that respect, with Army and Air Force units joining in competition.
It was a purple evening with a green topping as 46th Aviation Support Battalion "Bellators" bested 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 3-1, for the JBLM FMWR intramural soccer championship. The backfield play of the Bellators' David Essi (assist, 6 steals) and his late-match kick start of a sometimes disorganized attack were vital in a match that saw his team outshoot 62nd AMXS, 23-6.
The first minute of play was an indication that 62nd AMXS fans had a long night ahead of them as Lovemore Mafasa's pass found Abdulrahaman Abdulrahaman and Army drew first blood with a dribbler goal. The pair would combine for 10 shots over the following 49 minutes -- four more than their opponents' entire squad.
Airmen from the 62nd AMXS weren't without their stars: Colton McLaughin and James Campbell had good first halves, and Doug Fielding, 62nd AMXS' goalie, did everything but stand on his head to turn back a fire-happy Army offense (9 first-half shots). Fielding's play countered 62nd AMXS' off-target offense (3 shots wide to 2 shots on net) and was the reason the first half ended at a hopeful 1-0 score.
On the sidelines, Essi said he wasn't totally pleased with 42nd ASB's first-half play, but his confidence hadn't waned.
"We played well, but I think we need to control the midfield more -- slow the game down," he said. "We have a lot of talent. If we can slow that midfield down, I can tell you that Army is going to win the game."
On the other sideline, the Airmen were trying to mentally adjust to an Army team who Ryan Ackles, the team's head coach, said was definitely beatable.
"We need a lot more passing using the length of the field," he said. "We need to put more bodies on them, show them that we're here -- it's not out of our reach."
To open the second half, 62nd AMXS' Ryan Goetz lightly charged a 46th ASB ball handler, as if to send a message that the McChord Field champions weren't going back up Interstate 5 without a fight. Fight they did as the Army defense saw more challenges in the opening minutes of the second half than they did in all of the first. The Air Force team got off their heels and took it to the Bellators, while the Soldiers' first-half confidence dialed back for the fight at hand.
Just past the 15-minute mark of the second half, 62nd AMXS' Mike Granato had a nightmare moment when he found a rebounded ball at his feet and an empty 46th ASB net in front of him as the Bellator goalie scrambled to recover. Instead of tying the match, he sent the ball high over the net, maybe knowing that with now four minutes left in regulation, that may have been his team's last chance.
That wasn't 62nd AMXS' last chance and it took less than a minute for the Airmen to get their shot once again.
Following illegal contact inside the Army box, a penalty shot was called and it was Granato who had the chance for redemption. He didn't miss and 62nd AMXS tied the game 1-1.
Now past the 20-minute mark, both teams seemed to be playing not to lose and looking toward overtime -- everyone except Essi. After about 20 seconds of his attack dribbling the ball deep in 62nd AMXS territory, he jumped up from his defensive position and fired a pass through traffic that found Victor Ortega for the go-ahead goal and what would eventually be the game winner.
At 24:03 a third goal, scored by Mafasa, provided insurance for the 46th ASB victory.
After the match, Ortega admitted said he may not be a great soccer player, yet he wanted to be a great teammate.
"I didn't care if it went in or not," he said with a laugh, "I just knew I had to shoot. I'm lucky that it did go in."
With the season now in the books, he said running the pitch with his fellow Bellators was time well spent.
"This season was a lot of fun," he said. "These guys are great guys and they've taught me a lot."
Lt. Col. Mark Sisco, 46th ASB commander, was on the sideline to cheer his troops. He said he appreciated that they got a chance to play in the FMWR league, and were able to grow because of it.
"This (match) was a great representation of two teams coming together, a great show of sportsmanship and some Army-Air Force friendly competition," he said. "Teamwork is what we're about in the Army, both personally and professionally. It was a tight game and was a good opportunity for them to rise above."
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