9-11 Heroes Cup Flyer
This is the 7th Annual 9-11 Heroes Cup that is designed to recognize our fallen comrades from the terrorist attack on our country in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia and those heroes that crashed their commercial jet into the ground in Pennsylvania. Let us all remember their ultimate sacrifices.
The Major League Soccer Team, Chivas, USA hosts this annual event on or near the anniversary date of September 11th. This year nine teams competed. The level of soccer play is one of the highest that law enforcement and fire personnel compete in.
The teams participating this year are as follow:
· Orange County Fire Authority
· Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
· South Cal United – Combination Team
· Ventura County Police & Fire
· Los Angeles Airport Police
· Los Angeles City Fire
· Los Angeles County Fire
· Los Angeles Police Department
· Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department
The LAPD Team drew one of our old acquaintances, the Los Angeles County Fire. They are a tough and well skilled team that always manages to end up high in the standings.
LAPD started the game conservatively to assess County Fire’s strengths and weaknesses. In the first half, the game was close, however in the 2nd half, LAPD took command and ultimately defeated County Fire 3-1.
In our 2nd game of the day, we took on the scruffy Sacramento Sheriff’s. They are a highly skilled team but add a twist of being very physical. If you touch the ball, they don’t let you forget it.
Both teams played a clawing and scratching game, fighting for every ball. At the end of the 1st half, the game was tied 0-0. In the 2nd half, nothing changed. Each team played with pride and were determined to win. Many failed attempts to score were felt by both teams. In the end, the game remained tied 0-0.
On day two, we played our third game of the tournament, the LA City Fire. This is a team that we see-saw back and forth for top honors over the past 5-years. They are a very talented group that plays to win.
They started the game short. Down by two players, they circled the wagons around their goal mouth and smothered many or our shots. By the end of the 1st half, the game was still 0-0. City Fire was doing a good job in thwarting our attacks on their goal.
After assessing their defensive posture, we came up with a plan of attack. As the 2nd half started, LAPD put in 3-goals in 15 minutes. We had found their weakness. Feeling confident, LAPD played conservatively. City Fire was able to get two late arriving players and that put each team at full strength. City Fire was hungry for a goal. 20 minutes in to the half, they scored a goal. 10 minutes later, they scored a second goal. And in the last 5-minutes of the game, LAPD scored an “own goal” thus tying the game.
Our hats are off to City Fire for never giving up. They did a remarkable job of coming back to tie.
Our standings in the preliminary rounds allowed us to advance to the semi-finals wherein we would meet the LA County Sheriff’s.
This was a great game. Both teams fought hard to advance to the finals. The Sheriff’s scored and then LAPD scored. Back and forth this familiar tone repeated itself throughout the match. As time wound down, the Sheriff’s were up 3-2 over LAPD. LAPD changed it’s tactics, throwing our defensive players into the offensive mix. That paid off with a late goal to tie the game 3-3.
On to shootouts. As each player approached the penalty spot for their shot on goal, you could feel the tension building. Alternating team players shot one after the other. One, two, three, four…. All players were scoring…. Five, six and finally seven and a miss. LAPD’s player pushed the ball just wide of the goal. LA County Sheriff’s advanced to the finals. LAPD would advance to the 3rd-4th place game on Sunday at the Home Depot Center.
As LAPD was preparing for the 3rd–4th place game, we were informed that we would be playing LA City Fire. Unfortunately, LA City Fire could not field sufficient players to constitute a team and forfeited the game giving LAPD 3rd place overall in the tournament.
We wish to thank our host Chivas, USA and specifically Jessica Acosta, the event coordinator. She had her hands full organizing the schedule, the fields and referees. Thank you Jessica.
See random photographs below of our soccer matches taken by Coach Don Barfield. To expand the photo, just double click the image.
A moment of silence to honor those heroes of the 9-11 event by LAPD (white) and LASD (green)
Sacramento Sheriff's in blue challenged by #5 Fernando Calvillo
#5 Fernando takes charge of the ball and pushes forward on the offense
#17 Julio Castillo-Lopez using his skill to get around the Sac Sheriff player
#19 Heric Obregon and #17 Julio Castillo-Lopez follow-up on a long shot
Sac Sheriff's defend their goal on a corner cross
#19 Heric Obregon jumps to the ball as the Sac Sheriff's goalie tries to keep the ball out of his net
#13 Rafael Virrueta dribbles up field
#18 Luis Herrera maneuvers for position against the Sac Sheriffs
#13 Rafael is physically challenged by the Sac Sheriffs
#12 Pasqual Salado takes command of the ball and moves up field
The Sac Sheriff is swarmed by LAPD defense, #5 Fernando, #11 Sean Norwood & #12 Pasqual
Defense sets up again #5 Fernando and #17 Julio surround the Sac Sherrif
#17 Julio drives down field being chased by numerous Sac Sheriff's
#19 Heric Obregon attempts a header on goad being tightly guarded by Sac Sheriff's
#6 Mark Hubert knows how to play physical. Even with injuries, he won't come out
#6 Mark Huber stops the Sac Sheriff's from advancing. Good defense
Heric Obregon drives down field
#20 Carlos Diaz sprints to an opening although being blocked out by the Sac Sheriff's
Mark Hubert steps up to thwart the Sac Sheriff's
#13 Rafael Virrueta
#6 Mark Hubert moves the ball to the offense
#5 Fernando looks to pass the ball off
#5 Kevin Bonilla, sets the offensive play with #11 Sean Norwood against City Fire
#19 Julio looks to pass the ball off
#5 Kevin Bonilla is challenged by City Fire players
Kevin Bonilla sees an open player down field and pass the ball off
#7 Joey Stevenson sees an oportunity to get past City Fire's goalie
Joey accelerates around the gaolie
Joey Stevenson sets up for the shot
#4 Ryan Lee thwarts the attack by City Fire players
#5 Kevin Bonilla and #3 Jose pass the ball off
#5 Kevin Bonilla passes a through ball up to the sprinting #3 Jose
#4 Ryan Lee works with Goalie Luis Interiano
#9 Marlon Marrache works with #8 Elias Aguayo and #20 Carlos Diaz on the offensive drive
#8 Elias Aguayo steps up from his defensive position to challenge City Fire
Goalie Luis Interiano smothers a shot on goal by City Fire
#9 Marlon Marrache works with #20 Carlos Diaz moving the ball to the offense
#16 Scott Burket is challenged by City Fire
#15 Emmerson Cruz scores a header into City Fire's net
City Fire slide tackles #20 Carlos Diaz
#8 Elias Aguayo advances the play on the offense
#8 Elias Aguayo continues down field
#12 Juan Lopez looks to pass off the ball
#21 Heric Obregon fights for position against City Fire
#21 Heric Obregon heads the ball at the goal
Heric's header confuses City Fire's goalie
320 Carlos Diaz challenges the Orange County Fire player
#5 Kevin Bonilla surveys the field for a pass
Julio Castillo-Lopez pushes hard up field against Orange County Fire
321 Heric Obregon looks to set up a play
32 Edgar Ramos dribbles through the defensive live of Orange County Fire
Carlos Diaz and Kevin Bonilla work together on the attack
Carlos Diaz pushes the ball through on a pass
Ryan Lee looks for the long pass while Goalie Luis Interiano watches
#2 Edgar Ramos drives up field
#21 Heric Obregon shoots on goal against Orange County Fire
#19 Elias Aguayo uses temmate #11 Sean Norwood to advance the ball
#17 Joey Stevenson passes ahead to #11 Sean Norwood
#2 Edgar Ramos using his dribbling skills to advance the ball
Yea, go Edgar
#4 Ryan Lee passes up field
#2 Edgar Ramos fights to stop the advance of Orange County Fires
#2 Edgar Ramos doesn't back down
#12 Juan Lopez shoots on goal
#6 Mark Hubert heads the ball to advance it to #12 Juan Lopez
A high corner corss by LAPD is defended by the LA County Sheriff's (green)
#19 Julio Castillo-Lopez sets up an offensive drive
Julio Strikes the ball for a shot on goal
#3 Edgar Ramos heads the ball out from a LA Co. Sheriff's corner kick
#2 Kevin Bonilla launches a high ball to his teammates on the back post
LA County Sheriff's goalie stops a corner kick shot on goal
Another Corner Kick by LAPD
And another corner kick by LAPD
#11 Sean Norwood surveys the field for an offensive play
Goalie Luis Interiano throws the ball up field
The LA Co Sheriff's defend their goal
Goalie Luis Interiano ushers off the offensive Sheriff
Kevin and Juan Lopez form a defensive wall for LAPD
The attempted shot on goal
LAPD defends the Sheriff's corner kick
And again a high kick LAPD defends
LAPD defending the goal mouth
#5 Fernando Calvillo swarms the Sheriff player for the ball
#19 Julio Castillo-Lopez dribbles around the Sheriff defender
#7 Heric Obregon passes to #9 Juan Lopez
#9 Juan Lopez is challenged for the high ball
#9 Juan Lopez sets up an offensive play
After the game ended in a 3-3 tie, shoot outs began. Luis Interiano assess the Sheriff's shot
#19 Julio Castillo-Lopez finishes his shot in shoot outs with a perfect score
Goalie Luis Interiano tries to stop the shot
#3 Edgar Ramos drives a shot past the Sheriff's goalie
Goalie Luis Interiano attempts to stop the shot
#6 defensiveman Mark Hubert scores on his shot
Great shot Mark!
Goalie Luis Interiano guesses the wrong side.
We hope to receive an invitation to the San Antonio Police Deparment's soccer tournament in early November. We will be taking off a couple of weeks to rest and mend our injuries.
