Our Colleagues in Arms... British Military Team Challenges LAPD Soccer Team

LAPD in White, Brit's in Blue, Referee's in Green
(Place your cursor on the above photo and double click to expand it.)

The LAPD Soccer Team continues to expand their relations with our counterparts throughout the globe.  On September 13, 2010, a British Military Soccer Team was visiting the greater Los Angeles area and expressed an interest in playing the LAPD Soccer Team.  They had heard that LAPD had a quality team that would give them a spirited game.  LAPD accepted the challenge and the arrangements were made to play that evening at Cathedral High School.

The British Military Soccer Team is known as the Pilgrims Football Club.  They are a dedicated group of active British Military personnel from their Special Forces Units abroad.  The team Manager is Dave Whitson, an exceptional leader and coach for their team. 

As the game started, each team probed the other trying to expose a weakness they could exploit.  The Brits play more of a long ball approach, looking for a quick break-a-way, where LAPD plays more of a patient game of passing and working the whole team up to create a scoring opportunity.

Both teams played physical, but clean soccer, respecting the skills and determination of their opponents.  Each team had several opportunities to score in the sea-saw battle of play.  Various tactical changes to game were made to try and gain the upper hand in the match.  This was all to no avail as neither team was able to score leaving it a 0-0.

The teams were very evenly matched in their tactics, skills, endurance and determination.  At the conclusion, it was a spirited game that was fun and exciting and an honor to have participated in.  Both teams acknowledged respect for each other and thoroughly enjoyed the match.

Three days later, the Brits were feeling their oats and wanted a re-match believing they could defeat the locals (LAPD).  So a second game was hastily put together for September 16^th, 2010 at Liechty Middle High School.

With such short notice, LAPD was strapped for players that were off-duty that could commit to playing.  At the last minute, we were able to muster sufficient players for a game.  Several of our “core” players were unavailable so the contest would be different than our first game.

It seems the Brits were a little long winded in their assumptions that they could beat the LAPD Soccer Team.  At the end, the score told the story.  LAPD-4, the Brits-1.  The game was dominated by LAPD throughout the course of the match.  The Brits were on their heels most of the game and were surprised at our team work and determination.

We wish to express our sincere appreciation and respect to the British Military Soccer Team, the Pilgrims, F.C. for the honor of playing them in the sport of kings.

I contacted the Brits team manager David Whitson upon their return to England and was advised that several of their players were immediately deployed to Afghanistan for Special Forces assignments.  God Speed and keep them safe.  These young men are a credit to all of us, fighting the fight abroad so we don’t have to fight on our own home turf.  

LAPD Soccer Takes the "GOLD MEDAL" at the Western States Police & Fire Games in Reno, NV

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS IN SOCCER FOR THE WESTERN STATES POLICE AND FIRE GAMES 2010

The Los Angeles Police Soccer Team, Gold Medal Winners.

Standing L/R:

Scott Burkett, Sean Norwood, Andrew Cota, Geoff Carlson, Manuel Mendieta, Coach Hugo Cepeida, Jim Erwin, David Blake, Edgar Ramos, Joseph Stevenson, Mark Hubert & Coach Don Barfield.

Kneeling L/R:

Albert Duneas , Heric Obregon, Kenny Pintado, Carlos Diaz, Elias Aguayo, Brian Rivas & Joel Dominguez.

The Western States Police & Fire Games 2010 were held in Reno, NV the week of July 26^th, 2010. This is the premiere national sporting competition for all law enforcement and fire agencies for the following States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, fourteen States in all.

The Men’s Soccer Open Division consisted of the following teams:

· Los Angeles Police Department

· San Francisco A-Team

· San Jose Football Club

· Stanislaus County Football Club United

· Joe Staggs of Riverside County

· San Francisco B-Team

· San Diego Fire

The setting of Reno, Nevada is a beautiful foothill community adjacent to the Rocky Mountains. It is a high desert area that frequently sustains summer temperatures of mid to high 90’s This year was no different. During our week of competition, daily temperatures averaged in the high 90’s. This heightened the strenuous aspects of soccer, taking its toll and adding to the fatigue of the games.

The schedule was grueling. We played two games a day on two separate occasions in five days. With a total of six games in four days at a highly competitive level made this a very challenging and hard fought event for all teams.

Our first match pitted LAPD against the team “Joe Staggs”, a combo team from Riverside County. The LAPD Soccer Program has been gearing up for this tournament since the first of the year, training, practicing conditioning, working on improving our skill level and tactics. Our squad started out eager and hungry for goals. It was evident that LAPD came to play serious soccer when the whistle sounded the end of the game with the score LAPD 6, Joe Staggs Team 2. Our next game would begin in two hours.

Our second game was against our arch rivals, the San Francisco A-Team. San Francisco has been the Gold Medal winners in several prior years and has earned a degree of concern for the way they play physical soccer. LAPD came out determined to show S.F. this would be a grueling game. The game see/sawed back and forth with scoring opportunities failing on several occasions by both teams. LAPD did maintain a presence in the defensive zone of S.F., keeping them on their heels throughout most of the game. S.F. struck first when awarded a penalty shot and scored. However, LAPD did not let that keep them down and in the final minutes of play countered with the tying goal. Time expired leaving the game in a tie.

In our next game, we encountered the San Diego Fire Team, a well rounded, skillful and tactically sound team. This was again a very hard driven game by both teams. LAPD continued to press the advantage by playing in Fire’s defensive half. With the score 0-0 and less than 10-minutes left to go in the game, LAPD scored the only goal of the game taking the win.

On day three of the competition, we were slated again for two games. Our first was against San Jose F.C., a talented and skillful team. The scoring opportunities went back and forth with both teams scoring. The final results favored LAPD with the win of 3-2 over San Jose.

Our second game was a nail biter. We played Stanislaus County F.C. It was hot and late in the day with temperatures over 97 degrees. After playing four grueling games, fatigue was evident on both teams. LAPD strapped up their boots and pushed forward. A goal for LAPD, a counter by Stanislaus. Another see/saw battle with both teams being spent at the conclusion of the game. A hearty 3-3 tie was all that could be mustered.

Our next game was set for the San Francisco B-Team, however, they were banged up and unable to field a proper team so they forfeited our last match giving us another win.

The point standings for win, tie, loss put us in the lead and giving us the Gold Medal, a journey that has been a long time coming. We last won the Gold Medal at the WSP&FG in 1999, an eleven year drought. Cheers to our soccer players and staff for fighting the good fight and coming home victorious!

The following action photographs may be enlarged by placing your mouse cursor over the photo of interest and left clicking. The image will reload into a larger picture format.

Brian Rivas #6 controls the mid field

Joey Stevenson #17 drives toward the goal

Sean Norwood #11 strikes a crossing set play from a corner kick

Kevin Curry #14 challenges and fights for the ball

Kenny Pintado #7 attacks the ball looking to score

Mark Hubert #6 the veteran stops the advancing forward

Mark Hubert #6 settles the play, passing up field to Elias Aguayo #8

Albert Duneas  #16 scores the game winner against San Diego Fire

David Blake #15, the work horse of the team, moves in on the attack

David Blake #15 is assisted by Elias Aguayo #8 and Joel Dominguez #21 on the attack

Joel Dominguez #21 and David Blake #15 link up on the attack

Elias Aguayo #8 dribbles into the attacking area

Elias Aguayo #8 passes ahead to Joel Dominguez #21 on the attack

Andrew Cota #20 sets up the offensive play

Kevin Curry surveys his options before passing to David Blake #15

Kevin Curry #14 dribbles on the attack

Joel Dominguez #21 strikes a shot toward the net

Kevin Curry #14 takes control of the defense

David Blake survey's his options for a pass to Heric Obregon #9

Elias Aguayo #8 drives down field

Elias Aguayo #8

Carlos Diaz #10 and Andrew Cota #20 set up the offensive play

Kevin Currie #14 and Sean Norwood #11

Albert Duneas #16 secures the mid field

Brian Rivas #5 passes up field to Andrew Cota #20

Carlos Diaz #10 works with Andrew Cota #20 on the offense

Joey Stevenson #17 strikes a shot on goal

Mark Hubert #6 works up field

Goalie Manuel Mendieta kicks the ball down field to his teammates

Sean Norwood #11 is backed-up by Mark Hubert #6

Joel Dominguez #21 works the ball down field

Mark Hubert #6 drives a long ball down field

Joel Dominguez #21 using his talent to dribble through the opposing team

Joey Stevenson #17 fights for a shot on goal

LAPD Soccer Squad receives their assignments and game plan from Coach Cepeida

Edgar Ramos #3 works the ball up field

Mark Hubert #6 passes to his line mate Sean Norwood #11

Joey Stevenson #17 assists the defense

David Blake #15 is supported by the running Elias Aguayo #8

Joey Stevenson #17 fires a shot on goal

Carlos Diaz #10 dribbles around the defender

Albert #16 passes ahead to Brian Rivas #5 with David Blake #15 sprinting down field

Joey Stevenson #17 in the corner tries to volley a ball to teammate David Blake #15

Duneas y's the field for a long pass

Albert Duneas  #16 dribbles down field on the attack

Brian Rivas #5 attacks the approaching player. David Blake #15 backs him up

Goalie Jim Erwin stops a shot on our goal

Goalie Jim Erwin throws the ball out to an awaiting player

David Blake #15 sets his sights on shooting on goal

David Blake #15 passes up field and thwarts the defender

Joel Dominguez #21 advances the ball

Edgar Ramos dribbles down field with support from Brian Rivas #5

Albert #16 looks to set up the offense

David Blake #15 drives down field supported by Joey Stevenson #17

David Blake #15 dribbles down field

LAPD Soccer Team - Reno, NV
Gold Medal Winners, WSP&FG 2010




Standing L/R:  Coach Don Barfield, Geoff Carlson, Kevin Currie, Jim Erwin, Manuel Mandieta, David Burke, David Blake, Andrea Cota, Edgar Ramos, Joey Stevenson & Coach Hugo Cepeida
Kneeling L/R:  Sean Norwood, Carlos Diaz, Kenny Pintado, Elias Aguayo, Brian Rivas, Albert Duneas , Mark Hubert, Heric Obregon and Joel Dominguez.

Our next law enforcement/fire agency soccer tournament will be held in Las Vegas, NV. The Nevada Police and Fire Games, August 11, 12, 13 and 14, 2010. LAPD will be taking a soccer team to this competition.

We wish to thank the WSP&FG Staff for an outstanding athletic event and to those volunteers of Reno, our hats go off to you for a job well done.

Any and all comments are welcome.