LAPD Soccer Team: L/R Standing: Coach Bumpy Marco, Sean Norwood, Edgar Ramos, Geoff Carlson, David Blake, Raphael Virruetes, Kevin , Julio Lopez-Castillo, Jimmy Erwin - Goalie, Juan Lopez, Joel Dominguez, Javier Hernandez, Coach Hugo Cepeida and Coach Don Barfield.
Kneeling: Brian Rivas, Heric Obregon, Elias Aguayo, Carlos Diaz, Mark Hubert, Fernando Calvillo, Kenny Pintado and Robert O. Missing from photo, Joey Stevenson, Sun DI & Manuel Mendieta.
**There are over 90 action photographs of the various games we competed in. To view greater detail of the photos, double clicking your mouse while on the photo selected. (Video clip at the end of this blog depicts Rookie David Blake's spectacular goal.)
LA County Sheriff’s Spring Soccer Cup 2010
March 20th & 21st, 2010, The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s hosted their annual Spring Soccer Cup at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, CA. A contingency of law enforcement and fire agency teams competed in two-a-day games for the honor of being crowned the Cup Champions.
This is the first tournament of the new year and with the addition of several new players to the team, it proved to be a good test of their character, skills and endurance.
Six teams answered the challenge. They were:
· Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
· Los Angeles Police Department
· Los Angeles Airport Police
· Los Angeles City Fire Department
· Los Angeles County Fire Department
· El Pilon, a local Club Team.
Our first match put us up against our long time rivals, the LA City Fire Dept. This team is a spirited bunch of very skilled fire personnel. They continually give us fits in tournament matches scheduled throughout the year. This match would prove to be a competitive game as usual.
During the first half, City Fire controlled most of the play putting LAPD on their heels and pinning them in their own defensive end. Fortunately, it appeared that City Fire let their guard down wherein LAPD got a break-a-way play and subsequently scored the first goal. At the half break the score was LAPD 1, LAFD-0. The coaches and players discussed how to remedy our ball passing . We marched back onto the field and implemented those changes. It proved to be the answer as in the 2nd half, LAPD scored three additional goals to win the match 4-1.
Our second game of the day pitted us against the LA County Fire Dept. Again, another skilled team that plays hard and uses great soccer tactics to dominate. This game was a see/saw battle back and forth with the ultimate outcome LAPD 3, LA County Fire 1.
As the evening closed, we took a break until the next day.
Sunday, March 21st at 0800 hrs, we took to the turf to play LAX Airport Police. This is a new fledgling team that is just coming together. Unfortunately for them, our team was hungry for goals and subsequently won the match 8-0.
That took care of the preliminary games as we were undefeated. Now on to the Championship Game. As luck would have it, LA County Sheriff’s did not muster enough points to advance so we took on El Pilon, a young, fast and aggressive Club Team with an abundance of skills.
Both teams played with great intensity, hard physical play and good sound tactics. El Pilon scored first putting LAPD on the defense. LAPD mustered through it and added the tying goal at 1-1. El Pilon continued to force our play, continually forcing errors on our side. Pilon struck again with a 2-1 lead. Their speed was difficult for our defense to match. Again, with dogged determination, LAPD came back and tied the score at 2 apiece. The clock was winding down with just 15 min left in the game when Pilon was fouled about 20 yds out from our goal. Their striker struck a perfect shot on goal that just cleared the outreached hands of the LAPD goalie. Again LAPD was trailing. Realizing that time was running out, LAPD pushed all of their players forward on a corner kick. The ball was served to the center of the goal mouth and subsequently struck by LAPD, smashing into the back of the net. GOAL…. GOAL…. But the celebration to tie the game in the last minute of play went for not. The referee claimed the defending goalie was fouled and did not allow the goal. Thus El Pilon won the game 3-2.
Congratulations to El Pilon for winning the Cup. LAPD took Second Place and the Silver Medal.
The accommodations were first class with exceptional fields and refereeing. We wish to thank Ruben NAVA, LA County Sheriff and the Sheriff’s Athletic Foundation for a great soccer tournament.
First Game, LAPD in the blue Vs. LA City Fire in the red.
Fernando Calvillo dribbles past the City Fire Defender.
Edgar Ramos stops the attacking players.
Joel Dominguez out maneuvers the defender.
Joey Stevenson centers a ball to the goal mouth.
Joel Dominguez (16) strikes a shot on goal.
Juan Lopez tries to avoid the defending goalie.
Carlos Diaz (10) pushing forward
Heric Obregon passes up field.
Joel Dominguez (16) centers the ball
Goalie Manuel Mendieta stops a shot on goal by #9 of the fire team.
Juan Lopez (2) fires a shot on goal that is stopped by their goalie.
Joey Stevenson tries to shoot for a goal with the goalie hounding him. Sequence 1
Joey Stevenson watches the ball as the goalie just deflected it over the goal. Sequence 2
Joey Stevenson hoping for the goal. Sequence 3.
Joey Stevenson realizes that he just missed the goal. Sequence 4.
Brian Rivas (5) maneuvers past the defender .
Brian Rivas (5) and Joey Stevenson (17) try to link their passes.
Raphael Virrueta (13) thwarts the forwards offensive drive.
Brian Rivas attacks the ball.
Brian Rivas (5) fakes out the player to maintain control of the ball.
David Blake (15) tries to settle the ball for a shot on goal. Robert Orum (18) provides support.
Brian Orum (18) reacts to the pass.
LAPD forms a defensive wall while fire shoots on our net.
Robert Orum (18) looks to pass the ball.
David Blake (15) dribbles past the defenders.
Julio -Lopez-Castillo (19) looks to pass the ball off.
Sun DI is run into by the fire defender.
Mark Hubert (6) defends his area.
Fernando Calvillo (4) passes the ball up field.
On to the third game, LAPD (in blue) vis LA Airport Police (in black & white)
Brian Rivas (12) looks down field for a pass.
Brian Rivas (12) using his speed to drive down field.
Brian Rivas (12) strides past the defenders on way to the goal.
Brian Rivas (12)
Joel Dominguez (21) passes up field.
Fernando Calvillo (4) pass ahead to Julio Lopez-Castillo (19)
Julio Lopez-Castillo (19) and Joel Dominguez (21) box in the opposing player.
Mark Hubert (6) drives the ball up field.
Geoff Carlson (20) passes up field.
Geoff Carlson (20) passing around the defender.
Joel Dominguez (21) looks up field to pass.
Juan Lopez (9) dribbles up field.
Joey Stevenson (17) breaks through the defense for a shot on goal.
Juan Lopez (9) finishes the attack with a goal!
New rookie David Blake (15) fakes the defender and dribbles up field.
Carlos Diaz (10) avoids a slide tackle and maintains the ball.
Good team work by David Blake (15) passing up field.
Defender Fernando Calvillo (4) jumps up into the play for a scoring opportunity.
Juan Lopez (9) challenges the goalie after a shot on goal.
Joel Dominguez (21) coordinates the attack through the midfield.
Joel Dominguez (21) passing to advance the ball
New rookie Javier Hernandez (5) controls the ball to advance the play.
Carlos Diaz (10) dribbles up field.
Carlos Diaz (10) continues to apply pressure to the defenders.
Juan Lopez (9) uses his body position to protect the ball.
David Blake (15) drives down field.
David Blake (15) checks for support by Joey Stevenson (17)
David Blake (15) surveys his options.
Brian Rivas passes up field.
David Blake breaks past the defense on way to a shot.
David Blake's (15) shot on goal.
Heric Obrebon #3 takes a shot on goal.
Veteran Kevin (4) on the defense.
On to the finals.... LAPD Vs. El Pilon, a local Club Soccer Team.
Joel Dominguez (21) controls the mid field.
Brian Rivas (12) passes the fall forward.
Juan Lopez (9) controls the ball.
Julio Lopez-Castillo (19) controls the ball and advances forward.
Mark Hubert (6) passes up field.
Juan Lopez (9) passes as he receives pressure from the defender.
Francisco Calvillo (4) advances the ball from his defensive zone.
Juan Lopez (9) looks for a long pass.
The veteran defender Sean Norwood (11) passes up field.
Fernando Calvillo (4) defends his zone, applying pressure to the striker.
Julio Lopez-Castillo (19) tries for a shot on goal.
Joel Dominguez (21) challenges the player for the ball.
Julio Lopez-Castillo drives toward the net for a shot on goal.
Joel Dominguez (21) anchors the midfield.
Joel Dominguez passes up field.
Brian Rivas (12) draws the attention of the defensive player.
Corner attempt by El Pilon is thwarted by the head of Mark Hubert(6).
Julio Lopez-Castillo (19) advances the ball with support from Fernando (4).
Joel Dominguez breaks past the defender.
Juan Lopez (9) challenges the player for a head ball.
Joel Dominguez (21) using his dribbling skills, is chased by the defense.
Joel Dominguez (21) drives past the defender.
Fernando Cavillo (4) jumps into the offense
David Blake (15) pushes forward with the ball.
Joel Dominguez organizes the mid field.
Brian Rivas drives the ball down field.
David Blake (15) is pushed off the ball while shooting on goal.
Julio Lopez-Castillo (10) uses teammate Joey Stevenson (17) to complete a pass.
A shot on goal is thwarted by El Pilon's goalie.
Fernando Calvillo (4) drives the ball forward for a long pass.
The final score was El Pilon 3, LAPD 2. El Pilon won the Cup while LAPD took 2nd Place and the Silver medal. Congratulations to El Pilon competitive game and the overall win.
Video Clip of an exceptional goal by Rookie David Blake assisted by Rookie Robert Orum.
All comments are welcomed.....
