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.
Juan Lopez tries to avoid the defending goalie.
Carlos Diaz (10) pushing forward
Heric Obregon passes up field.
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 realizes that he just missed the goal. Sequence 4.
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.
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) passes the fall forward.
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.
Joel Dominguez (21) using his dribbling skills, is chased by the defense.
Joel Dominguez (21) drives past the defender.
Brian Rivas drives the ball down field.
David Blake (15) is pushed off the ball while shooting on goal.
Video Clip of an exceptional goal by Rookie David Blake assisted by Rookie Robert Orum.
All comments are welcomed.....
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