Los Angeles Police Department's Soccer Program

Monday, May 7, 2012

2012 LA County Sheriff's Annual Spring Soccer Tournament

6th Annual LA County Sheriff's Spring Soccer Cup

Our first major soccer tournament of 2012 was hosted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Athletic Association. Det/Sgt Ruben Nava is the host/coordinator this event. It is one of the premier tournaments pitting law enforcement and fire agencies against one another in fierce competition for the bragging rights to be the top soccer team in Los Angeles County.

Thirteen teams entered the competition this year with 8-teams in the open division, three in the 35 and older division and two women’s teams.

The “Open” brackets were composed of the following teams:

1. LAPD	5. LA County Sheriff’s
2. Pasadena Fire	6. Long Beach PD
3. LA City Fire	7. LA International Airport Police
4. The Olympian’s	8. LA County Fire

In our first game we drew the Pasadena Fire Department. They are a new team to the tournament. As the game progressed, it was found that they had not played together in preparation for the tournament. LAPD rolled to an easy 8-0 victory.

In our second game we played the LA City Fire. They are a well-disciplined team with a very high skill level and exude confidence in their play. Both teams played a very skilled and physical game with several shots on goal that were just wide of the mark. Additionally, Ofcr David Blake stepped up his game acting as our goalie. He was stellar in his approach and confidence. He made several exceptional saves to keep LAPD in the game.

LAPD’s forwards had difficulty in penetrating Fire’s defense. However several break-downs did occur, but LAPD was unable to capitalize on them. At the end, this hard fought battle ended in a 0-0 tie. Both clubs played well.

Our third preliminary round game was against another new team to the competition, the Olympians. A soccer club composed of mostly Korean men. They were anxious to compete. The Olympians played a solid defensive game, thwarting attempt after attempt, trying to penetrat them for a shot on goal. LAPD continued its relentless attacks and in the final 5-minutes, Ofcr David Blake won the match with a blistering shot from 20-yards out. LAPD advanced to the finals.

Due to the formula for determining the advancing teams, LAPD, although being undefeated and without allowing a single goal scored against them during the qualifying rounds, did not advance to the 1^st/2^nd place game. That was earned by LA City Fire. They played the winners of the alternate bracket, the LA County Fire for the Championship Game. LAPD played the LA Co Sheriff’s for 3^rd place.

In our final game of this two day event, both LAPD and LA Co. Sheriff’s played an exciting but physically draining game. The sheriff’s always challenge us with their technical soccer play, speed and skill lever. But in today’s match, LAPD was dominant. We moved up the field using our proven tactics, challenging the sheriff’s when they possessed the ball, causing them to turn it over. Our goal scoring was relentless, putting the sheriff’s on their heels. In the end, LAPD prevailed with a 5-0 win.

We wish to thank Det/Sgt Ruben Nava for an exception tournament. It was professionally organized and a pleasure to have been associated with it.

Our next major tournament will be at the United States Police & Fire Championships, held in San Diego, CA the week of June 16 through the 24^th, 2012.

To enlarge any photographs, double click on it to expand it.....

Geoff Carlson anchors the defense... Solid performance

Kevin Bonilla chases down a loose ball in the box

Mark Hubert breaks through the defense for a shot on goal

Mark strikes the ball...... next photo

Mark shoot straight to the goalie... another thwarted attempt

From a walled off foul position, a shot on goal

Shot on goal thwarted by opposing team's defense

David Blake - great action in goal for his team

David Blake switches the play form defense to offense....

Olympian defense thwarts wall shot by LAPD

Joel looking for support down field

Joel Strikes a shot on goal....

Kevin - a Solid Defender.....

Joel Dominguez dribbles down field

Joel outpaces his opponents

Mark Hubert quickly sets the play forward

DEEEEFENSSE was spectacular... Geoff Carlson & Edgar aggressively heading the ball

Joel sprints down field passing his pursuers

David Blake in the box looks for support

Joel strikes a shot on goal

Julio Castillo Lopez works the ball

laterally

Goalie stops a shot

Kevin changing the play to offense

Kevin drives the ball down field

Joel Dominguez looking down field to pass

Mark Hubert

Mark Hubert setting up a play down field

Joel Dominguez passes ahead to Elias - next photo

Elias Aguayo breaks down field in this sequence

Elias enters the 18 yd box setting up for a shot

Elias fires a blistering shot on goal

Edgar Ramos Sets For A Pass

Several of the Team Players conversing after the game.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

LAPD Wins Gold Medal at LA Sheriff's Spring Soccer Cup Tournament

Front Row L/R:

Brian Rivas, Mark Hubert, Joel Dominguez, Elias Aguayo, Kenny Pintado, Julio Castillo-Lopez & Carlos Marco.

Back Row Standing L/R:

Scott Burkett, Ofcr Hernandez, Pascualy Salado, Rafael Virrueta, Joey Stevenson, Hugo Virrueta, Jim Erwin, Kevin , Edgar Ramos, Kevin Bonilla, C0ach Bumpy Marco, Coach Hugo Cepeida and Coach Don Barfield

May 21/22, 2011, the LAPD Soccer Team played in the 3^rd annual LA County Sheriff’s Spring Soccer Cup, held at Mount San Antonio College. Eight teams from law enforcement, fire agencies and local “club teams” competed in this two day tournament.

Our first game pitted us against our old nemesis, the LA City Fire Department. Their team is always one that proves to be a challenge for us as they are a highly skilled and fit team.

As the game progressed, it was a back and forth battle for goals. LAPD scored first, but that only seemed to awaken the Fire Department team as they came back shortly tying the game. Those scenarios played out again and again as one team would score, the other would shortly counter and score. In the end, LAPD prevailed winning a close 4-3 victory.

Next was the LA School Police. They are a young aggressive team that is in their building stages. They are a scrappy bunch that continues to challenge our players. Again LAPD advanced with a win, 3-1 over the School Police.

On the next day of competition, we drew one of the local “club” soccer team. These are players that dedicate themselves to playing the highest quality of soccer and are extremely competitive. This was a low scoring game with advantages being missed by both teams. It was a physically challenging game, but when the dust settled and the game was over, LAPD again moved forward to the finals with a narrow 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul Club Soccer.

The finals put us against another “club soccer” team, Jalisco. They had not lost any of their qualifying games, nor had LAPD. This was to be a great finally to the tournament. With the stakes high, LAPD began attacking the ball and did not give Jalisco time to organize their game. Within 10 minutes, LAPD scored their first goal. That seemed to rattle the Jalisco players. They appeared confused and thus LAPD seeing that continued to attack. That again paid off with another goal. Now it was 2-0, LAPD.

Jalisco, being a proud team, came at us with a flurry of shots on our goal. Our defense was solid and turned away each and every attempt to score. LAPD was poised as Jalisco pushed their whole team forward to add pressure on our defense in hopes of scoring. Seeing that mistake, LAPD countered with speed and accuracy to score a final goal winning the championship game 3-0 and thus taking 1^st Place in the tournament.

We wish to thank the host of this tournament, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and their coach, Ruben Nava for an exciting and well organized and efficient tournament.

The LAPD Soccer Team is coached by Det II Hugo Cepeida, Det II Horacio Marco (ret.) and Det II Don Barfield (ret.). If anyone is interested in the LAPD Soccer Program, please contact Det Cepeida at 22064@lapd.lacity.org , or Det Barfield at D2Barfield@gmail.com We are always looking for good caliber soccer players to represent the Department in various soccer tournaments locally and throughout the nation.

The following are action photos of the tournament taken by Don Barfield. To view the photos in a larger format, click on the photo of choice to expand it.