Edwards competes in 15th Annual Defender's Cup

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Michael Estacion
  • 412th Medical Group
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Varsity soccer teams from 40 Army and Air Force bases converged in San Antonio, Texas, over Labor Day Weekend to compete in the 15th Annual Defender's Cup. Edwards AFB was represented by the Edwards Football Club team coached by Tech. Sgt. Omar Duarte, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, and assistant coach Andrew Neises, 412th Force Support Squadron.

Edwards F.C. played three pool play matches on Sept. 4 - 5, which resulted in a 4 - 1 victory over U.S. Air Force Academy; a 2-2 tie with Whiteman AFB (Missouri); and a 1-1 tie with Fort Leonard Wood (Missouri). At the end of pool play, all teams were seeded from 1 to 40 based on win/loss record and goal differential. Edwards F.C. seeded 17th.

On Sept. 6, Edwards FC entered the single elimination bracket portion of the tournament. The first match against Wright Patterson AFB (Ohio) resulted in a 1-0 victory for Edwards F.C. The win took the team into the round of 16 remaining teams and into a 5 p.m. match against Fort Campbell (Kentucky).  The game ended in a 0-0 tie, which took the teams into a penalty kick shootout. Typical shootouts are decided within the first five shooters, but the Edwards-Fort Campell shootout went to the 10th shooter with Fort Campbell advancing to the quarter final.  Fort Irwin (California) defended their championship title after besting Hawaii 4-3.

Coach Duarte lauded the Edwards team for earning an outstanding top 16 finish despite starting with only 15 players compared to other teams who brought full rosters of 22 players. The team finished 12th overall out of 40 teams. Throughout the weekend, teams played 60-minute matches in 90-degree heat at 60% humidity, which added an extra dimension to the game.

Coach Duarte notes the team is finished competing in the Antelope Futbol League, which plays games every Saturday at the Lancaster National Soccer Complex in Lancaster, and finished in second place after losing the championship game on Aug. 29.  The team is looking to join a different soccer league in the near future with higher level competition. Edwards F.C. practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Wings Field from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and practices are open to everyone interested in the team or those that just want to do some exercise and improve their soccer skills.