Battles continue in third week of intramural soccer season

  • Published
  • By Airman Anthony Jennings
  • Team Eglin
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Air Force Research Laboratory held off the 728th Air Control Squadron and its power kicking goalie Feb. 23, to remain undefeated after three weeks in the intramural soccer season. 

"We played the best we've ever played as a team, with more communication, more passing and more intensity," said Michael Kostelny, team captain. 

The AFRL team landed the first blow early in the first half when Chris Hergenreter kicked a long shot from near mid-field into the top of the net. The score became a combo for Hergenreter when he followed that up with a penalty kick after a handball penalty was called on the opposing team. AFRL now led 2-0. 

"We played consistently and took advantage of the opportunities they gave us," Hergenreter said. 

But the 728th didn't give up. With four minutes left in the first half, the 728th goalkeeper, Robert Sherman sent the ball flying on a goal kick to Brandon Erickson, the mid-fielder. The ball was then passed to Ryan Mozingo, who put it in the goal off a header. 

Hope for a comeback carried the 728th team into the second half with a renewed sense of self-confidence. 

However, the AFRL team revised their strategy to control their opponent's goal kicks. 

"We realized their goalkeeper had an incredible foot. His goal kicks were close to 80 yards, going over our defense and opening opportunities for them to score," said Kostelny. 

The second half was 20 minutes of aggressive offense and tactful defense, but neither team was able to score. The game ended with AFRL getting the "W," 2-1. 

"We definitely played at a slow pace," said Mozingo. "It was a physically hard-played game and we had a lot of chances to put one in, but hey, that's the game. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't." 

The 728th could only wonder what might have been. 

"If it wasn't for the unfortunate handball in the first half, we might have come out on top," said Sherman. "It was a good game, we just came out on the wrong end."
The AFRL team currently has a record of 2-0-1 and the 728th's record is 1-1-1.