Eglin Eagles claim AF soccer crown Published March 7, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Eglin Eagles Men Soccer Team defeated Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, 5-1, in the championship game of the seventh annual Defender's Cup Military Open Soccer Tournament. The Eagles went undefeated in their first year participating in the event. The tournament, hosted Feb. 15 through 17 at Lackland, was a three-day event with 16 teams participating from across the Air Force. Each team was guaranteed three games with a knockout stage where each had the chance to play up to four additional games. The Eagles coasted past their first opponent, Kirtland AFB, N.M., 4-0. The Eagles' team captain Lamar Parrett and forward Scott Kirkpatrick scored two goals each in the match. Next up was Defender's Cup No. 2 seed, Hurlburt Field, Fla. "At first it looked as though they would be a worthy adversary," said Head Coach Dario Ramirez, retired Air Force officer and a Navy civilian. At the end of the first half, the score was deadlocked at 2-2. However, the Eagles rallied through the second half and scored three goals to overturn Hurlburt 5-2. Eagles' midfielder Mitchell Gore and Kirkpatrick both scored two goals each. The fifth goal came as a kick from the Eagles' defender Jason Moran that was deflected by one of Hurlburt's own defenders. The third opponent in the group hailed from Brooks AFB, Texas. The team also proved to be a tough opponent. At the end of the first half, Brooks managed to hold the Eagles to one goal. However, after relentless pressure in the second half, the Eagles managed to come out on top winning 4-1. The Eagles' team captain and midfielder Robert Wible and Parrett both scored one goal each. Moran and Gore also scored one goal apiece. This unstoppable performance in the first three matches established the Eagles as the frontrunner in their group and placed them as the No. 1 seed of the 16 teams. During the knockout phase, the Eagles' first victory came as the result of forfeit. The Eagles' quarter-final game was against Randolph AFB, Texas, who had advanced by defeating teams from Tinker AFB, Okla., Vance AFB, Okla., and Keesler AFB, Miss. The Eagles continued their impeccable performance and unbeatable trend by putting Randolph away with a 4-0 win. The semi-finals brought the Eagles against undefeated Barksdale AFB, La. After the group round, Barksdale was seeded as the No. 4 team and had advanced to the semi-finals by defeating Medina AFB, Texas, 6-1, and Dyess AFB, Texas, 2-0. Barksdale proved to be a much tougher team than previous contenders. With Barksdale scoring the first point on a header, it wasn't looking good for the high flying Eagles. However, the Eagles promptly answered back one minute later when Parrett scored on a header. The Eagles gained control of the game and came out on top defeating Barksdale 3-1. In the championship game, the Eglin Eagles faced their "toughest opponent yet," according to Ramirez. The Lackland squad outlasted all other opponents by eliminating Tinker on penalty kicks, Vance 2-0, and Offutt AFB, Neb., 4-0. The Eagles understood that Lackland was not an opponent to be taken lightly. However, with each game the Eagles gained more confidence. In the first minute of the game, Parret found the net after a crossing pass from Wible. However, the point didn't deflate Lackland's team strategy. "They kept putting pressure on our midfield and defensive lines," said Ramirez. Once the Eagles took possession of the ball and began passing, the tables turned. The Eagles took control of the contest with goals by Parrett, Kirkpatrick, Wible, and midfielder Jhonatan Cardenas. By the end of the tournament, the Eagles went undefeated in six games, scoring 25 goals and allowing only 5. Eagles' defender Phil Hartnette was voted defensive player of the tournament. "The squad's solid team performance was the result of outstanding leadership by the team captains, teamwork, drive and commitment by all," said Ramirez. "While we didn't get the golden boot award winner, 12 different players scored or assisted on goals." Players interested in joining the Air Force's No. 1 soccer team for the 2008 season can call Mr. Ramirez at (850)-225-7358.