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JBSA News
NEWS | Sept. 7, 2010

The beautiful game comes to San Antonio

By Brian McGloin 502nd Airbase Wing Operating Location B Public Affairs

The Randolph Air Force Base soccer team faced their rivals from other bases at the 2010 Defender's Cup last weekend at the South Texas Area Regional Soccer complex.

The tournament features soccer teams from all over the country. Lackland Air Force Base hosted the two-day tournament at the new facility on the city's northeast corner. An Army soccer team from Fort Sam Houston competed as well.

Scouts from the Air Force soccer team watched the dusty fields where the 18 teams played, looking for potential future team members.

Randolph's first match was against third-seeded Columbus Air Force Base. Randolph was unable to score, while giving up two goals.

Later Randolph's luck improved when they played Cannon Air Force Base with a stronger offensive game, keeping the ball mostly in front of Cannon's goal.

Their goal keeper grew more irate with his defenders as the game wore on, Abraham Flomo, scored the game's only two points.

"I couldn't do it without my team," he said. "I play for Randolph - we do it together."

Randolph met Lackland for the day's final match. Randolph gave up four goals and wasn't able to catch up.

The Randolph coach, Harold Sanchez-Rivera, said Lackland has a strong team but Randolph played well.

Cannon beat Lackland earlier in the day.

The players returned to STAR Sunday morning to play two more games, the first against Sheppard Air Force Base; the second game was against Columbus.

Randolph won against Sheppard with a final score of 4-2, but couldn't beat Columbus.

After scoring the game's first goal, Randolph gave up four and wasn't able to catch up, which eliminated them from the tournament in the 16th round.

"We were winning but ran out of gas," the coach said. "We were so tired at the end of the day."