LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
After giving up only one goal on its way to the Defender Cup semifinals, Lackland soccer seemed primed for a third straight finals appearance.
However, Travis Football Club, from Travis AFB, Calif., had other ideas.
"We played up to our ability, Travis was just a better team," Warhawks tournament coach Spencer Spriesterbach said. "We had the opportunity; we had the lead."
The team started all but one of six tournament games with the lead.
The Warhawks won the battle for control of the mud-caked soccer ball in Group B at the League Executive San Antonio soccer fields Saturday after beating Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C., and Fort Gordon, Ga., then tying Hurlburt AFB, Fla. - all while keeping goalkeeper Chris Price's scoring sheet spotless.
The inspired play continued Sunday in the single-elimination tournament.
The Warhawks turned a 3-1 comeback win against Seymour-Johnson and met its first substantial test against Columbus AFB, Miss.
The team's collective strength reached critical mass in that quarterfinal matchup - a game in which 100 minutes of combined regulation and two sudden death periods could not rectify a 0-0 deadlock.
Happy to play the role of savior or goat, Price blocked three shots to push his team into the semifinals 4-2 on penalty kicks.
As fleetly as the team had jostled by earlier opponents, its run met a precipitous end in the semifinals against a brick wall in the Travis Football Club - soon to be Defender Cup champions.
The Warhawks jumped out in front on a Mike Bailey penalty kick in the 22nd minute; however, Travis FC netted the equalizer eight minutes later and added two more goals for a 3-1 halftime lead.
But the Warhawks didn't lie down.
The Warhawks scoring duo, veteran Nana Saahene and rookie Mario Pailamilla, connected on the field despite lacking a common language. The former, a Ghana native, agreed with the latter, a Chilean, when he said the "language of soccer is universal."
In the 46th minute, Warhawk Pablo Fagrian played a long ball to the head of Pailamilla, who skirted the ball to the right of the charging goalie, finding the foot of Saahene for an open goal.
But the Warhawks brief offensive brilliance was snuffed out as Travis FC maintained possession, leading to four more goals and advancement to the finals.
In the end, the frustration of third place turned into support for an Air Force champion as Travis FC beat its civilian finals opponent.