Story and photos by Amy Newcomb
GUIDON staff
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The 364th Training Squadron, Air Force Detachment 1, defeated the 787th Military Police Battalion, 9-0, during a Conference B soccer game May 23.

“I’m pretty proud of these guys,” said Javarick King, Air Force Det. coach. “They are young — 18s and 20s — so they can run forever, and a lot of them have some good background in soccer. I am very proud of the way they did today.”

King said the team had been doing pretty good so far this season, and he had hoped they would be able to bring home the championship trophy this year.

“Last year we went all the way to the finals but lost to the MPs,” King said. “This year, I did a little earlier recruiting, went out and recruited at the schoolhouses to kind of see where our talent was, assessed the issue and got out there and started up practices. Their goal this year is to take home the trophy.”

During the first half of the game, the Air Force Det. dominated the field. Within the first minute they had scored the first goal and by the end of the first half were leading 7-0.

The 787th MP Bn.’s defense started the second half of the game out strong and kept the Air Force Det. at bay for as long as they could. Unfortunately for 787th MP Bn., the Air Force Det. managed to kick two more goals, which left the score 9-0.

Before the game, Coach Brian Kelly, 787th MP Bn., said his team has had their ups and downs this season, but as a team they were solid.

“We have two great strikers and our defense is solid; however, we just need to put together a full, complete game to reach our full potential,” Kelly said.

As a basic training unit, a lot of the 787th MP Bn. players are cadre, drill sergeants, and commanders, and trying to get people together at a specific time to practice is a challenge, Kelly said.

“We did have a pretty significant pre-season where we worked on a lot of different techniques, like ball handling movements and drills,” Kelly added. “During the season we don’t practice because we have game time, and it’s as difficult to get people away for a game as it is for a practice.”

Air Force players who scored during the game included Joshua Cheatum and Mitch Kanter, who scored four points each, and Jose Solano, who scored one point.

In other Conference A games May 23:

— The 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, defeated Staff Judge Advocate, 2-0;

— The 31st Engineer Battalion defeated the 35th Engineer Battalion, 3-0.

At the mid-point of the season, the 31st Engr. Bn. and the Air Force Det. are in the lead of Conference B, each with a 4-0 record. They are followed by the 35th Engineers and 3-10th Inf. Bn., each at 2-2.

In Conference A games played May 22:

— The U.S. Marine Corps Detachment defeated the Medical Department Activity, 2-1;

— The 94th Engineer Battalion beat the 5th Engineer Battalion, 3-0;

— The 193rd Brigade Support Battalion picked up a forfiet win.

With three weeks remaining in the season, the Marine Det. leads Conference B with a season record of 3-0. They are followed by Garrison Command at 3-1, the 94th Engineers at 2-1, and MEDDAC and the 193rd Brigade Support Battalion, both at 2-2.