Story and photos by Amy Newcomb
GUIDON staff
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The U.S. Marine Corps Detachment won the Commander’s Cup Soccer Tournament championship game Monday, defeating the 31st Engineer Battalion, 5-4, in a sudden-death round.

Regulation play ended in a 1-1 tie, leaving the fate of the championship up to penalty kicks, with the first team to score the most in five attempts declared the winner.

However, both teams made three of the five penalty shots, which drove the game into a sudden death round, where play ends as soon as the next goal is scored.

David Martinez came through for the Marine Det., scoring the first sudden-death goal after the 31st Eng. Bn. missed their shot.

“I am so excited. The game was moving pretty fast. I thought we were down and out, but the Marines pretty much came through. I am happy. I am overjoyed,” said Dale Pereira, Marine Corps Det. coach. “The whole tournament was pretty good.”

Both teams were evenly matched throughout the game, with neither scoring a point until after halftime. Ten minutes into the second half, Issac Lopez, Marine Corps Det. scored the first goal.

The 31st Eng. Bn. picked up their offense, and with minutes left in regulation, Daniel Newell scored their first goal to tie the game.

Before the game, John Lee, 31st Eng. Bn. coach, said his team practiced as much as they could in order to prepare for the Commander’s Cup championship.

“Luckily, we have a couple of guys that have some soccer background, so it was easy,” Lee said. “The team is great. I feel confident.”

Both coaches acknowledged the skill sets of their opponents and knew they would be challenged.

“I know that they are good and they have a lot of talent on their team, but I believe in our guys,” Lee said of the Marine Det.

“I watched 31st play last week and I know they have a strong team — but we have a strong team,” Pereira said before the game. “So, as far as winning the game, I think we have a very strong chance.”

Marine Corps Det. players who scored penalty shots were Gabriel Dominguez, Jose Mendoza, and Nic Hooks. 

Ismael Serrano, Newell, and Lee scored penalty shots for the 31st Eng. Bn.

Rob Steinmacher, sports specialist, said the soccer season went well this year.

“There were a lot of competitive teams this year. We had less teams than last year, but overall they had more spirit,” he said.