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62nd AMXS comes from behind to win JBLM title

  • Published
  • By Dean Siemon
  • Northwest Guardian
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron defeated Bravo Company 2nd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 2-1 in the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Intramural Soccer Championship at Cowan Stadium May 22.

Despite being outshot 11-6 and only mustering one shot on goal in the first half, McChord's best intramural squad got two scores within a minute of each other late in the second half.

In the 38th minute of the second half, Micah Meyers of 62nd AMXS scored to tie the game at 1 following a free kick after a yellow card was issued to a 2nd BSB defender.

For Meyers, it was a matter of being at the right place at the right time.

"It bounced off of someone's shoulder and straight to my feet," Meyers said of what happened leading up to his shot.

Anthony Polizzi scored a minute later to lift 62nd AMXS to a 2-1 lead and gain the second half momentum needed after struggling in the first 25 minutes.

"We knew we had to come back strong," Polizzi said. "That's when we put the pressure on them and that got us going."

In the first half, Army's top squad scored right away in the third minute from a goal by Steven Butler after his footwork gave him an opening at the goal through the Air Force defense.

"I took the opportunity and caught them off guard," Butler said.

It was a tale of two halves as the 62nd AMXS created multiple scoring opportunities after the break, including an empty net opportunity barely foiled by 2nd BSB's Abdulnasir Adankhalif moments before the two goals.

"They moved the ball well in the second half," said 2nd BSB coach John Hartman. "You hate to lose to Air Force, but it was a good game."

For both squads, there was a mutual respect afterward following the competitive match.

"The whistle blows, we're all comrades," Polizzi said.

Both teams came out winners -- all members received invitations to practice with Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila Wednesday.

Not only will both units meet players and coaches, there is also a scheduled scrimmage to include players from both teams and the Sounders.

"I've met a few pro players in my day, but for (the Sounders) to even offer this is outstanding," Hartman said.