SFS holds off COMM for win

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The 62nd Security Forces Squadron intramural soccer team scored two first-half goals and held strong for the remainder of the game, defeating the 62nd Communications Squadron 2-1 Monday night at Rainier Field. 

SFS earned a win earlier in the season due to a forfeit, but Monday's win over COMM was the team's first official win. COMM's loss was the team's fourth this season. 

"I don't know how many more [wins] we're going to get so this feels good," SFS coach Mike Tenbusch said. 

SFS drew first blood five minutes into the game as forward Chad Prime unleashed a low line drive kick from the right corner. 

COMM goalkeeper Jarrod Wetherill appeared to have gotten both hands on the ball, but it squirted through his grasp and into the goal for the first score of the game. 

"I want that goal back," Wetherill said. "I thought to myself, 'Here's the easiest shot on goal I could have,' and I didn't get down like I should have; it went right through my fingers." 

SFS continued to push the tempo in the first half, and it paid off with just under 10 minutes left. 

After juking one defender to open up a clear path to the goal, Prime unleashed another line drive from 10 yards out that found the rear corner of the net, giving SFS a 2-0 lead. 

COMM refused to quit. 

Just two minutes later, Troy Toomey scored from short range as the SFS defense had trouble clearing out COMM's offensive push in front of the net. 

After leading 2-1 at halftime, SFS tried to put the game out of reach in the second half. 

A steady push by the SFS offense generated several scoring chances as the team took 17 shots on goal in the second half. 

But strong play by COMM's fullbacks and strong goaltending by Wetherill helped fend off each attack. 

While the defense managed to keep SFS out of the goal, COMM offense didn't get as many good looks at the goal, and time just ran out on them. 

"At halftime the team made the decision to be more aggressive on offense, and I think we did a very good job of it," Wetherill said. "

Their goalie made some quality saves on our best opportunities. 

The second half was great, though. Everyone stepped it up even though we had no subs, and everyone was tired." 

As for SFS, it finally had enough players to sub in a fresh pair of legs at nearly every opportunity, and it paid off with a victory. 

"This is the first game we've had a lot of people show up," Tenbusch said. 

"Most of the time we have seven or eight players so our guys are always tired."