Base's varsity soccer team competes for Defender's Cup

Published Aug. 31, 2011
By Susan Griggs
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler's varsity soccer team leaves today for Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to compete in the Air Force's Defender's Cup tournament.

"There's nothing better than winning that tournament," said player-coach Eric Hagan, 334th Training Squadron. "It's the only soccer tournament that gives every base the opportunity to participate. "Having the bragging rights of being the best team in the Air Force means a lot," the coach continued. "I was lucky enough to be on the 2004 championship team from Vance AFB, Okla."

The 20 teams in the tournament initially are divided into groups of four. Keesler's group includes Langley AFB, Va.; Dyess AFB, Texas, and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. After playing the other teams in the group, the teams are seeded for Sunday's elimination playoff games.

To prepare for the tournament, many team members have played in the base's intramural league. The team practices together twice a week and most have participated in an off-base soccer league. In the past two months, that team has won off-base tournaments in Gautier and Moss Point.

"Most of our players have played in the Defender's Cup tournament multiple times," Hagan pointed out. "We have a very skillful team that works together very well."

Core members powering the team are Hagan and Carlos Zuniga at forward, Jarred Lovelace and Marcus Tenenbaum at midfield and Fred Riley at defense. Lovelace's wife is Casey Lovelace, 81st Dental Squadron. Zuniga is from the 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Tenenbaum is from the 333rd TRS and Riley's dad is a retiree.

Other players rounding out the team are Sammy Valles, 81st Training Group; Kenny Woltz, who recently separated from the Air Force; Kyle Kinsey, 81st Force Support Squadron; Justin Gray, 81st Training Support Squadron; Badin Burch, 403rd Wing; Leroy Simmons, 81st Operations Support Flight; Henry "Bones" Pilligua, 81st Communications Squadron; Patrick Gould, 333rd TRS; and Eric Coffie, Rodrigo Paes and Ugo Nnakeyi, 81st Medical Support Squadron.

Team members are on permissive temporary duty, so the base supplies vans for transportation to Texas.

"We're responsible for our hotels, food and other expenses," Hagan said.

"We have the talent -- we just have to get the job done," he stressed. "If we play well, the sky is the limit. To win a tournament of this caliber, the entire team must play well every game."

Base’s varsity soccer team competes for Defender’s Cup