2009 Columbus BLAZE Soccer Team

2009 Columbus BLAZE Soccer team cosists of top row from left: Patrick Weekly, Valentino Diaz, Brendan Harrison, Jeremiah Dixon, Nicholas Kellenbence, Andrew Adams, Matthew Downing, Christopher Brown, Simon Long, Richard Robichaud, Jonathan Kay, Eric Peterson, and Juan Garcia. Bottom Row: David Mussio, Alex Jauregui, Daniel Fischer, Daniel Trublood, Andrew Pace, Luke Freudenburg, and Lindsay Diaz. (Courtesy Photo)

BLAZE Team Competes for Soccer Defender’s Cup

Published Oct. 30, 2009
By Mr. Andrew Pace
Columbus AFB Fitness Center

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. -- The Columbus AFB soccer team competed this past weekend for the Defender's Cup, competing against 18 teams across the U.S. for the 2009 championship.

As the first military tournament for the BLAZE Team, Columbus AFB took home fifth place while Travis AFB, Calif., took home to championship title.

The BLAZE Team's Saturday games were against Langley AFB, Va., Eglin AFB, Fla., and Sheppard AFB, Texas. The overall results of the first day were a win of 3-0 against Langley AFB and 1-1 ties with Eglin AFB and Sheppard AFB. Without losing a single game, the BLAZE Team took first place in its group and overall took sixth seed of the 18 teams.

Sunday's games consisted of elimination rounds against Keesler AFB, Miss., and Lackland AFB, Texas. CAFB won their game against Keesler AFB but lost the game against Lackland AFB 3-2, putting them out of the tournament.

The 14th Flying Training Wing congratulates to the BLAZE team in their efforts during its first military soccer tournament.

2009 Columbus BLAZE Soccer Team

Valentino Diaz Soccer throw