thedrifter
01-14-09, 06:38 AM
Two Yuma Marines trying out for All-Marine Soccer team
Comments | Recommend
Yuma squad finishes in third place
January 13, 2009 - 2:17 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
For the second consecutive year, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma has had two Marines selected to participate in the tryouts to earn a spot on the All-Marine soccer team.
"They aren't on the team yet," said Lance Cpl. Greg Aalto. "They were selected to participate in the tryouts in order to make the team."
Also just like last year, MCAS Yuma finished third in the West Coast Soccer Regional, which was played at the air station's Ramada Field all last week.
The two Marines chosen were Lance Cpl. Sheriff Showunmi, a maintenance administration clerk for Marine Attack Squadron 214, who played the position of forward, and Lance Cpl. Jeremiah Crane, an administrative clerk for Combat Logistic Company 16, who split time between forward and goalie during the tournament.
"They have a lot of talent," said Cpl. Ray Casto, who also split time between goalie and forward. "I think they have a really good chance to make the team."
Tryouts for the All-Marine team are being held in Cherry Point, N.C., and began this week.
"If they make the team they will be with it for a few weeks," Aalto said.
Approximately 150 Marines, making up eight teams from air stations and bases from the western United States, were in Yuma last week competing in the tournament, which is held to select players for the All-Marine soccer tryouts.
The All-Marine team will face the other services’ soccer teams in the Armed Forces tournament in early February at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.
Typically, the All-Marine team is formed by choosing 10 Marines from the players from the West Coast Soccer Regional, along with 10 Marines from a similar tournament on the East Coast and 10 from Japan.
However, due to the level of talent at the Yuma tourney, a total of 15 players were actually chosen instead of the 10 which are normally chosen.
Castro said the Yuma team actually finished in a tie for second place with a record of 4-2, but as a result of losing to the team they were tied with, wound up finishing in third.
"Overall we thought we could hang with any team in the tourney," Castro said. "We just feel we should have placed higher then we did."
Marine Corps. Air Station Miramar, which only had one player selected for the tryouts, finished in first place with last year's winner, Marine Logistic Group Pendleton, taking second. MLG Pendleton had six players selected to the tryouts.
MCAS Yuma was in trouble in the early games of the tourney going 1-2 in it's first three games, but came alive in the later games going 3-0.
"Our defense was good throughout the tournament, we just weren't getting the goals we needed," Castro said. "We had to step it up because we weren't going to let ourselves lose anymore."
Last year, Yuma’s team placed third, and two Yuma players were selected to try out for the All-Marine team, with one selected.
The Yuma Marine selected was Julio Alvarez, the team's goalie. Alvarez went on to make the All-Marine team as the back-up goalie and even started in one of their games.
Alvarez was unable to play this year because he is currently deployed.
MCAS Yuma hosted the tournament for the first time here last year. Castro added that he does not know if the tournament will be played at Yuma again next year.
---
James Gilbert can be reached at
jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
---
• Game 1
MCAS Yuma 2
Twentynine Palms 1
• Game 2
MCAS Yuma - 1
MLG Pendleton - 2
• Game 3
MCAS Yuma 0
MCAS Miramar - 3
• Game 4
MCAS Yuma - 3
MCAS Pendleton -2
• Game 5
MCAS Yuma - 3
MCRD San Diego - 0
• Game 6
MCAS Yuma - 4
MCAS Hawaii - 2
Ellie
Comments | Recommend
Yuma squad finishes in third place
January 13, 2009 - 2:17 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
For the second consecutive year, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma has had two Marines selected to participate in the tryouts to earn a spot on the All-Marine soccer team.
"They aren't on the team yet," said Lance Cpl. Greg Aalto. "They were selected to participate in the tryouts in order to make the team."
Also just like last year, MCAS Yuma finished third in the West Coast Soccer Regional, which was played at the air station's Ramada Field all last week.
The two Marines chosen were Lance Cpl. Sheriff Showunmi, a maintenance administration clerk for Marine Attack Squadron 214, who played the position of forward, and Lance Cpl. Jeremiah Crane, an administrative clerk for Combat Logistic Company 16, who split time between forward and goalie during the tournament.
"They have a lot of talent," said Cpl. Ray Casto, who also split time between goalie and forward. "I think they have a really good chance to make the team."
Tryouts for the All-Marine team are being held in Cherry Point, N.C., and began this week.
"If they make the team they will be with it for a few weeks," Aalto said.
Approximately 150 Marines, making up eight teams from air stations and bases from the western United States, were in Yuma last week competing in the tournament, which is held to select players for the All-Marine soccer tryouts.
The All-Marine team will face the other services’ soccer teams in the Armed Forces tournament in early February at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.
Typically, the All-Marine team is formed by choosing 10 Marines from the players from the West Coast Soccer Regional, along with 10 Marines from a similar tournament on the East Coast and 10 from Japan.
However, due to the level of talent at the Yuma tourney, a total of 15 players were actually chosen instead of the 10 which are normally chosen.
Castro said the Yuma team actually finished in a tie for second place with a record of 4-2, but as a result of losing to the team they were tied with, wound up finishing in third.
"Overall we thought we could hang with any team in the tourney," Castro said. "We just feel we should have placed higher then we did."
Marine Corps. Air Station Miramar, which only had one player selected for the tryouts, finished in first place with last year's winner, Marine Logistic Group Pendleton, taking second. MLG Pendleton had six players selected to the tryouts.
MCAS Yuma was in trouble in the early games of the tourney going 1-2 in it's first three games, but came alive in the later games going 3-0.
"Our defense was good throughout the tournament, we just weren't getting the goals we needed," Castro said. "We had to step it up because we weren't going to let ourselves lose anymore."
Last year, Yuma’s team placed third, and two Yuma players were selected to try out for the All-Marine team, with one selected.
The Yuma Marine selected was Julio Alvarez, the team's goalie. Alvarez went on to make the All-Marine team as the back-up goalie and even started in one of their games.
Alvarez was unable to play this year because he is currently deployed.
MCAS Yuma hosted the tournament for the first time here last year. Castro added that he does not know if the tournament will be played at Yuma again next year.
---
James Gilbert can be reached at
jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
---
• Game 1
MCAS Yuma 2
Twentynine Palms 1
• Game 2
MCAS Yuma - 1
MLG Pendleton - 2
• Game 3
MCAS Yuma 0
MCAS Miramar - 3
• Game 4
MCAS Yuma - 3
MCAS Pendleton -2
• Game 5
MCAS Yuma - 3
MCRD San Diego - 0
• Game 6
MCAS Yuma - 4
MCAS Hawaii - 2
Ellie