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JB MDL hosts Crusaders in friendly soccer match

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bryan Swink
  • 87th ABW/PA
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Players from the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Intramural Soccer League fell to the British Crusaders by a score of 3-1 during a friendly soccer game Oct. 15 at Doughboy Field.

The British Crusaders are a British Army club team comprised of Army officers who have traveled to America to play friendly soccer matches with servicemembers on East Coast installations.

The JB MDL team consisted of players from Army, Air Force and Navy units that participated in the JB MDL Intramural Soccer League this season. The team was organized just days before the scheduled matchup with the Crusaders and only had a few practices to prepare.

The game started out with both teams getting a feeling of their opponents play. Even though they were playing the same game, styles were a bit different.

"It's been brilliant getting a chance to play American teams," said Capt. Steven Pugh, British Crusaders soccer player. "The rules, and interpretations of the rules, are a bit different from what we are used to back home, but it's great to see how other people play."

The first half of action ended with the score still tied at zero. The JB MDL team had four shots on goal while the Crusaders were held to just one. The second half was a different story.

The Crusaders got on the board first by scoring a goal seven minutes into the second half and never looked back. They scored two more throughout the half with the second one coming by way of a header hit off the far post and past the JB MDL goalie.

The JB MDL team was not held scoreless though. Toward the end of regulation, a penalty was called in the Crusaders penalty box to give JB MDL a penalty kick. Army Sgt. Jerry Rubinos, 1st Battalion, 322nd Logistics Support Regiment, 72nd Field Artillery Brigade and team captain, kept the shot low to the ground and just inside the left goal post to ensure the team wouldn't be shutout.

The game ended with the Crusaders on top, but Rubinos said both teams provided good competition for one another and the JB MDL team looks forward to more games against skilled opponents.

"We could tell they have played together for a while, they showed a lot of skill," he said. "We are still in the beginning stages of development for this team and are excited to play against other organizations outside of the joint base."