MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Matthew C. Perry High School’s soccer team took the win over U.S. Army Garrison Camp Zama, May 22, 2014, during the Department of Defense Education Activities Far East Boys Division Two championship soccer game at Penny Lake Fields aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
In the beginning, Zama had the assistance of the wind to help them keep the ball on Perry’s half of the field a majority of the time. Eventually, Zama scored one goal before the first half was over.
After a dominating start by Zama, Perry’s head coach, Mark Lange, and the team captains motivated their team and held their heads high coming into the second half.
Samuel Hess, an 18-year-old senior and team captain for Perry, said their team was not discouraged after the first half.
“We all try our hardest, we all put our hearts out there every game,” said Hess. “I knew as long as we worked hard, we would see results.”
During the second half, Justin Hill, 17, scored Perry’s first goal midway through the second half.
Motivation radiated off each player of Perry’s team and with shouts of encouragement from their coaches and teammates on the sideline, the team started to gain momentum on the field.
Hill scored a second goal minutes later with a header off of a penalty kick.
With the score 2-1 and Perry on top, the players looked to seal the win with one final goal.
Gaku Lange, 17, scored the third and final goal for Perry minutes before the game ended.
The final whistle blew with Perry at a decisive 3-1 score over Zama.
Perry claimed their third DoDEA Far East Boys Division Two soccer championship out of the last four years.
Mark Lange was not discouraged by the first half and praised his team at the conclusion of the game.
“My team has guts,” said Mark Lange. “They are very passionate about playing the game. They love soccer. We have a saying on our team and that is; ‘we are 11 brothers.’ Sometimes brothers fight, but if you mess with someone’s brother the others come to support them.”