MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Combat Logistics Company 36 Dragons got medieval on Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 Problems, 1-0, during a very aggressive Intramural Soccer League Championship, Tuesday night at Penny Lake Field. The season concluded with the end of the double-elimination playoffs after the Dragons pulled off back-to-back wins against Problems, scoring one goal each game. Problems arrived at the championship after a fairly easy trip through the playoffs running into one tough game with the Dragons and then going undefeated all the way to the finals. The Dragons made it to the big game after suffering one loss earlier in the playoffs to Problems. “We beat them once during the regular season and then ended up losing to them in the playoffs,” recalled Jorge L. Sanchez, Dragons head coach/forward and Dallas native. “During the regular season they weren’t taking any shots but in the playoffs they came strong and ended up winning during penalty kicks. We had some communication issues in the past game and we’ve worked that out, we’ve got a pretty good chance and I honestly think we’re going to win.”Before the game got under way players rallied around their respective benches preparing themselves for the game and talking trash to one another. With heavy banter and friendly teasing going back and forth between the benches, Problems head coach arrived wrapped in a Zinedine Yazid Zidane jersey as if it were an omen to the physically aggressive games that would be played that night.“We have the best players in the league on our team,” boasted Guyvard Plesimond, Problems head coach/midfielder and native of College Park, Md. “We’re going to move in fast on them and score first, have fun with them and teach them a lesson. It’s all in fun, we all play together.”The game began and Plesimond kept his promise, Problems players moved quickly and forceful. However, their tempo was matched step for step, shot for shot by the Dragons. The first half of play was a sort of violent dance between the two teams with multiple big collisions, resulting in yellow cards for players on each team, and several unsuccessful shots. Problems big opportunity came late in the first half when a shot rocketed off of the top-bar of the goal and came sailing down and dropping right in front of an empty goal. Problems choked and missed the shot wide-right shortly before the whistle blew and the first half ended.“All players on both sides are doing a good job,” stated Plesimond during the half. “We need to settle down out there and then surprise them.”The aggression however, did not settle down and early in the second half when the Dragons had the ball in scoring range, excessive pushing by Problems resulted in a penalty kick for Eloy Sanchez, Dragons forward and native of Dallas. The kick turned into a Sanchez-to-Sanchez connection when the shot ricocheted off the side post and Sanchez, head coach, came flying in for a goal. The goal wouldn’t come without some controversy though, as Problems pleaded their case with the referee stating that it was an illegal shot, the ref disagreed and Sanchez’s goal went up on the scoreboard.“When I saw it bounce off I rushed in and took the shot, I wasn’t sure if the goal would count but the ref called goal,” explained Sanchez. “It was a lucky break; the call could have gone either way.”With plenty of time left on the clock Problems still had a chance to tie it up. It seemed as if this idea never entered their heads because once the goal was counted the fight almost visibly went out of the team. Spending more time arguing with one another rather than working together and their play on the field suffered.“They’re real aggressive players and play very well together,” said Sanchez. “But, once they start arguing the motivation goes out.”The second half played out much like the first half with a few close calls but no goals and when the final whistle blew, the Dragons celebrated their one to nothing victory. During the break between games each team gathered together and tried to prepare themselves for the finale.“We got three yellow cards last game which is a lot for us,” said a surprised Sanchez. “We have a few aggressive players and we try to play clean but you can’t always play clean.”With both teams tied at one loss a piece the championship would be decided by one final game. Tension was high and the play was fierce as the final game got underway.The first half was filled with the same aggressive play seen earlier in the night and late in the half as the sun began to fade into the horizon, Problems’ hope for a win faded away with it when out of nowhere a Dragons’ goal broke their spirit. Dragons’ right center, Oswaldo E. Espinoza, came charging up the field and hammered a goal into the net.“I was trying to get open first and then run to the middle of the field and I did. We’ve got the win, right now we have a lot of heart and teamwork, everything is going well,” explained the N.Y. native. “That goal took the life out of them. Their team is strong, but they lack heart, spirit. They need motivation.”During the second half of play, Problems tried hard to find motivation but fell victim to the same argumentative attitude that cost them a loss earlier. With the clock winding down, Problems left only one defender in the backfield as they tried desperately to tie it up. There were some close calls including a diving save by the Dragons goalie but in the end it was too little, too late and as the clock ran out the Dragons gathered midfield embracing one another and celebrating their hard-earned victory.