MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- H&HS dominated MACS-4, 5-1, during a 2011 intramural soccer season game at Penny Lake fields here Aug. 10.
MACS-4 started the game with possession, but after a misjudged pass, lost the ball to H&HS.
The H&HS strikers, led by Clayton R. Hullet, charged down field.
Jose A. Graciano, H&HS striker, was passed the ball while Hullet ran to the opposite side of the field.
Graciano passed the ball to Victor T. Delaflor, H&HS striker.
Delaflor launched the ball past MACS-4 defenders to Hullet who kicked the ball into the goal, which brought the score to 1-0.
“I got a good pass from Delaflor, which set me up perfectly for a goal,” said Hullet.
MACS-4 stepped up its game and kept the ball in H&HS territory.
Graciano stole the ball and shot it down field to Seth P. Stringham, H&HS striker. Stringham drove the ball through the MACS-4 defense and blasted a shot past its goalkeeper, which gave H&HS a 2-0 lead.
Both teams’ strikers acquired possession several times until Christopher M. Clark, H&HS striker, managed to break through the MACS- 4 defense and scored H&HS’ third goal.
MACS-4 stormed down field but halftime was called before a goal attempt could be made.
H&HS started the second half with the ball, but MACS-4’s defense kept the ball in H&HS domain.
H&HS defenders outmaneuvered the MACS-4 strikers and bunted the ball into MACS-4 territory where Robert I.
Husman, H&HS striker, rushed the MACS-4 keeper and scored a goal. Husman’s goal brought the score to 4-0.
“The main strategy we use is to get as many people to touch the ball as possible,” said Hullet. “Through that teamwork, we score a few goals. We try to focus on teamwork as much as possible.”
H&HS seemed to be on its way to a shutout game as the clock ran down and neither team could hold onto the ball for very long.
The MACS-4 offense broke through H&HS defenders, which allowed Wade J. Armstrong, MACS-4 striker, to fire the ball past Austin J. McKenna, H&HS goalkeeper. Armstrong’s goal put MACS-4 on the board 4-1.
“I saw an opportunity and I pounced on it,” said Armstrong. “It felt like we could come back even though we were running low on time.”
H&HS players launched an all-out assault before time ran out.
Delaflor set up Graciano for a goal. Graciano fired the ball into the net for a 5-1 score.
“Delaflor set me up perfectly so all I had to do was kick the ball in the goal,” said Graciano.
MACS-4 strikers attempted to get the ball into H&HS domain, but time ran out before they could score another goal.
“We did incredible,” Graciano said. “We really worked like a team out there and came out on top.”
H&HS players seem excited and optimistic as they finish up regular season play and head into the playoffs, which are scheduled to start Aug. 26.