Minot AFB soccer team places second of 46

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristoffer Kaubisch
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  They hail from a small Air Force Base in North Dakota. Few expected them to go far in the tournament, but they overcame the odds and came out with a 2nd place finish out of 46 teams across the Department of Defense.

It all started about six months before the tournament. The Minot Air Force Base Soccer Club met every Sunday and Wednesday for training, working on their skills and teamwork. Since Minot’s weather is not always ideal, the team had to practice indoors at the beginning of training. While many bases get the convenience to train outdoors year-round, Minot does not have this advantage. But they weren’t going to let that stop them.

Before the tournament had even started, Minot SC came across some bumps in the road. A few of the starting players had their permissive TDY orders denied, and therefore weren’t able to go. However, the team did their best to gather up quality players who would help take their team to the top.

When the week of the tournament finally arrived, the excitement of the team was unmistakable. They were about to play in the largest military tournament in the nation: the 2016 Defender’s Cup National Soccer Tournament in San Antonio, Texas.

The tournament has been an annual event since 1999. Teams are not limited to uniformed service members; spouses and other civilians are also eligible to participate. Minot SC had one retiree and one spouse on the team, as well as enlisted Airmen and officers from both the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing.

Last year was the first year Minot AFB had entered the tournament and finished with an impressive 13th place out of 40 teams total.

This year, Minot SC was looking forward to surpassing their finish from the previous year and showing everyone that Minot AFB is a force to be reckoned with on the pitch.

The first game was against FE Warren AFB, Wyoming. It was a tough game, but Minot SC came out on top 3-1. The team felt confident after winning their first game and went up against Vance AFB, Oklahoma next. They fell to Vance AFB 0-1, but that didn’t stop them from giving it their all in their last group game against Beale AFB, California. Minot SC rolled over Beale AFB with a 4-1 finish.

With their goal differential, Minot SC was able to win their group and earned a first round bye in the knockout stages.

But it wasn’t without challenge. Minot SC overcame many obstacles on their run in the tournament, from losing players to injury and losing gear to theft. After the team found out they had won their group, they went out to dinner to celebrate. While they were piling into the team van after dinner, someone noticed that a few of their bags were missing. Four players’ bags were stolen, which was about $1,000 worth of soccer gear.

The team had a game the following morning at 9 a.m. against Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, their fellow Air Force Global Strike Command team. The four players who had their bags stolen didn't expect to play in this game because there were no stores that were open early enough to buy new equipment. However, some Minot AFB team members had extra equipment, and players from Barksdale AFB offered some of their extra gear as well. Wingmanship at its finest.

After a grueling hour of play, Minot SC took the win with a 3-2 finish, sending Minot to the quarterfinals where they would face Cannon AFB, New Mexico.

The game was well-played on both sides of the pitch, with the final score being tied at 0-0. Then it went straight to a penalty shoot-out.

Team coach and goal keeper Senior Airman Ryan Praleikas, an aerospace medical technician with the 5th Medical Group, made crucial saves during the penalty shootout and the Minot SC was able to win the match, advancing to the semi-final game against Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland, a team comprised of both Air Force and Army.

The team was ecstatic; they made it further than they had the previous year. They felt as though they had redeemed themselves since they were knocked out of the tournament last year in a penalty shootout.

The semi-final match was another tough game by both teams. Each team wanted to advance to the finals just as much as the other. After a punishing match, the scored ended with a 0-0, sending Minot to yet another penalty shootout.

Minot’s first shot was blocked by Ft. Meade’s goal keeper. This made the team a little nervous, but Minot was able to bounce back, putting in their next three shots. Praleikas once again came out strong for his team, making great saves. Minot SC won the penalty shootout 3-2. They were headed to the championship game against their first all Army opponent, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

This would be Minot’s eighth game of the tournament in three days. They were exhausted, but ready to show everyone what Minot AFB could do.

The first half of the game was difficult, as the team lost one of their starting midfielders to heat exhaustion. Ft. Bragg scored in the first half, bringing the score to 1-0. During halftime, the team talked about what they needed to do during the rest of the game—they knew they still had a chance to come out on top. As the second half continued, Minot SC fought hard, but were scored on again, bringing the score to 2-0, Ft. Bragg.

The match ended with Ft. Bragg besting Minot SC, but Minot held their heads high. They had made their point: that Minot was a force to be reckoned with, and that they would come back better and stronger next year.

Minot SC can now call themselves the second best team in the Department of Defense and the best team in the Air Force. 2nd place out of 46 other teams from various military bases across the nation is a great accomplishment. And through it all, their pride in representing the United States Air Force on that green field never faltered.

Along with the 2nd place trophy and individual medals, Minot was awarded the Stew Hess Sportsmanship Award for their outstanding sportsmanship, good conduct and fair play throughout the tournament.

If others take just one thing from Minot SC’s performance in the 2016 Defender’s Cup National Soccer Tournament, it’s this: Only the best really do come north.