426th IOS Airman selected as Air Force goal keeper

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Mellisa Auers
  • 426th Information Operations Squadron
VOGELWEH CANTONMENT, Germany (ACCNS) --  Senior Airman Steven Delaney, 426th Information Operations Squadron, mission management technician, was selected for the Air Force soccer team and went on to compete as their goal keeper in the Armed Forces Tournament Jan. 16-23 in Florida. 

Airman Delaney was selected for the team after attending the Air Force Soccer team trials at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., from Dec. 28 through Jan. 23. 

Airman Delaney was one of 44 people selected Air Forcewide to compete for the Armed Forces soccer team based on previous experience, skill level, field awareness, knowledge of the game and physical fitness. 

During the Air Force soccer trials, the athletes participated in intense soccer practices twice a day. During the pregames, they competed against local Tampa teams, as well as other Air Force personnel. 

According to Airman Delaney, the competition on the field was fierce; however, Airman Delaney isn't new to the sport by any means. 

He has been playing soccer since the age of 3 and was a member of Metropolitan State College of Denver's Division II Soccer team from his freshman through junior year of college. He has also participated on local German soccer teams since he arrived in country in 2003. 

Airman Delaney said he had to "play at the top of [his] game every day and prove [he] deserved to be there." 

It was the high level of competition that kept him going day in and day out. By the end of trials, the 44 athletes competing for positions on the Air Force soccer team were reduced to 18 (16 field players and 2 goalies). 

In the end, Airman Delaney's dedication and display of agility on the field paid off when he was selected for the team. 

After conclusion of the trials, the team immediately came together to compete in the Armed Forces tournament. 

Airman Delaney started in 3 of the 6 tournament games, all of which the Air Force soccer team won. Overall, Airman Delaney's contribution aided in the Air Force team winning 4 out of 6 games during the tournament. The Air Force team was defeated by Army in the championship game in a shoot out. 

Although he was not selected to compete with the Armed Forces team in Brazil, Airman Delaney says he is grateful for the opportunity to compete with the U.S. Armed Forces top athletes. 

According to Airman Delaney, the best part about being able to participate in the soccer trials was "the chance to compete as an unknown and make a lasting impression on both the coaches as well as [his] teammates." 

He also hopes that impression helps him out next year when he goes out for the team again, but for now, he plans on keeping up his soccer skills with the Fussball Club Kaiserslautern, a division III Kaiserslautern Soccer team. 

"The 426th IOS is extremely proud of [Airman] Delaney and the fact that he represented the squadron so well during his time in Florida," said Lt. Col. Rebecca A. Keller, 426th IOS commander. "We hope to see him continue to use his talents to represent his unit and the Air Force."