MEDIA CONTEST: Ops drops cops, 9-3

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ACC MEDIA CONTEST --  Two undefeated teams at the top of Offutt's intramural soccer standings met on the pitch Tuesday night at the Field House, and after an hour af aggressive back-and-forth futbol, there was little doubt that the 55th Operations Group is heading into the playoffs as the team to beat.

The 55th OG team (5-0) sent the 55th Security Forces Squadron (5-1-1) packing in a match that was more even than the final score, 9-3, made it look. Both defenses took a beating, with nearly as many goals allowed in one game as they allowed all season (the OG had only allowed five goals, the SFS 11).

Things started out ominously for the SFS, who were playing with coach Dean Orren as goalkeeper rather than Mickey Craig, their usual choice for that position. The OG quickly demonstrated that their offense, which has battered every team they've met this year, is one of the best in the league, scoring in the first, third and sixth minutes of play.

Despite falling behind so quickly, the cops never gave any sign of giving up. Their defense stiffened enough to slow down the OG's onslaught, but their offense failed to make any meaningful headway against the flyer's defense. By the time the whistle blew on the first half the cops were still scoreless, 6-0.

The halftime break gave the cops a chance to change their strategy, which included replacing Orren with Craig in the keeper's spot. The second half also highlighted another advantage for the cops - their fitness, which let them continue running across the field after the ball even as the OG team noticeably slowed down.

For a few minutes the cops seemed to have a chance to turn the game around, scoring their first goal in the opening minute of the second half. Their new goalkeeper also quickly showed his experience, making several spectacular diving saves that kept the flyers from running the score up even further.

The cops' comeback never materialized, however. After the cops scored their first goal, the flyers struck back with three in a row, managing to pound the ball past Craig despite his aggressive defense. The SFS recovered slightly to score two more before the end of the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome the massive lead the OG built up during the first half.

The game ended on a contentious note, when an OG defender earned a red card for a devastating foul against one of the cops. An inadvertent push from behind sent the SFS member diving head-first into the wall and provoked a storm of shouted suggestions for the referees from the cops' bench.

Down a player, the OG surrendered one more goal before the whistle blew, for a final score of 9-3.