Cooper hat-trick seals CES championship win again

  • Published
  • By Gary Rogers
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Aaron Cooper's hat-trick helped the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron defeat the 100th Maintenance Group 5-1 to retain the Indoor Soccer Championship for a fifth time in a row May 22, 2013, at the Northside Fitness Center on RAF Mildenhall, England.

The game started with CES applying early pressure but found Chris Beets from Brandon, England, in goal for the Maintenance Group in fine form making two outstanding saves. Nine minutes in CES's Martin Parker, found himself clear in front of goal but his shot sailed narrowly over the crossbar. As the half progressed, the Civil Engineer Squadron was becoming more and more frustrated and started losing their passing game, resorting to long range shots.

Seventeen minutes in and Beets was finally beaten when a low shot from Aaron Cooper found the back of the net to give CES the lead. But two minutes later MXG missed a glorious chance to level. A pass from Adam Garcia found Chris Milby, from Carson City, NV, in the clear, but his shot was blocked by Barry (The Cat) King in goal. Shortly after, the same pair combined well again and this time Milby scored.

The half-time score was 100th CES 1, 100th MXG 1.

The second half started as the first, with CES on the attack and after two minutes Geoff Gough almost made MXG pay for a defensive error, but his shot came back off the post. Chis Beets, made a brilliant finger-tip save from Aaron Cooper, a carpenter from Baton Mills, England, and then saved well by denying Gough.

Seventeen minutes, Aaron Cooper finally found some space in front of the goal and calmly placed his shot wide of Beets to restore CES's lead. A minute later, Cooper then completed his hat-trick with a stunning long-range goal. His shot found the far corner of the net. This certainly deflated MXG, who began to look tired. Understandably since this was their fourth straight game of the week.

Martin Parker added a fourth goal for CES on 21 minutes and Geoff Gough, an electrician from Thetford, England, fired the ball home from close range in the last minute to make it five.

The final score was 100th CES 5, 100th MXG 1.

Andy Keogh, Airman dorm leader, and coach for the 100th CES was playing his last game before moving to RAF Lakenheath to work for the Arts and Craft Center said after the game, "I tried out for the chess team but I was too tall, so I joined the CES soccer team. But joking aside, coaching and winning the championship for the last 3 years has been a great experience. I have been very lucky to be able to play with some great players and good friends, which I will truly miss. The 100th MXG and the 100th OG have really improved this season which helped motivate us to retain the championship."