Last night Team JPL FC challenged the Marines in a hard fought soccer match that pitted two teams looking for their first victory of the year. Throughout the first 10 minutes of the game, the teams felt each other out testing each goalie with difficult shots. It was not until the 15th minute that a shot by a Marines’ forward made it past JPL’s goalie Sovanna “The Great Wall” Mam. JPL held tight, but after two questionable calls, a tripping penalty near midfield that lead to a breakaway and an “unlucky” handball in the box that lead to a penalty kick goal, the Marines found themselves up 3-0.

In a game that saw two teams fight to the final second, JPL FC battled Team CPA in last night’s late soccer game.

With a few scrum goals in front of the net, CPA took an early 3-0 lead. “Keep your heads up,” said “The Veteran” Jim Mitchell as he encouraged his team. “We are still in this!” Only a few seconds later, Jim stole the ball in his defensive end to start what would be the play of the game.

In their first game at the Twin Ponds Soccer Facility, Team JPL FC made an impact on the Adult Co-ed soccer league. “I think we played great in our first game of the season. We played as a team and everyone had fun,” commented team captain Joe Tertel after the game. “We have seven more games left and we are just going to get better!”

Coming off of their best season ever, the JPL soccer team looks to improve on last year’s record. This year JPL welcomes several new faces to the team hoping to increase its defense stand and further improve its explosive offensive. JPL will also be featured in a new league this year. Previously participating in the Sports City indoor soccer league, JPL has decided to move to play at Twin Ponds in Mechanicsburg.