Tinker soccer club falls to Eglin in overtime Published Oct. 16, 2009 By John Stuart Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- It was muddy. It was very muddy. On a field that more resembled a mud wrestling arena than a soccer pitch, the Tinker United Soccer Club had its tournament hopes cut short last weekend by Eglin Air Force Base in a close 3-2 loss. The Tinker club entered the entirely Air Force Defender's Cup ranked eighth of 18 teams, and had significant opponents to overcome to be competitive. Although Tinker fell to Eglin, last year's Defender Cup champs, it was anybody's match to win, said Tinker team manager Nathaniel Caldon. Eglin struck early, putting two goals on the board within the first 10 minutes of play. But the Oklahoma City squad sounded back with a pair of goals in the second half, knotting the score at two each and forcing the game into overtime. Going scoreless throughout the first extra period, the teams pushed into a second five-minute overtime where Eglin scored early to claim the Oct. 11 match. "It was crazily muddy conditions," Caldon said of the tournament hosted by Lackland Air Force Base. "They had complete rainstorms the entire time we were down there. The conditions really weren't ideal for soccer." Caldon praised the efforts of team goalie Benjamin Foeks, who earned his keep on the sodden pitch. "Our goal keeper played excellent," Caldon said. "Considering the conditions he did an amazing job. He was by far the MVP of the game even though it doesn't show on paper." The Tinker players will be back in action this Sunday in their usual Central Oklahoma Adult Soccer League play. They play at 2 p.m. at the South Lakes Soccer complex in Oklahoma City.