Tinker United Soccer Club playing in Defender’s Cup Published Oct. 9, 2009 By John Stuart Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla -- The Tinker United Soccer Club is looking to improve on its 3-1 start as the team is travelling to south Texas this weekend for the Air Force-wide Defender's Cup. Coming off a loss last week in the team's regular league play, the Tinker club will meet stiff competition at Lackland Air Force Base, which is hosting the Air Force-only Cup. Team manager Nathaniel Caldon said the Tinker crew will face tough opponents in the tourney of about 20 teams, with the Lackland and Eglin Air Force Base teams posing the most fearsome opponents. "We hope to be competitive," Caldon said. "Lackland always has a strong team. We hope to make the semis or quarter finals. We have a decent squad going so I hope we can get it together." The Tinker club is about half-way through its eight-week season and Caldon is hoping to improve on the team's .500 finish last season. The team opened its COASL season with a win over a powerhouse Cosmos team, but fell to Odyssey last week to settle at 3-1. With a move to COASL's premier division this season, the Tinker squad faces a formidable opponent corps. The club's next local game is Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. at the South Lakes Soccer Complex in Oklahoma City.