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| News > Lieutenant Brings Soccer Gold to Lajes |
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1st Lt. Richard Nova, 65th Civil Engineering Squadron chief of programs management, displays his gold medal earned as a member of the All Air Force Men's Soccer Team. Nova was one of 18 Airmen selected to the team, which competed against the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard teams. The Air Force won the gold medal by beating Army 2-1.
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Lieutenant Brings Soccer Gold to Lajes
Posted 10/15/2012 Updated 10/15/2012
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by 1st Lt Mark Graff
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
10/15/2012 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- 1st Lt. Richard Nova, a civil engineering officer assigned to Lajes Field, recently brought a gold medal back from the All Armed Forces Soccer Championship.
Nova was part of the 18-man All Air Force Men's Soccer Team that competed against other service's soccer teams in a round robin tournament. Nova is the 65th Civil Engineering Squadron chief of programs management. In his professional duties, he oversees the design and construction management elements at Lajes Field.
The Air Force defeated the Army 2-1 during the championship game, held at the Camp Pendleton, Calif. parade field. According to Nova, the match appeared to be settled in the Air Force's favor until a late Army goal sent the game into overtime.
"It was 1-0 going into half time. In the second half, the Army puts a goal in and it's 1-1 and it takes us into overtime," said Nova. In soccer rules, overtime consists of two, 15 minute halves.
But in overtime, the game turned in the Air Force's favor one final time.
"In the beginning of the second half, we put a goal in and we basically locked down and played defense and won the championship," said Nova, who played collegiate soccer for Clemson University.
Nova was substituted for late in the second half after playing much of the entire game, to that point. The coach favored a player with fresher legs while the game was on the line. The strategy paid off as the Air Force outpaced the Army during the final periods of the contest.
"When they tied it up, I was a little disappointed. But in the second overtime... we're knocking on the door. The Army was just exhausted. We were hitting the post left and right," said Nova.
"One of our defenders actually broke through and (made) a great move at the goalkeeper and put the ball in the net. That's when we knew we were going to win it, because they weren't even attacking us anymore, they were dead," said Nova.
Nova was honored to represent the Air Force and Lajes Field and that the entire experience, from training camp to the championship game, was enriching.
"(Training camp) was pretty grueling with three-a-day (practices)," said Nova. "We had cuts every week and that's how they get down to the 18 who make the (final) roster." 45 Air Force personnel competed for a spot among the final 18 on the All Air Force Men's Soccer Team.
During the selection process, Nova and teammates followed an athletic-focused, daily schedule of alternating practices, scrimmages and meals, sandwiched in between sleep.
Playing for the All Air Force Men's Soccer Team allowed Nova to better understand the tangible benefits that training and preparation play in any Air Force unit.
"I learned down... that you've got to do the hard work up front to reap the rewards in the end. We knew were working harder than the other teams out there," said Nova. "That's something I want to bring back to my element and my flight, especially for inspections and exercises coming up."
As for the final outcome of the game, it reinforced that lesson for Nova.
"Once that final whistle blew, the five weeks of hard training we went through, it was all worth it."
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