Students who successfully completed the Purdue Student Soybean Innovation Competition have a unique opportunity this summer to participate in the ASPIRE (Ag Summer Product Innovation Realization and Entrepreneurship) Internship.
Anna (Alsman) Hayes (BS FPE '07, MS FPE '08) and her husband, Garth, have two boys: Philip is 3 and Zac is 1. Future Boilermakers!
The ABE - Amigos took the title of turf indoor soccer champions on Thursday in the final game of the intramural season against the Vikings.
Turf indoor soccer follows similar rules to professional soccer. However, it is a faster paced game that takes place on a field that is notably smaller than a standard soccer field and is played in ten minute halves. Each team plays with four players on the field at a time and a goalie.
Both ABE and the Vikings worked hard to make it to the final match of the turf indoor soccer tournament. With a total of 41 teams in the league, they faced steep competition throughout the short season. Beginning right after spring break, ABE and the Vikings played 3 games in order to qualify for the tournament and another 5 in order to make it to the playoffs.
Alejandro Jota, a starter on ABE, spoke about his experience in the league.
“It has been a pleasure to play with friends this tournament. We played against really good teams, and we always supported each other to overcome difficult situations as a group, which is what sports are about.”
The final game match between ABE and the Vikings began with the ball in the Vikings’ possession. The Vikings started the game with a powerful kick towards ABE’s goal, which 2 players on ABE formed a human wall to deflect with their backs. Soon after, ABE took possession of the ball and formed the lead they would maintain throughout the duration of the match.
Though the Vikings had several shots on goal, all went wide or above the goal. By five minutes into the first half, ABE had already scored the first of the 3 goals they would make during the game.
At the 2 minute mark of the first half, offsides was called on a member of the Viking’s team which turned the possession over to ABE once again. The goalie, Farzin Shamloo, for ABE launched the ball down the field, where Jota gave a brilliant assist to his teammate, Mohamed Aboelnou, who scored bringing the lead to 2-0.
The Vikings kicked off the second half with tough offensive pressure and a seemingly “take no prisoners” sort of mentality. Within the first two minutes, they had two break away shots on goal that Mayo Olasubulumi of ABE played a key role in defending.
In a quick sequence of calls, specifically a much disputed hand-ball call, and out of bounds plays the Vikings were able to score an fast goal against ABE from a penalty kick line distance.
As the five minute mark of the second half passed and Aboelnou of ABE assisted his teammate, Leonardo Bertassello, in scoring the 3rd goal for ABE bringing the score to 3-1, tensions rose dramatically between the two teams. There were four rough collisions that sent players from both teams flying to the ground.
In a show of sportsmanship, the teams met center field and shook hands with one another and the referees. ABE was then awarded shirts that, in classic Purdue style read, “I’m here for the gold.”
ABE’s victory, aside from skill, can be attributed to their communication as a team. Throughout the match, they were consistently talking to one another which worked to their advantage during the fast paced game. They truly functioned like a well oiled machine, hustling at all times and subbing players out as needed.
"The final was really tough. They had guys who are able to shoot the ball from any distance. We did a great job defensively, especially our forwards, who ran up and down the field during the whole game. All the goals that we scored were made thanks to our ability to exploit the other team’s mistakes. Overall, a fun game that I think we deserved to win,” Jota said.
Jota also noted that he enjoyed being part of such a diverse team. Among the 11 players on the team they had people from Nigeria, Uganda, Egypt, Irán, Spain, México, Colombia, Italy, and Honduras.
ABE’s ability to communicate as they did with such a diverse group of athletes makes their win all the more impressive.