EDMOND—Team Ephraim took on Team Manasseh in the fifth annual Joseph Cup at the Herbert W. Armstrong College soccer field on November 2. After three straight victories by Manasseh, Ephraim responded with a win in 2013 and a hunger for more.

Named after the father of biblical brothers Ephraim and Manasseh, the contest pits descendants of Manasseh (the United States) against descendants of Britain and its Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

This year, the Manasseh squad included players from eight states, plus skilled mercenaries from Germany and El Salvador. “Manasseh is much more open toward taking in Gentiles,” joked German AC freshman Josue Michels, whose twin brothers aided the American cause.

The black-and-red clad Ephraimites broke through for the first goal of the game when Manasseh defender Benjamin Tauer made a tackle in the goal box on attacker Kyle Tremblay—the ball deflected back directly to Steve Hercus, who deposited it into the top left corner of the net.

Later, a diving stop by Manasseh goalkeeper Douglas Culpepper prevented further damage, but a tic-tac-toe passing play a few minutes later led to an easy finish for Tremblay. Team Ephraim entered halftime with a comfortable 2-0 advantage.

During the break, Ephraim fan Nicole Tremblay offered what turned out to be an accurate prediction: “Ephraim is going to get a commonwealth of goals, and Manasseh will get one ultimate goal, but it won’t be enough to win.”

“What I’m missing on the Manassite side is they don’t have active feet,” said Manasseh supporter Sean Welsh, whose son Gianni played midfield during the game. “Ephraim seems more energetic and quick to the ball.”

Team Ephraim built on its strong first-half performance by controlling the pace throughout the final 45 minutes. Tremblay and teammate Kaleb Robson each tacked on another breakaway goal.

Several Manassite rushes came up empty because of poor crosses and misplaced through balls. Manasseh highlights included goalkeeper Daryle Hochstetler’s impressive kick save on a missile from the boot of Tremblay and a towering nearly 40-yard shot by midfielder Adiel Granados which rode the wind past Ephraim’s leaping goalkeeper, Abraham Blondeau. The goal ended a two-year drought for Team Manasseh, which hadn’t hit pay dirt since its game-winner in the final seconds of the 2012 match.

But when referee Eric Burns’s final whistle sounded, Ephraim had its commonwealth of four goals to Manasseh’s one, a two-year aggregate of 8-1, its second straight victory, and the Joseph Cup hoisted in the hands of team captain Steve Hercus. Team Ephraim fans waved seven different flags of the Commonwealth in celebration.

Ephraim looks to even the series at three games apiece at the 2015 cup.