NJCAA
Soccer Tournament to be Community Affair
Free admission for area youth soccer players
7/29/09
West Windsor,
N.J. -- The 600 youngsters playing soccer and other sports at MCCC's
Sports Camps this summer reflect the athleticism and enthusiasm
that will be on display at the college level when Mercer hosts the
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I
Mens Soccer Championship from November 18-22, 2009.
The national
tournament is returning to the MCCC Soccer Complex for the first
time since 1999 and the College expects to attract thousands of
fans, with a special focus on youngsters. MCCC will offer free admission
to children 12 and under who wear their youth soccer team jerseys
to the event. Admission for all other children 12 and under is $3
per day.
"We
anticipate that the tournament will be a family affair," MCCC
Athletics Director John Simone said. "We want youngsters to
come out with their families to enjoy championship level soccer
and to feel the excitement surrounding Mercer's college soccer program.
Fans at the Nov. 22 final will see the crowning of a national champion
from the eight teams that will participate from across the country.
The coaches and kids can learn a lot from watching high level
soccer and it will be a fun atmosphere, added Ryan Zegarski,
MCCC assistant athletics director and the tournament's director.
Having
children attend tournament games is part of the athletics departments
emphasis during the 2009-10 school year to expose young people to
MCCC athletics, including clinics with some of the Vikings teams.
In addition to summer camps, MCCC runs a winter indoor soccer league
for hundreds of area teams each year.
The November 22 championship game caps a national tournament that
kicks off Wednesday, November 18 the evening prior to the
first game with a banquet for the teams and a T-shirt exchange,
as well as induction ceremonies for the 2009 NJCAA Soccer Hall of
Fame class.
MCCCs
highly successful mens soccer program hopes to be one of the
eight teams to reach the national tournament. Coach Charlie Inverso
has taken his last eight squads to the nationals and won five of
the programs eight national titles during his 23 seasons.
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Youngsters
learn valulable skills in MCCC's summer Soccer Camps. MCCC invites
youth soccer players (with jersey) to attend the tournament free
of charge.
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MCCC Head Coach Charlie Inverso, left,
and Assistant Coach Larry Povia will welcome fans to the MCCC Soccer
Complex for the NJCAA national tournament.
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His
2008 squad finished 19-3 and third at the national tournament. This years
squad, which must win Region 19 and Northeast District titles to qualify
for the national tournament, features 2008 NJCAA All-American Amit Abudmad.
I
think that area soccer aficionados are anxious to come back and watch
some very high level soccer locally, Simone said. There was
a group of people who came for all the years we hosted the tournament.
I think theyre happy that it's back after a 10-year absence. Its
a great thing for the community.
A
tournament pass for all 11 games is available for $30. General admission
tickets cost $12 per day and are good for all games that day. Students
who have a valid high school or college ID and seniors ages 62 and up
pay only $25 for a tournament pass or $10 for a daily general admission
ticket.
Tournament
sponsors include NJCAA Region 19; the Garden State Athletic Conference;
the Trenton Marriott, which has been selected to house the visiting teams;
Stout's Charter Service, which will provide transportation; and Baden
Sports. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, call (609)
570-3740.
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