UMass

Well UMass's Sports Management Department put on a Soccerfest this past weekend. They did a pretty good job advertising it. I saw a flier in the Field House for it.

They managed to put on games for people of all different age groups and also had two exhibition games for both their men's and women's teams.

The UMass Men's team took on defending NCAA Champions, Maryland. The game ended in a 0-0 tie. There was an autograph session, and plenty of entertainment. It's pretty impressive to have a spring game of such magnitude and fan-fare. They even charged for the game.

The Women's UMass team took on the New England Mutiny of the WPSL. The New England Mutiny team consists of several UConn players...Incoming freshman Danielle Dakin, and UConn players Jessica Diakun, Erin Clark, Meghan Cunningham, Karen Gurnon and Becky Gundling. I have no idea who played, or what the score was. Haven't found the box score. For their sake...I mean really their sake, they have finals this week...I hope they didn't have to play if they had too much work to do...I think even the spring teams usually get some more freedom before finals so they can study.

The New England Mutiny and whatever teams sign Mike Olt, Pierre LePage and George Springer to play baseball this summer will be my adopted "somewhat UConn" teams. Except chances are I won't make any of their games, but I'll follow them online and in the news and probably fill you in on how they are doing.

I will also follow Willis Reed and the Cotuit Kettleers and Ryan Marciel Grace and the New Bedford Bay Sox.

Anyway to conclude my part on soccerfest...It looks like a really cool event. Also an important event. Soccer needs to have events like this in order to grow the game of soccer in the United States. In order for the game to grow the players have to be friendly and willing to teach and take part in "soccerfests." Soccer is not a sport that American's naturally love and in order to get them to love it you need to give them a reason to. Soccerfests, autograph sessions etc. is a good way to do it.