UA Soccer club joins collegiate league
Brian Washburn
Issue date: 8/29/07 Section: News
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The UA soccer club team is about to start its season in the Oklahoma Collegiate Club Soccer League (OCCSL).
The team is called UASC United because of the diversity of their club members.
"We are a multi-cultural team all over," said Greg Walter, UA soccer club vice president. "We have had players from all over the world come play."
The club has had student players from Columbia, Costa Rica, Germany, Norway, Saudi Arabia and several other countries, Walter said.
"I had no soccer experience at all, but I've progressed so much since joining the [UA Soccer] club," said Sammy Chung, a junior soccer club player.
The team will play its first game for the OCCSL on Sept. 8. The first game in Fayetteville will be Sept. 28 at 2:30 p.m. on the intramural playing fields.
"At this time, there aren't many known college club teams in Arkansas with which we can compete," said club president Brian Tromburg. The furthest away the team will play will be in Oklahoma City, about three hours away.
One reason the UASC team must play in an Oklahoma league is NCAA rule which says women and men must have an equal number of collegiate sports at the same college. The UA does not have a men's soccer team.
"I know any one of our players would enjoy playing Division 1 soccer," Tromburg said. "It is unclear whether Arkansas will establish a men's soccer program in the future, but one of our goals is to ensure current and future participation at a competitive college level, allowing those with a desire to continue participation in soccer an opportunity to play at the university level."
However, the club does have the support of the UA behind it.
"The UA has great staff for anyone who wants to start a sports club. They will open all the doors to get you started and do so much for us," Walter said.
To draw students to the games this year, the club plans to use its diverse membership to invite friends to the games, to advertise through social mediums such as facebook.com and hand out flyers around campus, Tromburg said. Also, UASC United is looking for any individual or business sponsorships.
The team is called UASC United because of the diversity of their club members.
"We are a multi-cultural team all over," said Greg Walter, UA soccer club vice president. "We have had players from all over the world come play."
The club has had student players from Columbia, Costa Rica, Germany, Norway, Saudi Arabia and several other countries, Walter said.
"I had no soccer experience at all, but I've progressed so much since joining the [UA Soccer] club," said Sammy Chung, a junior soccer club player.
The team will play its first game for the OCCSL on Sept. 8. The first game in Fayetteville will be Sept. 28 at 2:30 p.m. on the intramural playing fields.
"At this time, there aren't many known college club teams in Arkansas with which we can compete," said club president Brian Tromburg. The furthest away the team will play will be in Oklahoma City, about three hours away.
One reason the UASC team must play in an Oklahoma league is NCAA rule which says women and men must have an equal number of collegiate sports at the same college. The UA does not have a men's soccer team.
"I know any one of our players would enjoy playing Division 1 soccer," Tromburg said. "It is unclear whether Arkansas will establish a men's soccer program in the future, but one of our goals is to ensure current and future participation at a competitive college level, allowing those with a desire to continue participation in soccer an opportunity to play at the university level."
However, the club does have the support of the UA behind it.
"The UA has great staff for anyone who wants to start a sports club. They will open all the doors to get you started and do so much for us," Walter said.
To draw students to the games this year, the club plans to use its diverse membership to invite friends to the games, to advertise through social mediums such as facebook.com and hand out flyers around campus, Tromburg said. Also, UASC United is looking for any individual or business sponsorships.
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