What are you doing Saturday night? How about joining me for the home opener of the Springfield Demize, members of the Heartland Division of the Professional Development League (PDL). The game is being played at the Cooper Soccer Complex, field 1 and tickets are $5, children under 6 are free. Game time is 7:30 pm and the forecast is gorgeous. That is a weather related term isn’t it 
The team is made up of local players with professional aspirations and it can match the quality of the Division 1 games we enjoy during the Fall. I’m especially looking forward to cheering for Brian Fishback (Parkview 2005/University of Indianopolis), Patrick Carver (Parkview 2005/Emory University), Atila Mota (Central 2006) and Andrew Parsons (Glendale 2006/University of New Mexico) who are all coming back to Springfield for the summer to play for the Demize.
The first home game will feature the Rapids U-23 squad, a new moniker for the seven year old PDL team based in Boulder CO. There is also word that the team may get a new Technical Advisor. Does the name Marcelo Balboa ring a bell?
The PDL is part of the United Soccer League and is equivalent to Single A baseball in that there are three more tiers to make it to the Majors, or Major League Soccer in particular. Unlike baseball, soccer is an equal opportunity employer and our local boys are competing in a national tournament known as the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The U.S. Open Cup, which is recognized as U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 93 consecutive years dating back to 1914. Like Golf’s US Open, there are regional qualifying games that can lead to an amateur team like our boys competing at the highest levels. Remember the run FC Roma made last year?
Eight teams will participate from the PDL, where 60 U.S.-based teams are eligible to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup. The top two teams from each conference based on the results of four pre-designated league games will advance to the tournament. Tonight’s game is opening night of the qualifying round and our boys will play their four games between now and May 28th identify who will advance from the Professional Development League (PDL).
This one means something folks. Come cheer them on!
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What a great game and crowd! The Springfield Demize Team and Organization should be proud of themselves, they did an outstanding job. We are looking forward to more exciting games to come!