The Niagara Region's best and brightest high school soccer players will converge on Youngs Sportsplex on June 8th for the 3rd Annual Niagara Region Soccer Showcase. Hosted by the Niagara College Knights the event will feature 60 of the top boys and girls high school players from across the Niagara Region.
The evening will consist of a pair of showcase matches, with the girls kicking things off at 6:00pm followed by the boys at 8:00pm. Student-athletes representing high schools from across the Niagara Region will be split into a pair of teams for each of the games, which are designed to showcase the skill and athleticism of the area's best soccer stars.
Now in its third year, Knights soccer head coach Frank DeChellis praised the event. "The showcase match has proven to be a successful venture by our soccer program. It gives many high school students their first exposure to a post-secondary institution," DeChellis said. "It also allows us to spread the news about Niagara Knights Soccer and allows for Niagara's best players to celebrate the recently completed SOSSA soccer season."
The previous two years have put the high quality of talent in the region in display. The girls have featured a pair of tight contests. Team White took the first annual matchup 1-0 in 2014, while Team Blue captured the event last year with a victory in penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw in full-time. The men's side has shown a distinctly offensive flair. Team White has captured both previous matchups, winning 7-2 in 2014 and 6-3 in 2015.
Current Knights that have participated in past showcase matches include 2016 Niagara College Rookie of the Year Kimbel Donayre, Quinton Leone, Ciccio Scerbo, Amanda Borowski, Shannon Halliday, and Kelsey Snyder. This year they will certainly be joined in blue and white by more players who have participated in the annual showcase.
In addition to recognizing the region's best soccer players, the event also supports the Welland Hope Centre's Jumpstart initiative. In order to register for the event, participants are required to donate a piece of used sporting equipment.
Admission to the event is free, however spectators are encouraged to bring a piece of used sporting equipment in support of the Welland Hope Centre.
Date: Wednesday, June 8th, 2016
Time: 6:00pm – Girls; 8:00pm – Boys
Location: Youngs Sportsplex (570 River Road, Welland)
Admission: Free – spectators are encouraged to donate used sporting equipment in support of the Welland Hope Centre
June 12, 2014 – 1st Annual Niagara Region Soccer Showcase – Team White 7-2 Team Blue (Boys); Team White 1-0 Team Blue (Girls)
June 11, 2015 – 2nd Annual Niagara Region Soccer Showcase – Team White 6-3 Team Blue (Boys); Team White 3-3 Team Blue [Team Blue wins in penalty kicks] (Girls)
March 26, 2015 – 1st Annual Niagara Region Girls Volleyball Showcase – Team Niagara 3-2 Team Knights
March 22, 2016 – 2nd Annual Niagara Region Girls Volleyball Showcase – Team Chiesa/Whiteley 4-0 Team Rivers/Koslowski
December 10, 2015 – 2nd Annual Niagara Region Boys Volleyball Showcase – Team Blue 4-1 Team White
