The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Soccer clubs merge, hope to attract players
Try-outs for newly formed club to be held iun July
By Pat Grimes, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: July 5, 2007
Youth soccer in eastern Washtenaw County was kicked up to a new level recently with the union of two area travel soccer groups; the Lincoln Soccer Club and Ypsilanti Area Soccer Club.
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Announcing their merger in May, representatives from the new Ypsilanti Lincoln Soccer Club projected fielding more teams and providing greater opportunities for their players.
"For some time, people were wondering why two clubs were doing the same thing in the same area," said Ypsilanti Club Vice President Tim Offerle, "Often a family had kids playing for different clubs. Merging was sometimes difficult, but, like our teams, we remembered our goals, stressed the positive, and worked it through."
Circumstances provided the impetus to move toward a combined club. In the fall of 2006, a group of boys from the Lincoln Community Education soccer program joined players from Ypsilanti Township Soccer and YASC program to form an 10-and-under team that played in the South East Michigan Soccer Association.
Following a very successful season, the team approached Lincoln about playing in the more challenging Great Lakes Soccer League. A division-winning season ensued, as well as an ascent to the finals of the Canton Cup Tournament; this experience proved instrumental in the merger of the two soccer clubs.
The combined Ypsilanti Lincoln Soccer Club got a head start on the fall 2007 season by holding two educational clinics.
All club members and local youth soccer players were invited to participate in a goalie clinic June 18 through 22 and a general skills session June 25 through 29. Dozens of boys and girls gathered each evening at Ford Heritage Park for these sessions, conducted by 14-and-under coach Felix Dozzi and assistant coach Bill Peet.
Skills clinic participants also enjoyed training from professional soccer player Hewerton Moreira. From Santos, Brazil, forward Moreira wears No. 9 for the Detroit Ignition of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
For the fall of 2007, the YLSC expects to field 10 to 11 teams of girls and boys, more than the combined total of the two former clubs. Teams also will have the option of using a professional trainer.
YLSC players will participate largely in the GLSL, but the club has applied for guest membership in the Western Suburban Soccer League, where select YLSC players will test their skills in a more competitive setting.
"The club's goal is to help our local volunteer-coached teams get the resources they need to be successful in travel soccer," Offerle said. "In the past, players had to go to other cities to play at this level; now families in the Ypsilanti and Lincoln school districts have a hometown club that offers a chance to enjoy the game on a bigger stage."
The YLSC will hold Select Team try-outs and Recreation Team sign up/try-ins from 6 to 8 p.m. July 10 and 12 at Ford Heritage Park, Textile Road just east of Whittaker.
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