Genesee Soccer Success and the Promise of the new Pitch

BATAVIA, NY (10/26/2009)- As the finishing touches of the new turf soccer pitch at Genesee Community College are completed, the College's soccer teams aren't waiting for the glory of playing and winning under the new lights. This weekend, not only did the Cougar men's and women's soccer teams win against Clinton Community College but a hearty group of Genesee Soccer Alumni from 1988 to 2007 took to the windy field and played the first Alumni Soccer Game, odd years completing again even years for an invigorating score of 5-3.

On Saturday, October 24, 2009, the Lady Cougar's were up first and won 5-2 against the Clinton Community College. The men continued Genesee's winning streak with the same score, 5-2, against the Plattsburgh area Clinton Cougars. Then at 4:00 PM, after a group photograph and warm-ups, 17 Genesee soccer alumni as well as few additional players including Ken Gavin, the men's soccer coach, and Jim Cody, assistant men's soccer coach and also the College's senior manager of Technical Services collectively kicked-off the first-ever Alumni Soccer game.

With temperatures dropping and grey clouds bearing a bit of cold drizzle, the older, more seasoned Genesee Cougars were reminded how playing on Genesee's original field was like being "on top of the world," and not the easiest pitch to compete on. A small but dedicated crowd of spectators agreed.

"The new field will definitely offer the advantage of better wind protection," noted Jon DiLaura '94 of Geneseo, NY, who now teaches math at Byron-Bergen. Ironically, DiLaura played with one of his recent Byron-Bergen students, Joe Chimino '04, and the two original Cougars learned they played the same soccer position, but ten years apart.

"The guys had a great time today, and all of them are looking forward to coming back next year," Jim Cody, who organized the event, said. "We know the turn-out will be even better next year, and we hope to have a Lady Cougars Alumni game as well."

As the bulldozers finish up the landscaped apron around the new pitch and officials get ready to turn on and season the big new lights, an excited group of Cougar soccer players from near and from far, and from then and from now, await with great anticipation.

A group photograph of the inaugural GCC Men’s Alumni Soccer team.:

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