THe Summer of soccer
By: Joe Rafter
AUBURN, Ala.--- While soccer fans across the world are focused on the Euro’s and Copa Amèrica there was another soccer tournament that kicked off this soccer-filled summer that many missed the chance to watch.
On June 14th, the Auburn Power Wheelchair Soccer team traveled to Fort Wayne, Indiana to take part in the Champions Cup in the MK Battery Conference Cup Series
The Tiger's quest for a National Championship got off to a rocky start as they lost their first game of pool play to the Northeast Passage PowerCats, a team based in New Hampshire by a score of 2-1.
The second game of the day did not go much better as they fell 1-0 to LASC from California.
However, a two-hour film session called together by team captain Zach Dickey changed momentum for the Tigers as they went into day two needing two wins to move into the knockout stages.
“He is our leader, he brought us all together and put us on the right track,” Striker Walker Ray said.
They were certainly on the right track, as the team won both games while scoring five goals on the day without allowing one.
Left Winger Evan Heller had a career day, as he scored a hat-trick against his hometown team, Adaptive Sports Ohio.
“I felt like the king of Ohio when that third goal went in,” Heller said about his performance.
The best part of the day according to the team was knowing that they would not be relegated going into next season.
The vibes were at an all-time high going into the quarterfinal matchup against the Golden State Ducks.
The teams battled back and forth and were tied after full time. The next goal would be the winner for either team as they played “Golden Goal” format in overtime.
The Tigers would eventually fall to the Ducks, 3-2 in three overtimes.
“It was a great experience overall,” Heller said.
The Tigers fell short of their goal, but they were happy with their performance and look forward to next season.
“I see us getting to the top three next year for sure,” Heller said.
“We have Kyle Eggleston joining us in the fall, so we are just adding to a team full of stars,” Ray added.
The team will begin their offseason training in August when they return to campus.