Seven MSC premier groups, including both boys and girls teams, will be traveling outside Alaska during summer 2009 to play in a variety of high-level tournaments. Playing in outside tournaments offers a number of benefits for MSC players, including exposure to a higher level of play, and for older players, exposure to scouts and college recruiters.

In 2009, the two-time Alaska State Champion MSC United 92 boys will be joining the United 98 boys for an extended trip outside, as both teams will compete at the inaugural Sounders FC Adidas Cup before moving a few miles north to take part in the US Club Soccer Region G Championships in Burlington, WA, over 4th of July weekend. Between the two tournaments, the two squads will train in-residence with Coerver Coaching NW Director TR Stoneback, Coerver AK Assistant Director Troy Letherman and various Washington-based coaches in preparation for Regionals.

During the following weekend, also in Washington state, two MSC girls squads--Polaris 96 and 97--will be taking part in the Nike Crossfire Challenge, hosted by Crossfire Premier in Redmond.

The MSC United 95 and 96 boys are next up and will also be participating in the Nike Crossfire Challenge (the boys’ tournament is the weekend prior to the girls’).

Over Labor Day weekend, the United 98 boys will be at it again, this time traveling to Huntington Beach, CA, for the NHB Cup, one of the premier tournaments in not only Cal South, but the country. They’ll follow that trip up with entry into the Surf Thanksgiving Cup in San Diego.

In addition, several individual MSC players will be traveling out-of-state in 2009 to participate in a number of tournaments and activities. Over a dozen MSC players will be joining the Alaska State ODP teams for Region IV camps. Likewise, MSC players are traveling with a handful of other Alaska teams as guest players for other tournaments throughout the West.