The Roanoke College men's soccer team hosted and participated it's 7TH annual Goal-a-Thon Friday night in Kerr Stadium to benefit Micah's Backpack.
During the Goal-a-Thon, the men's soccer team was divided into teams of five players plus goalkeepers. They played organized, timed, "small-sided," six-on-six games at the Kerr Stadium field until a combined total of 100 goals were scored. Over the past two months, the players took donations of $0.25 per goal scored. The Maroons were able to raise almost $4,000, half of which will be donated to Micah's Backpack. Over the last 7 years, the Maroons have donated more than $10,000 to Micah's Backpack through the Goal-A-Thon.
Micah's Backpack addresses children's hunger issues by partnering with local schools to provide direct assistance to students and families who qualify for the free lunch program. Each week during the school year, the identified students receive a backpack filled with enough food for the weekend. The backpacks include two dinners, two lunches and two breakfasts. Weekly, nearly 70 volunteers from various academic, civic, and religious groups work together building community while packing the backpacks and the partner schools distribute the backpacks to the students
Rising sophomore Anthony Zarlenga scored the first goal of the event at 7:33 PM. The 50th goal was scored by rising sophomore Joey D'Amour after about 45 minutes of play. Senior Ryan Hepburn netted the 100th and final goal of the fundraiser. The winner of the "golden boot" award for most goals scored was tied between rising sophomores Liam Camilleri and Alec Taitague who tallied 10 goals each. Rising senior Alex Sullivan won the "golden gloves" award, allowing the fewest of the 100 goals scored on the night. At the conclusion of the 100th goal, the teams were seeded into a tournament format where the #1 seed team consisting of Tim Leuenberger, Atticus Cooke, Joe Carman, Sam Kriel, Isaac Wolf, Chuckie Tenbusch and Jacob Humer proved their top seeding by taking the title.
The Maroons return to action in spring games next week. They will face off against Division I opponent VMI in Lexington, VA on Tuesday, April 2nd at 7:30, then compete in the Roanoke College Alumni Game at 6:30 PM on Friday, April 5th in Kerr Stadium.
Goal-A-Thon Photo Gallery.
