Story by Justin Gotchall & Brit McGinnis
Photos by Alicia Greenwell
As the puddles on the ground rose, so did the tension 8 a.m Saturday as the University of Oregon’s club team got set to take the penalty kick in this year’s World Cup opener. The offense’s superb effort to drive past the rock solid Northwest Christian University (NCU) defense and get into the box was met with a mistimed tackle, and now the Ducks had their chance to close the looming gap. The whistle blown, UO’s striker placed a rocket of a shot over NCU’s keeper, making it a 1-2 game. UO fans and teammates exploded into celebration. In true Duck fashion, their spirits remained undamped by the pouring rain.
The World Cup is organized every year by the UO’s Warsaw Sports Business Club. Over a hundred people belong to the club, but it’s a core of fourteen that organize the Cup over the course of six months. Local businesses, such as Track Town Pizza and Off the Waffle, sponsor the tournament, while Oregon’s own major league soccer team, the Portland Timbers, is an official partner. During the event, a soccer ball signed by the team was raffled off to spectators.
Jordan Dwight, in charge of coordinating and directing the tournament, recalls the humble beginnings of the Cup.
“A bunch of business students got together and talked to other soccer clubs from around the state,” Dwight says. “They put together an awesome tournament, people liked it, and they slowly put together this brand of soccer tournament to play on campus.” The proceeds from the tournament always go to a charity—this year’s beneficiary is the scholarship fund for students of the Eugene Metro Fútbol Club. [More after the jump.]
Five collegiate teams (the UO, NCU, Portland State University, Central Oregon Community College, and Southern Oregon University) competed against each other in a round-robin style tournament, with five recreational teams playing in classic bracket style. Recreational teams this year included FC Soul, the Vipers, Swift FC, Zulu Nation, and the colorfully named IDUNNOWHOCARES. The number of teams in both divisions fluctuates every year, and most of them originate from local soccer clubs.
The first day of the Cup was a challenge for most of the players. Rain began to fall around 10:00 a.m., which left the field highly difficult to maneuver. There were several near-collisions between players, and even between players and referees. Kyle Hinstoroff, the event’s marketing manager and avid soccer fan, bemoaned this fact: “The water helped slow the games down. By the last game, it got to a point where the ball would skim to a stop at the high water points.”
The players themselves, however, were unperturbed. UO student Lauren Nuñez was ready to play with her team Swift FC despite the wet field saying, “I’ve been playing soccer since I was five; it’s one on my favorite things to do.” The tournament is officially coed, but very few women usually register. “I wish there were more,” Nuñez says. “But it’s not bad. [The male players] say that as long as you can play, you’re welcome to come.” Her team would go on to play Zulu Nation in the second day of play, eventually placing second place overall.
The teams that dominated their divisions proved to share three common aspects: light footwork, no fear regarding their entire bodies to address the ball, and steady communication between players. Zulu Nation, the eventual winners of the recreational division, put on a show in the final round against Swift FC. Impressive angles, multiple heading shots, and a steady flow of shouting between players proved to be the keys to victory.
The collegiate division concluded with a passionate match between PSU and the UO. The competition was fierce, with several fouls called between both teams. After two overtime segments, the game was finished in a penalty shootout, with the UO coming out ahead 2-1.
Fans were always present on the sidelines during the Cup. Whether huddling under umbrellas the first day or longing on the grass during the sunny playoffs, Eugene’s strong-but-often-unsung soccer following showed itself in full force. Which is exactly what Hinstoroff hopes will continue. “We want to keep it local, not involve not only the campus community but the Eugene community too.”
