TSA will be having a “TSA Inaugural Summer Nights 4 v 4 Tournament” on June 1-2.  Games will be played on Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.    All games will be held at Rillito Park. Deadline is May 23.

     This will be THE event for all ages. Adult teams and co-ed teams can compete against one another. And it will be a great chance for teams to get to know one another as it looks ahead to the upcoming season. Every TSA team is expected to field at least two teams to kick off its new season.

      It will also be a great weekend event for the younger kids, even if they are not playing competitively yet. It’ll be a fun introduction to tournament play. The cost is $180 per team.

     “TSA is both proud and excited to announce its first “Summer Nights” 4 v 4 tournament,’’ said Ted Schmidt , a TSA board member. “This will be the perfect opportunity for the newly formed competitive teams to play together after try outs and for the developmental and recreational teams to get a taste of the fun of tournament play in an especially family-friendly environment.”

"I feel that Sam has all the technical and tactical abilities to play at the next level," said head coach Andre Luciano. "I’m excited that she has the chance to showcase herself in front of other European teams and I’m confident that she can make a living at it. It’ll be an opportunity for her to see a new culture and the great thing is that they’re excited to have her."

Monahan heads to Finland after wrapping up one of the greatest NAU soccer careers in the fall. She was the only player to start all 19 matches for the Lumberjacks in 2011 and led the team with a career-high seven goals, as well as assists and points. For her efforts, she was a unanimous All-Big Sky first team selection and became one of 10 Lumberjacks in program history with multiple first team all-conference accolades. Monahan left her imprint in the school record books as she finished her career second in career assists, fifth in points, tied for fifth in shots, eighth in goals and tied for sixth in game-winning goals.

"College soccer prepared me well," Monahan said. "I think I made a mark here at NAU and I’m hoping I can do the same over there. I’m hoping to make an impact."

For Monahan, who will receive her degree in electronic media and film as part of next week’s commencement ceremonies despite already being in Finland for the start of her professional career, the opportunity of playing soccer, or "football" as it’s more commonly known overseas, in Europe is one that she couldn’t pass up.

"It’s going to be completely different and that was the reason why I wanted to go to Europe," Monahan said. "The way they view soccer and the way it’s viewed here (in America) is different and I’m excited to experience that and learn something from it."

EIF’s season begins on May 6 against Sudet and runs through September 15. For more information on the Ekenäs Idrottsförening football club, check out their official website here.

 Robert Acosta has a message: never give up on a dream and always work hard.

Always. And if people say you can’t do it, prove them wrong.

Acosta is living a dream – and he thanks the Tucson Soccer Academy and a host of coaches who have brought him to this point in this life.

He’s now on the roster of the Norfolk (Va.) SharX of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

            “It has been a very long and arduous journey, beginning with my foundation with TSA in 1987,’’ said Acosta in an email. “ Without the groundwork laid out by my coaches throughout my years with the academy, I would not be where I am today.  As I think about my coaches throughout my tenure (Charlie Kendrick, Charlie McCabe, David Cosgrove, Wolfgang Weber and their assistants), I can attribute one of more aspects of my play to each one.  The opportunity to grow and develop as a player under an array of different coaching styles added to my arsenal of knowledge, ability, skills, technique, etc. It has prepared me for the next level.’’

            Here’s a quick look back at his journey.

            After playing for TSA, he attended Wartburg College, a small Div. III school in Waverly, IA., where he was part of two Sweet 16 teams and four NCAA tournament appearances. He was a four-year starter and an IIAC all-conference selection in 2008.

            It wasn’t always easy, Acosta said, but he was getting good advice from his mom from home: “good thing TSA prepared you for this".

And, he said, she was right.

Because after college (he graduated in 2009), it didn’t get any easier. He had no connections to play at the next level, although he tried to latch on seemingly everywhere (at least eight states and teams just to name a few).

“I was turned down, mostly because I ‘didn’t have enough experience at the next level,’’’ he said, quoting others.

But he moved to Virginia in 2010 and made some connections and friends. Soon after, he was playing for the Virginia Legacy. Unfortunately, the team lasted just one season. He then played for the Virginia Beach Piranhas. From there, he tried out for the SharX.

“I hoped this would be my chance to get into the league,’’ he said.

It – again – wasn’t easy. There were two rounds of tryouts, and he didn’t get through the first one. “(But) I made some adjustments in my training regimen, and hit it even harder to prepare for the second round,’’ he said.

He made enough of an impression – although he still didn’t make the team – that the owner invited him to preseason camp. He made the final roster – plus three. He’s now one of the three and was recently activated. He spent some time doing the team’s play-by-play announcing for television broadcasts.

“Since November I have attended every session, and have put in 15 to 20 hours a week in the gym on my own ... and I got my payoff on Feb 3, 2012,’’ he said. “The head coach contacted me and told me that he liked what he had been seeing lately, and wanted to offer me a spot for the remainder of the season, with option to renew the contract depending on my performance.  I signed that day, and look forward to making my mark in the remainder of the season.’’

As they are.

“I was happy that he made the active roster,’’ said Carol Senechal, the team’s communication’s director. “ He certainly has been a huge asset to the club all season!’’

We’ve enclosed the schedule to make it easier for those to see when tryouts begin. They start the first week of May and run throughout the month, depending on your team. Good luck and welcome to TSA if you are hoping to be a new member. And if you’re returning, well, welcome back.

Click here to register for placements/tryouts 

Click here for required placement/tryout form (complete and bring to placements)

TSA programs, contact David Cosgrove, TSA Director of Player Development, 370-3717.

Registration, contact Kim Kenworthy, TSA Administrator, 991-2118.

 Notes to add to the TSA website, contact Steve Rivera, 661-5302.

 Questions concerning the TSA website, contact Charlie MacCabe, 731-8115

 

To place your order e-mail TSA's administrator: kim.kenworthy@gmail.com Specify which items, size and your e-mail and phone number so we can arrange delivery.