For immediate release
August 30, 2013
CCAA Women's Soccer National Championship coming to KPU
Metro Vancouver, BC – This November, some of the country’s most talented female student-athletes will be coming to Surrey, British Columbia, as Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) proudly hosts the 2013 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship in one of its local communities for the first time.
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) four-day tournament will see Canada’s eight top provincial conference soccer teams compete for the championship title November 6-9 on Newton Athletic Park’s top-of-the-line artificial turf fields, one of which was renovated in 2010 under a joint partnership between the university, the City of Surrey and the federal government’s Recreational Infrastructure Canada program.
The KPU Eagles women’s soccer team – who won bronze at the 2009 CCAA National Championship – will double as hosts and participants. Their guaranteed qualification is reinforced by years of successful campaigns at the provincial and national levels: For the past four consecutive years, the team has qualified for the PACWEST provincial championships, winning bronze in 2008, and the title of consecutive provincial champions with wins in 2009 and 2010. They went on to play in the CCAA nationals both years, placing third in the country with a bronze in 2009.
“The KPU players are extremely excited to have the opportunity to play for the championship in front of their home fans,” says Assistant Coach Joan McEachern. “It is a unique opportunity the players will seize in a phenomenal four days of soccer from the best CCAA teams from across Canada."
While this is the first time KPU will host the competition, the university is no amateur when it comes to hosting major sporting events. The institution’s hosting committee is comprised of sport-event professionals and educational leaders who have collectively hosted collegiate, single- and multi-sport events, including hosting the 2007 BCCAA Provincial Soccer Championship, co-hosting the 2010 BCCAA Provincial Soccer Championship and co-hosting the 2012 PACWEST (formerly BCCAA) Provincial Basketball Championship.
"Hosting this championship is a significant event not only for KPU, but also for the City of Surrey. The tournament will highlight KPU’s women’s soccer program, which has been in existence for 10 years, as well as showcase KPU’s ability to host a national tournament,” McEachern says.
The event, just blocks away from KPU Surrey, is open to the public, with available seating for 1,000 at the varsity field throughout the duration of the tournament. Elementary, high school and post-secondary students are eligible for free admission with a valid student ID.
There are other ways to get involved in the championships as well: Volunteer opportunities are open to the general public, allowing students, sports buffs and community members the unique chance to participate in a national event with the nation’s top female student soccer players.
For more information on the event, visit: www.kpu.ca/eagles, or contact Joshua Mitchell, Director of Student Engagement, atjoshua.mitchell@kpu.ca or 604.599.2474.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts, science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 18,000 students annually have a choice from over 200 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations. Learn more at www.kpu.ca.
-30-
For more information about KPU, contact:
Hayley Woodin
Media Specialist
Tel: 604.599.2883
hayley.woodin@kpu.ca