Men's Soccer to Host Friends of Jaclyn Night During Saturday's Game

Men's Soccer | 9/11/2014 12:00:00 AM

Widener men's soccer team once again will show its goodwill this Saturday when it hosts Friends of Jaclyn Night during its match against Cabrini.

Game time at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium is 7:30 pm.

The Pride's relationship with Friends of Jaclyn dates to 2011, when the squad adopted Mario Carpino as one of its honorary members. Carpino, now 11, was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 4 and since has served as an inspiration for the team. Before the squad's game that year vs. Lycoming, Carpino reminded the unit that we should all try our best and never give up no matter what.

Carpino also has played a role in the team hosting Alex's Lemonade Stand to raise money for pediatric cancer.

The night will feature a 50/50 raffle along with other surprises with all proceeds benefitting Friends of Jaclyn.

Friends of Jaclyn pairs courageous children battling pediatric brain tumors with sports teams who provide them with love, support and friendship. Over 500 collegiate teams have adopted players through the organization since it began in 2005. There also is a national waiting list of over 800 teams.

More information on Friends of Jaclyn can be found by going to www.friendsofjaclyn.org. Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer deaths in children under age 18 and 4,000 children in the United States are annually diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor. More than 28,000 people in the United States are living with the diagnosis of a pediatric brain tumor.

The work of the men's soccer team has been noticed on a grander scale. Head coach Brent Jacquette was the Philadelphia Union's nominee for the MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest. He has been heavily involved with Soccer for Success, a free after-school program that uses soccer as a tool to address children's health issues and juvenile delinquency while promoting healthy lifestyles in urban underserved communities. Jacquette has worked tirelessly to help promote the values of the program that stretch from physical activity, nutrition, mentorship and family engagement.

Jacquette also founded Get Ahead Soccer, which developed youth soccer programs, camps and clinics, and organized the staff to conduct training sessions.

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