Hillside Community Shield underway at Sahlen's Stadium

Posted at: 09/11/2012 5:33 PM | Updated at: 09/11/2012 6:05 PM
By: Robin De Wind | WHEC.com

A long standing European tradition in soccer is making its way to Rochester. The University of Rochester and RIT Men’s Soccer teams will compete for the Community Shield, a hand crafted piece designed by a local artist. The game promotes soccer and is raising money for the Hillside Family of Agencies. 

RIT and University of Rochester will kick things off at 7:30pm. A preliminary match between high school rivals McQuaid and Aquinas got underway at 4:30pm.  

This is the first time two local high schools and colleges have met on the soccer field to raise money for the community. News10NBC caught up with RIT and U of R as they prepared for Tuesday’s game. Anytime these two teams meet it is highly competitive, but the idea of moving the game to Sahlen’s Stadium and raising money for local families was an opportunity both schools couldn’t turn down. 

Chris Apple, U of R Men's Soccer Coach, said, “We want to teach them about soccer but more than that we want to help them grow life skills and become committed people in the community we do grass roots soccer and they work with inner city kids coaching youth soccer and things like that so this is a natural extension for them to stay involved in the community.”

Bill Garno, RIT Men's Soccer Coach, said, “We don't need a lot more motivation to get ourselves up for a game against U of R , they are a great team every year we have great games but this certainly ramps it up the venue playing at Sahlen's is going to be a great opportunity for our team.” 

County Executive Maggie Brooks will lead a 9/11 tribute ceremony and a moment of silence along with city and county first responders in advance of the RIT and U of R match at 7:15pm. The game will get underway at 7:30pm and the winner will be presented with the Community Shield.

Tom Hildebrandt, who is the head of Hillside, is a soccer lover and wanted to bring this European tradition of playing for a Community Shield to our soccer community. This is an inaugural event he hopes will continue each year.

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