April 18, 2008 7:15 pm - Athens Alumni Stadium - Athens PA

The Northern Tier Athletic Foundation is proud to announce the addition of a professional soccer friendly (premier exhibition match) between the United States Soccer League’s (USL) first division semifinalist Rochester Raging Rhinos and the USL second division defending champion, the Harrisburg City Islanders. The friendly will be played on Friday April 18th at Athens Alumni Stadium with kickoff slated for 7:15 PM.

A professional soccer match has been something the NTAF has been working on for the past couple of years and we are very excited to bring in two of the best professional teams in the country. 

Both Harrisburg and Rochester competed in the US Open Cup last season and Harrisburg defeated MLS side D.C. United last year in that competition before barely falling to New England, the MLS’s runner-up last season. 

The soccer weekend will conclude on Saturday April 19th as eleven men’s college teams from across the east coast will converge on Athens Alumni Stadium for the second annual Athens Collegiate Showdown. The day will kick off with eight teams playing in two separate pools. Pool A features New York Institute of Technology (NCAA D2 #10), Lock Haven, Stevens Institute of Technology (NCAA D3 #17), and St. Bonaventure while Pool B includes East Stroudsburg (NCAA D2 #24), York (PA) (NCAA D3 #5), Gettysburg, and Hartwick. The teams will begin play at 8:30 AM and the championship game will be played at 5 PM.

The Border War will feature a match-up between Hofstra and Penn State at 6:30 PM, then Hofstra will do battle with Bucknell at 7:35 PM, before the event is concluded with a Bucknell Penn State match-up at 8:40 PM.

Both events will have separate tickets and tickets will go on sale through the Athens Area High School box office on Monday March 17th. Tickets are $15 for box seating and $5 for general admission. For more information visit : http://www.athenscollegiateshowdown.com.