By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
With the second round of the Blossomland Conference Soccer League's playoffs set to begin tonight, the newly formed league is already looking ahead to next year.
The league, which was formed over the winter and began play this past spring, was formed due to a need for area players to compete beyond AYSO travel leagues, high school and college.
The league originally grew out of the Tri-County Soccer League, which was an unsanctioned league, according to officials coordinator Chris Haack.
Besides Haack, the other league officials are: President, Dennis Ott; Vice President, Octavio Latino; League Registrar, Paul Pantaleo; Treasurer, Nick Lesch; and Secretary, Mary Jo Carlson.
The teams for the first season were P&R FC out of Bridgman, El Real of St. Joseph, The St. Joe Kickers, the Mariners of St. Joseph, Manchester out of Berrien Springs, the Dowagiac Chiefs, and the Cassopolis Vipers and Cougars.
Matches were played in Arden, at Southwestern Michigan College, at Sam Adams Elementary School in Cassopolis, at Ott Field in Bridgman, in New Troy and at Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs.
Haack said that there has already been interest from other areas to provide teams for next season, including South Haven.
Because there has been some disparity in competition, Haack said the league is looking at dividing the league into two divisions next season.
One division would feature more competitive teams, while the other division would feature teams of a more recreational nature.
Additional teams could be formed with those individuals who sign up for the league. The Blossomland Soccer League doesn't want to turn anyone away according to Haack.
For more information on the league, check out www.mysoccer.com and click on the link to the Blossomland Soccer League.
To join the league contact Pantaleo at 426-4096 or email him at krazykatdesign@aol.com.