By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
While there have been a few road bumps along the way, for the most part, the Blossomland Soccer League has had a solid first campaign.
The first season of the adult soccer league will wrap up on July 24 at the St. Joe Kickers Club in Arden with the final day of playoffs.
While league officials are concerned about some disparity in competition, they can be proud of the fact that there have been very few problems, on the field or off it.
It can be proud of the fact that it is a well-run league which is already drawing interest in expansion.
To make sure things ran smoothly, league officials, President, Dennis Ott; Vice President, Octavio Latino; League Registrar, Paul Pantaleo; Treasurer, Nick Lesch; Secretary, Mary Jo Carlson; and Officials Coordinator, Chris Haack, made sure that the little things like three officials for each match, a league representative being present at each game, and meetings once a month to discuss anything that may have come up, were part of the plan.
That has given the first-year league a solid reputation to build upon.
Haack said a perfect example of that is the Dowagiac Chiefs, who were coached by Tom Wilson.
Haack feels that the Blossomland Soccer League can be a real building block for high school players and for towns who do not have a travel soccer team program.
He also feels that because the league is local, is affordable (only $60 per individual) and is well run, that its future is extremely bright.
The second round of the playoffs began Thursday night. The Dowagiac Chiefs will host the St. Joe Mariners in the second round on Thursday, July 22.