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The Columbus North and Columbus East girls soccer teams line up for introductions Aug. 23, 2023, at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
With soccer season approaching fast, the Columbus North girls soccer team is hosting an invitational tournament to help gear up for the season competition in five weeks.
The two-day tournament will be held on Friday and Saturday at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
“Biggest benefit for our girls would be ample opportunities to play. It’s local, no cost to our players and a chance to give back to the game of soccer,” North coach David Young said. “We only do two fundraisers during the year. Between the North Invite and our car wash in August, we raise enough money to cover all our players’ warmups, player packs.”
North is fielding three teams in the invitational, and Columbus East and Jennings County are participating in the tournament, as well.
The Bull Dogs’ three teams are based on where the coaches see the players currently. Young mentioned the rosters seen Friday and Saturday will be different than at the start of the upcoming season.
There are a total of 18 teams in the invitational. All of the games will be played on the turf field and the grass field at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
North’s No. 1 plays Gibson Southern in the first game at 4:30 p.m. Friday, then will play Ben Davis at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and Mt. Vernon’s No. 1 team at 3 p.m. Saturday. North’s No. 2 plays Martinsville at 10:30 a.m. Friday and Jennings County at 1:30 p.m. Friday, then will play Covington at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. North’s No. 3 plays Batesville’s No. 2 at 3 p.m. Friday, then plays Mt. Vernon’s No. 2 team at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
East plays Greenwood at 6 p.m. Friday, then will play Martinsville at 3 p.m. Saturday. In addition to playing North’s No. 2, Jennings County will play Covington at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
“Our goal with early summer competition is to put the girls in challenging situations as often as we can. Our goal is to put them in a position to fail and see how they respond,” Young said. “Between this and team camp the following week, we have loads of opportunities to compete.”