Soccer College Showcase Draws Thousands to Pleasanton, Promotes Cancer Awareness

If any Tri-Valley residents found their favorite restaurants overcrowded last weekend, it was probably thanks to the 200 Division I girls’ soccer teams that converged on Pleasanton for the Rage Soccer Club’s annual College Showcase.

The Adidas-sponsored showcase, for players age 14 through 18, attracted the best teams from nine states in the western U.S. and more than 100 college coaches looking for talented prospects.

“There are two top showcase tournaments in California, and this is one of them,” said showcase director Marty Florian.

Apart from providing teams exposure to college scouts, for the second year in a row the Pleasanton Rage College Showcase also actively promoted breast cancer awareness.

Florian said that over the past few years, more than half a dozen women close to the Pleasanton Rage organization were either diagnosed with or died of breast cancer, making it an important subject for the soccer club.

The Pleasanton Rage, in conjunction with , worked to spread awareness of the disease at the tournament, giving players raffle tickets that could be turned in at a breast cancer information booth and encouraging players to sign a banner.

“It’s something we definitely need to think more about,” said Florian.

“It’s a girl-only tournament, and with 200 teams and about 18 players per team, there are almost 3,600 young women we can make more aware about (breast cancer).”

Showcase officials and players alike embraced the idea of supporting breast cancer awareness. The color pink could be seen everywhere, from tournament officials’ shirts to the referee’s whistles, provided by Rage.

This is the first year the tournament, spread across five Pleasanton parks, has made the fight against breast cancer such a prominent aspect, and it is the first time 200 teams have been involved.

Steve Golas, a coach from Illinois College, and Scott Myers, a coach from Menlo College, both said they have attended the tournament for several years and have been consistently impressed with the talent and organization.

“I haven’t seen any delays at all,” said Golas. “They do a tremendous job, especially given the number of teams. There could be a lot of logistical nightmares.”

Florian credited Rage’s partnerships with local sponsors as a primary reason for the success of the tournament.

With four pallets of water donated by and on-site medical care from and for injured players, the tournament relies on the support of local businesses, said Florian.

Local hotels and restaurants also benefited from the showcase, with the huge influx of soccer families in the Tri-Valley giving business a boost.

“When we have the soccer tournament we get 200 to 300 more guests than normal each day that weekend,” said Daniel Santiago, manager of the restaurant.

Though the Rage College Showcase ended Sunday, next weekend Rage will put on its Juniors Showcase for players, age 8 to 13. Less than half the number of teams is expected.

For more information on the Rage College Showcase, visit rageshowcase.org.

For results from last weekend, click here.