--- Watch a video of the tournament at the bottom of this page. --- With the sun shining brightly, the women's soccer team hosted its 17th annual 7-A-Side Tournament over the weekend, attracting teams from all over Northern California.
A soccer seven-a-side is a smaller version of a normal 11-on-11 game, with small modifications: There are no throw-ins and no offsides, the halves are only 15 minutes long and the playing field is much smaller.
Twenty-three teams came to Chico State to participate in one of four divisions: men's over-40s, men's open, coed and women's open. To earn a spot in the tournament, each team paid $200 to the women's soccer program. The money made at the tournament will help pay for the women's team's equipment, recruiting and traveling, said Kim Sutton, coordinator and women's soccer coach.
Teams consisted of soccer alumni, current players and athletes from all around Northern California, Sutton said.
Each team played at least four games leading to the championship games Sunday. The winning team for the women's open was the Cats, which was made up of half the current Chico State soccer team. It beat the other half of the soccer team, the Wildcats, 4-3. The current men's team, zBradford, beat the Chico alumni 3-2 in overtime. The coed winning team was the Swangers and the winner of the over-40s was the Challengers.
Although the tournament was intended for funding of the women's soccer team, the tournament was also about the alumni, Sutton said.
"This is really all about the alumni, bringing them back together and playing soccer again," Sutton said.
Every division had at least one team with alumni, Sutton said. From the over-40 teams to the recently graduated players, alumni of all sorts covered the soccer field and stadium.
Although his over-40 team, GG, started the weekend with a win,
1985 alumnus Gerard Mitchell was more excited to play again on the field he once roamed.
"It's great to come here and see some old buddies and play on this field again," Mitchell said. "I'll take any excuse to come out here and play."
This was Mitchell's 15th year at the tournament, but he still remembers the old days playing for Chico State, he said.
"We had a lot of fun. Winning makes the beer taste better," Mitchell said with a laugh. "We were a drinking team with a soccer problem."
The tournament also attracted players who recently ended their tenure on the teams.
"It's great hanging out with the girls again," Courtney Quan said. "It has been a while since I've seen some of them."
Quan was on the team last season, but her eligibility ran out after playing four years.
"It's great to play again, but honestly it was like practice," Quan said after a match with the current women's soccer team.
Jason Phillips, who was a part of the men's run at a national championship in 2003, agreed and called the experience amazing.
"It's a big deal for all of us to come back to Chico and play together again," Phillips said.
In all, the weekend was a big success for Sutton and the alumni and important for the current team as well.
"It's fun. It helps our current team to enjoy themselves and build something," Sutton said. "Maybe learn something from the alumni."
Despite more than 20 teams and a great turnout by alumni and the community, Sutton said she hopes it grows.
"We are trying to build it up again," Sutton said. "We just need to start getting the word out and get clubs to play, and it'll be more important."
Connor Ramey can be reached at cramey@theorion.com
Related links Chico State women's soccer
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