St. Pat’s Soccer Tourney Starts Next Weekend

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s annual St. Patrick’s Soccer Tournament returns for the 30th year next weekend with roughly 150 teams and hundreds of players from all over the region ready to converge on the resort for the start of the four-weekend event.

From modest beginnings 30 years ago, the annual St. Patrick’s Tournament has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and is now one of the largest events of its kind in the region. The 2017 tournament will feature over 150 teams competing in 12 divisions. The tournament gets underway next weekend with the under-18 boys’ and girls’ tournaments.

The tournament will be held each weekend thereafter with different boys’ and girls’ age divisions competing, turning Northside Park into ground zero for indoor soccer competition throughout February and into March. The format will be pool play followed by a single elimination tournament to determine the champions in each division. On each weekend, games will be played practically around the clock at Northside Park with each weekend concluding with championship games in each division.

About The Author: Shawn Soper

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Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.