Major League Soccer Club to Train in Ave Maria

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Published on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 01:43

season training at a large indoor soccer complex in Illinois. They'll play a number of exhibition games in south Florida, including one against Florida Gulf Coast University scheduled for Feb. 17.

The team said it will be assisted operationally in Ave Maria by the Chicago Fire Juniors of Naples, an extension of the Fire's player development system. Ave Maria resident Laura Mastandrea plays for the Fire Juniors and her father, Michael, was delighted with the news that the MLS club will be training here. "It's a great thing for Ave Maria," he said.

The players and coaches will stay in Ave Maria University dorms and will practice on two fields at North Park. Mr. Mastandrea said it was his understanding that much of the practices would be open to the public.

The Fire finished fourth in the MLS eastern division last season. After Ave Maria, they will continue their pre-season in Charleston, SC, where they'll play in a tournament before returning to Chicago in mid-March. They open the season against Sporting Kansas City March 26.

More information is here on the Chicago Fire website.