UPDATE: Due to expected inclement weather, the Loci Capital Champions League championship finals will not take place at Al Lang Stadium this weekend. Al Lang Stadium will now host the boy’s and girls’ finals on January 13. The boys will kick off at 6 p.m. and the girls will follow at 8 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced today that the club will host the championship finals for the boys’ and girls’ divisions of the Loci Capital Champions League presented by Tampa Bay Top Ten at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, December 16.
“The Rowdies are thrilled to be hosting the Loci Capital Champions League boys’ and girls’ finals at Al Lang Stadium, “said Rowdies Chief Operating Officer Ryan Helfrick. “We look forward to providing a unique experience in a professional setting for these student athletes. As the game of soccer continues to grow throughout our country, we are proud to play a small part in creating life-long memories for the teams participating in this tournament.”
The boys’ final is set to kick off at 6 p.m., with the girls’ final to follow at 8 p.m. General admission tickets will be available for purchase at the gate for $5.
Now in its sixth year, the Loci Capital Champions League is a free-to-play tournament highlighting the best high school soccer teams in the region. Teams earn their spot in the tournament based on results in the previous high school season. Each division is made up of 16 of the top teams throughout Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The teams are split into groups of four in a blind draw for group stage play, with the top team from each group advancing to the single-elimination semifinal round.
This year’s semifinal round for both the boys’ and girls’ divisions will take place on the morning of December 16, with the winners earning a chance to lift the championship trophy under the lights at Al Lang Stadium in the evening.
Between the championship finals on Saturday, one student athlete from a boys’ team and a girls’ team will be presented with the Peek Family 12th Man Scholarship. Recipients of the scholarship are determined by a committee composed of local retired high school coaches Jim Harte, Rick Masi, Sue Peet, and John Mayer. Harte is also the founder of the tournament.
“The Loci Capital Champions League represents so much of what we love about soccer,” said Harte. “It’s all about representing your school, exciting local rivalries, an open and free competition based only on merit, and coaches working together for the good of the game. We’re grateful for the support of the Rowdies in growing the competition and look forward to what are sure to be two great finals played at Al Lang Stadium.”
Loci Capital Champions League Semifinal Matchups
Boys Division:
Tampa Prep (#1) vs J.W. Mitchell High School (#2)
Jesuit High School (#3) vs Osceola Fundamental High School (#9)
Girls Division:
Palm Harbor University High School (#1) vs Berkley Prep (#3)
Sunlake High School (#2) vs Cypress Creek High School (#9)