CLEARWATER - Area soccer fields will be alive with tournament play this weekend, as the Countryside Youth Soccer Association (CYSA), also known as the Countryside Lightning, hosts its 23rd annual Easter Tournament.
More than 140 teams have registered, with participation from as far`away as Germany and the United Kingdom; teams from Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, New York, Texas, and, of course, Florida will represent the United States in what has become an international tournament. Gender and age (8 through 18/19) will divide the teams into 15 brackets of competition.
Preliminary rounds will be played on Friday, April 6th, and Saturday, April 7th at fields in East Lake, Oldsmar, Dunedin, and the tournament's primary fields at Eddie C. Moore (northwest corner of McMullen Booth Road and Drew Street) and the Countryside Sports Complex (on the west side of McMullen Booth Road north of 580) in Clearwater. Championship rounds will be played on Sunday, April 8th, at Eddie C. Moore and Countryside. Play will begin at 8 a.m. each day.
The tournament will feature College Night on Saturday, April 7th at the Countryside Sports Complex. The women of the University of Tampa will take on the University of Florida at 6 p.m., and the University of South Florida men will face the Under-17 U.S. Men's National Team at 8 p.m.
Admission is free and concession stands will have food and beverages available. Visit www.cysa.us for a current tournament schedule.
