Monessen, California to co-op soccer programs

By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com

In an effort to battle dwindling numbers of participating athletes, Monessen and California announced they will begin a soccer co-op beginning next fall.

According to Monessen athletic director Gina Naccarato, members of the Greyhounds boys soccer team will join with the California squad. All home games will be played at California’s Trojan Stadium.

California, who played in a boys’ section with a co-ed roster, will now have its girls joining the Monessen girls soccer team. Monessen will be considered the home squad and all girls games will be played at Monessen.

Monessen and California administrations met and agreed that this is a win/win for both programs.

“California has been playing co-ed soccer for many years,” Naccarato said. “This is a great opportunity for their girls to play on a girls varsity team.”

Over the next couple of seasons, the Monessen boys would have been rocked with low numbers, so it’s a win for the program there.

“The Monessen boys’ numbers are expected to be low for the next couple of years because we had so many seniors this year,” Naccarato said. “Also, we feel this will make us more competitive in our (respective) sections.”

The California boys will remain in Section 4-A, which will see Monessen eliminated. The Monessen girls team will continue play in Section 2-A.

Trojans head coach Jessica Britt and Monessen girls coach Bill Phillips will continue serving as the coaches for the respective teams, Naccarato said.