By: Director of Athletic Communications and Public Relations Kevin Ruple
BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University will celebrate its 50th season of men's soccer on its campus during 2019, and what is more fitting than to have Cleveland's only semi-professional soccer team, the Cleveland Soccer Club, return to the city's soccer roots at The George Finnie Stadium.
In the 1970s and 1980s, when BW was still in its infancy of its men's soccer program, the Cleveland Cobras, the city's only outdoor professional team in the city's history played its games at Finnie Stadium. This summer, BW welcomes Cleveland SC to Berea to play its home games, including its season-opener -- a May 5 "friendly" in its first international match in club history against Mexico's Liga MX Club Monarcas Morelia Reserves. The May friendly will take place just weeks before Cleveland SC kicks off its second NPSL campaign.
"In choosing a stadium, we wanted to ensure our players were playing at a state-of-the-art facility," said Sam Seibert, Cleveland SC President and General Manager. "It is also critical that the stadium gives all of our supporters everything they need to celebrate the team in their own unique way, so we can continue to deliver the league's best fan experience. We believe The George Finnie Stadium allows us that opportunity."
The George Finnie Stadium has been the home to BW football, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's outdoor track and field since 1971 has been the site of many historic events, including the U.S. Trials in track and field for the Pan Am Games, the AAU Junior Olympic Games, six NCAA Division III National Championship Meets and multiple OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) football and track championship events.
"We are pleased to welcome semi-professional soccer back to BW, Berea and The George Finnie Stadium," said BW Director of Athletics Kris A. Diaz. "The University will celebrate a historic 50th year of soccer on our campus in 2019 and its fitting that Cleveland SC joins us. We look forward to celebrating another NPSL title with Cleveland SC fans from Cleveland and Berea and all of our surrounding communities and counties in Northeast Ohio.
"We feel that Finnie is still the finest small college athletic facility in NE Ohio," said Diaz. "We replaced the turf last summer and our new, big video scoreboard was installed two summers ago. The press box offers plenty of room for statistics, "
Cleveland SC, which finished second to the Erie Commodores in the Eastern Conference of the Great Lakes Division of the Midwest Region with a 7-2-3 overall record and advanced to the Midwest Region semifinals (one of the final 10 teams left in the 2018 NPSL playoffs) by shutting out Erie, 4-0, begins its second NPSL campaign.
Cleveland SC begins its NPSL regular season schedule on Sunday, May 19 with a trip to Syracuse (N.Y.) FC and then hosts the Rochester (N.Y.) Lancers at Finnie on Sunday, May 26 at 2 p.m. 2019 Regular Season Schedule. Season tickets for all regular season matches at The George Finnie Stadium are now available at ClevelandSC.com.
About Cleveland SC – Cleveland SC is Cleveland's premier soccer club competing in the Midwest Conference of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). Founded in February 2018, Cleveland SC will begin their second year of play in the summer of 2019. Lean more at ClevelandSC.com.
