NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware men's soccer team recently conducted its second annual Futsal Tournament as a fundraiser for the program at the Delaware Field House on Dec 28-30. The Holiday Gunners (at right) won the tournament.

The event helps raise funds for the program and is also seen by head coach Ian Hennessy as an important part in trying to build a successful soccer program at UD.

"This is a great event that we run for the program to help raise vital funds for the program,” Hennessy said. “The staff and I are going through understandable cut-backs at the moment and it is important that we do our part to help the University and our program by pitching in with fund-raising activities. In fact we are constantly looking for ways to help the program and the University as a whole by looking to make connections near and far that would provide a lift for the school."

Hennessy also believes that it is yet another opportunity to bring young players on campus so they have the opportunity to identify with the university even more than they have before.

"We are very active in the local soccer community with coaching and in throwing special events for Delaware teams to get them to come to see our games," said Hennessy. "In time, we will begin to see better results at the school, but in the meantime, I am a strong believer that it will help these young players develop by watching the game at as high a level as they can. The clubs for their part have been terrific. We have had multiple teams from Kirkwood, Concord, Hockessin, MOT, Wilmington United, Brookside and many others come to our beautiful campus to either play in or watch one of our events."

The men's soccer team has provided support for local programs and charities this past year, including a 5K run for Prevent Child Abuse Delaware (PCAD) in July, a Special Olympics soccer skills competition in October, and a Health event at West Park Elementary school in Newark in June.