COLUMBUS — Due to inclement weather, Sunday’s inaugural Kirk Urso Memorial Match in Greensboro, N.C. has been moved to the UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium. The contest between the Columbus Crew and the University of North Carolina Men’s Soccer Program was originally scheduled to be played at Macpherson Stadium in Browns Summit, but due to the amount of rain the area has received over the past two days, that surface is no longer playable. All other details of the match remain the same. Updated information is below.
WHAT: Inaugural Kirk Urso Memorial Match benefitting the Kirk Urso Memorial Fund
WHO: Columbus Crew vs. University of North Carolina
WHEN: Sunday, February 24 at 1:00 p.m. ET
WHERE: UNC Greensboro Stadium – 1408 Walker Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27403
DIRECTIONS: http://bit.ly/ZAehWm
All proceeds from the Black & Gold’s match against UNC will benefit the Crew Soccer Foundation’s Kirk Urso Memorial Fund. The Urso Fund was launched in late 2012 to support heart health research and programming in memory of the Crew midfielder who passed away at the age of 22 from a congenital heart defect last August.
Urso was originally selected by the Crew in the first round (No.10 overall) in the 2012 Supplemental Draft, and appeared in six games (five starts) with one assist last season before being sidelined by injury. He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he made four consecutive NCAA Men’s College Cup Final Four appearances and captained the team to the 2011 NCAA National Championship. Urso was admired for his unwavering work ethic and steadfast character both on and off the field.
The match pits the Crew against Urso’s college alma mater. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on game day (the student price on game day will remain $10). Standard seating and lawn seating are both available, with all tickets serving as general admission. Tickets can be purchased by visiting TheCrew.com/UrsoFund, with donations for the Urso Fund accepted via the same URL. Additionally, there will be auction items at the match benefitting the Urso Fund, including: 2013 Columbus Crew team-signed items, UNC men’s basketball tickets, a signed ball from U.S. Women’s National Team legend Mia Hamm and more.
The Urso Memorial Match caps the Black & Gold’s preseason camp following an 18-day trip to Orlando, Fla. for the Disney Pro Classic. The Crew begins the 2013 MLS regular season on March 2 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. against Chivas USA.
