The University of North Carolina is hosting the 2016 Kirk Urso Memorial Match in remembrance of the late Tar Heel and Crew SC midfielder, Kirk Urso, who died in August 2012 during his rookie season with Columbus due to a heart condition.
UNC will play Charlotte at Macpherson Stadium in Browns Summit, North Carolina on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Three other matches will also be played on April 9 including High Point vs. Appalachian State at 12 p.m., UNCG vs. Campbell at 2:30 p.m., and Wake Forest vs. Elon at 5 p.m.
Along with Saturday’s slate of matches, UNC has set up an online auction of MLS and U.S. Soccer memorabilia in support of the event. Among the items up for grabs are a signed Federico Higuain jersey, a Kirk Urso jersey and a 2012 team-signed soccer ball.
A portion of all ticket sales, donations, merchandise sales, raffle and silent auction proceeds will go directly to the Kirk Urso Memorial Fund.
Urso played for the Tar Heels from 2008-2011, where he made four consecutive NCAA Men’s College Cup Final Four appearances and captained the squad to the 2011 NCAA National Championship.
After completing his senior year, Urso was selected tenth overall by Crew SC in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft and made his first appearance in the season opener at Colorado. The Illinois native played in six matches in his rookie season for the Black & Gold, recording one assist. He died on August 5, 2012, after collapsing in downtown Columbus. Now four years later, his collegiate and professional legacies are being honored by his alma mater on and off the pitch.
