New Regional Format Huge Success

The 14th Annual Tide NHSA American Cup introduced regional play this year and what a success! This perennial favorite began as a way for recreation players to compete for a state level championship at their level. The emphasis has been and continues to be on participation and fun. By starting regional play this year, we made a giant leap towards those objectives by having 91 teams register. Many of them were first time participants.

Preliminary matches (including three short games) were played at: Laconia (Region I), Manchester (Region II), Milford (Region III) and Epping (Region IV).

Tide sponsors the American Cup nationally and provides tents, banners and the Tide Soccer Challenge at the events. The Soccer Challenge was placed at the Epping site. It is an obstacle course designed to test the skills of the player.

Congratulations to all the participants!

Next year’s American Cup regional matches are planned at the same locations on October 25-26. Semi-finals are planned for October 28/29 and the finals on November 1, 2003. Registration forms are available on line or from the State Administrator, 626-8696.


2002 Results:

2002 Tide American Cup Regional Semi-finalists:

U12 Girls

• Region I - Littleton
• Region IV - Lady Nellies - Newmarket

U12 Division

• Region I - Interlakes
• Region II - Dryer Management – Manchester South
• Region III - White Caps - Milford
• Region IV - Epping

U14 Division

• Region II - Golumb’s Market – Manchester South
• Region IV - Burn - Derry

U14 Girls Division

• Region II - Cassidy Electric – Manchester North

U16 Division

• Region II - Jutras Post 43 – Manchester East
• Region IV - Purple - Timberlane

U18 Division

• Region II - Black Brimmer Restaurant – Manchester East

Finals results played at Singer Family Park, Manchester:

Division	Champion
U12 Girls	Littleton
U12	Manchester South
U14 Girls	Manchester North
U14	Golumbi's Market - Manchester South
U16	Jutra's Post 43 - Manchester East
U18	Jack Brimmer Rest. - Manchester East

The Patrick Kerouac Memorial Spirit Award was presented to the team that most exemplifies the spirit, sportsmanship and love of the game. Each region selects a candidate from which the committee selects the winner. Regional candidates:

• Region I - Superior Construction (Laconia)
• Region II - Penchansky CPA (Manchester East)
• Region III - Milford Rapids (Milford)
• Region IV - Sponge Bob (Dover)

2002 Patrick Kerouac Memorial Spirit Award Winner:
Penchansky CPA – Manchester East


Patrick Kerouac Memorial Spirit Award

This award is named in memory of a young boy who loved the sport of soccer and showed his love of the game by supporting his teammates and opposing teammates on and off the field. All teams will be judged during their preliminary matches by site coordinators and referees. Each region produces one representative. The overall Spirit Award winner is selected from the regional candidates.

The award is determined by an evaluation process which takes into account the team that goes the extra mile to make others feel like winners, that displays the highest standards of the spirit of fair play, and most closely emulates the ideals set forth by NHSA, USYSA, and the Tide NHSA American Cup. Games won/lost, scores and distance traveled are not criteria.

The winning team is invited to come to the finals for the formal presentation by Patrick’s parents. Each player and coach is met by the parent and is given an individual award. The team receives a rotating Spirit Team trophy to display for the following season.

It is a real honor for any team to receive this distinctive award.