Wildcats visit SSUSA-Charlotte at Urban Ministry Center

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Davidson field hockey team demonstrated its culinary skills for a great cause, cooking dinner for Street Soccer 945, a soccer program for the homeless, last Wednesday.

A program of the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte, Street Soccer 945 was originally founded by Davidson men’s soccer alumnus Lawrence Cann. Street Soccer 945 was the founding program of Street Soccer USA, a national network of 16 grassroots soccer programs for the homeless. Lawrence’s brother, Rob, is the current director of Street Soccer 945.

"It was a great experience to spend time with athletes from all different backgrounds,” said junior Ellie Szykowny. “By the end of the night we were singing along to an impromptu piano concert and sharing inside jokes. It's great for us to be able to make a connection with members of the Charlotte community."

The Wildcats cooked up a large meal, brought it to the Urban Ministry Center, and then dined with the street soccer team. The teams had a great time getting to know each other, sitting together by their respective positions on the field. The ‘Cats also gave the members of the soccer team water bottles with motivational quotations written on them.

"I think we were captivated by the sense of family that had developed between the Street Soccer players,” said junior Christine Rua. “There was a very obvious feeling of mutual commitment and consideration within the team that we as athletes could easily understand and connect with. The experience didn't feel like 'service' - simply put, they were letting us see inside their family and we were letting them see inside ours."