NWSL players will inspire at GMC Sportsmanship and Leadership Summit

Former Metuchen High School soccer star Kristen Edmonds is returning home to inspire dozens of scholastic student-athletes.

Edmonds and current NJ/NY Gotham FC teammate Abby Smith, who play for one of the National Women’s Soccer League’s best clubs, will serve as keynote speakers for a Greater Middlesex Conference Leadership and Sportsmanship Summit.

The inaugural summit will take place Sept. 29 at Metuchen High School on the eve of the conference’s third annual Soccer for a Cause Charity Festival.

The festival will also be held at Metuchen High School and feature 11 games between evenly matched teams, all of which are fundraising for two New Jersey nonprofits that assist pediatric cancer patients and other children in need.

In addition to raising money for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation and Go4theGoal, the 22 participating teams are collecting nonperishable food items for REPLENISH, which serves a network of more than 160 local food pantries, soup kitchens and social service agencies.

During its first two years, the Soccer for a Cause Charity Festival raised $30,000 and generated 1.5 tons of food. The event fittingly takes place in September, which is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and National Hunger Awareness Month.

Nearly 100 players and coaches are expected to gather for the leadership and sportsmanship summit, where event organizers hope participants will bond over activities, dinner, and networking opportunities.

Most of all, they will benefit from the encouraging words of Smith, a goalie from the University of Texas who was a member of the 2022 NWSL champion Portland Thorns, and Edmonds, a defender who starred at Rutgers University before commencing her professional career overseas.

Edmonds recorded an inspirational video message two years ago for players participating in the inaugural festival. She and Smith were both playing for Kansas City at the time.

“Kristen was such a charming and engaging speaker who clearly put so much thought and creativity into her message,” Greater Middlesex Conference Athletics Director Frank Noppenberger recalled. “I can’t wait to hear her address the players and coaches in person. She is an outstanding role model. We are elated that she can return home and give back to her alma mater and the conference. We are equally honored to have Abby in our presence. It truly is amazing when professionals take the time from their busy schedules to interact with student-athletes, many of whom aspire to reach their level. We can’t thank Kristen and Abby enough.”

More: Charity soccer festival helps pediatric cancer patients, children in need, food insecure

Noppenberger said the high school players attending the leadership and sportsmanship summit are expected to return to their respective programs and share with their teammates all they learned including respect for opponents and officials.

The objective of the charity festival is to create a competitive environment and develop friendly rivalries among participating teams while emphasizing good sportsmanship, positive communication, mutual respect, and giving back to the community through a collaborative effort.

The Soccer for a Cause organizers include head coaches Mike Knoth of Metuchen, Megan Carroll of North Brunswick, Steve Carew of Colonia, Cailin Murelli of Edison, and Theresa Rossi of Carteret. Metuchen Athletics Director John Cathcart spearheaded the leadership and sportsmanship summit.

“When students get involved in community service, they not only help others, they expand their worldview, develop empathy and leadership skills, and realize how their actions can have a positive impact,” the organizers stated.

“Sports can do so much. They provide a framework for meeting new people, building confidence, self-esteem, discipline, and motivation. All these things they learn, whether they know they are learning them or not, through soccer.”

All month long, the 22 teams participating in the soccer festival have been engaged in a friendly competition off the field to raise money for the event’s beneficiaries.

North Brunswick, East Brunswick, Old Bridge, Monroe, Piscataway, South Brunswick, J.P. Stevens, Edison, Carteret, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and South River are raising money for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

Metuchen, Colonia, Woodbridge, Sayreville, New Brunswick, North Plainfield, South Plainfield, J.F. Kennedy, Spotswood, Wardlaw-Hartridge, and Middlesex are raising money for Go4theGoal.

The top fundraising teams for each charity will be publicly recognized during a special awards presentation on the day of the festival.

Prior to last year’s event, three-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion Heather O’Reilly praised the participants.

“I want to congratulate all the teams and coaches that are participating in this amazing event to raise money for a really good cause,” said O’Reilly, an East Brunswick High School alumna.

“You guys are awesome. Way to use this beautiful game in a beautiful way.”

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NWSL players will inspire at GMC Sportsmanship and Leadership Summit