NEWS

Jacob Chatten has been selected to participle in this year’s prestigious Olympic Development Program’s Inter-Regional Camp

August 2019

Jacob Chatten, a member of the Medford Strikers 2002 Academy Boys squad, has been selected to participle in this year’s prestigious Olympic Development Program’s Inter-Regional Camp.

Together with 17 of his Eastern Region teammates, Jacob will travel to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida this December. A total of 72 players nationwide were chosen for the opportunity to showcase their talents for scouts from the U.S. Men’s National Team and Major League Soccer.

His five-year association with Universal Soccer Academy and the Medford Strikers Soccer Club did more than develop Chatten’s technical skills as a center back.

“I think what made me stand out was my decision making on the ball, communication, speed and physical presence in the back line,” said Chatten who has one other stop scheduled prior to heading south.

In November, Chatten will attend his Eastern Region team camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Best of Luck Jacob, at Olympic Development Program’s Inter-Regional Camp this December! Your Medford Strikers Family is incredibly proud of you.

Madison Shultz named to the ODP East Region Team

August 2019 

Madison Shultz has been chosen to participate in the East Region winter training session for the Olympic Development Program.

A goalkeeper for the Medford Strikers 2007 Impact Girls team, Shultz will join 48 other invitees in Hershey, Pennsylvania this December.

“Personally, I believe my confidence and willingness to learn and do better helped me stand out,” said Shultz about her tryout. “I also think that if I didn't take control and talk to my teammates during games, I wouldn't have stood out from anyone else.”

Her tenure with Universal Soccer Academy and the Medford Strikers has also had an impact.

“It helped me in this selection by teaching me the importance of having a presence on the field. They have also taught me the importance of hard work and being focused during practice,” said Shultz.

Shane Merklein to represent the East Region in ODP training

August 2019 

Shane Merklein from the Medford Strikers 2007 Surge is among 79 East Region players invited to this winter’s Olympic Development Program.
 
“The Medford Strikers and Universal Soccer Academy, in just four years, has changed the way I view and play the game. The club has taught me to be a team player and a role model — both on and off the pitch,” said Merklein.

The goalkeeper indicated his “communication skills during the games helped me stand out the most” during tryouts.
 
Training is scheduled for December in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Medford Strikers Academy Boys Step off the Soccer Field to Help Local Families in Need

Fall 2019

Recently, our Academy Boys used their break between EDP Spring Classic Tournament games to unite in support of a local organization that helps struggling families. The Care Center at Fellowship Alliance Chapel on Church Road in Medford, just minutes from our Ark Road fields, provides food, financial assistance and essential services to those in need in our community.  As part of our Medford Strikers Care community outreach program, the boys collected a large amount of food and other items to be donated to the Care Center’s food pantry, as well as backpacks to be distributed to the homeless through the ’Soup to Soul’ street ministry in Camden.   

Introduced by the Medford Strikers SC in early 2018, our Medford Strikers Care program was developed to share the message with our players that, throughout the world, soccer is a game of character and community. Our MSC program challenges our teams to each implement a project every year that illustrates that message through service to our community, locally and beyond. The Academy Boys answered that challenge by incorporating their project into their weekend tournament schedule at the nearby Tuckahoe Sod Farm in Hammonton, NJ.  They used the time between matches to gather and organize the donations.

Two days later, the Academy Boys truly understood the gift of giving when they experienced firsthand the impact of their service to others. Prior to their evening training, the boys met at the Care Center to deliver the donations and help stock the food pantry shelves. Once they finished, Anne Simms, who runs the Care Center, thanked them for their help, but also had something to share with them.  She told them that just 1 hour prior to their arrival, she received a phone call from a local high school teacher asking for help for many of her students who were not thriving in school due to the lack of food.  The students were literally starving and as a result, could not pay attention in class and were unable to learn. Ms. Simms explained to the teacher that a group of young men from the Medford Strikers Soccer Club were on their way with a large donation of food and her students would be fed! The boys were rewarded by knowing where their donations were going and how important their efforts were. They are already discussing plans for their next service project.  

We are very proud of these caring, compassionate young men!

If you know of anyone in need, please direct them to Anne Simms at 609-975-9741 or carecenter@myfac.org. People in need do not need to belong to the church or any church to qualify.