Last Friday, the members of the Minnesota United Unified Team came to the National Sports Center to sign their official contracts. Special Olympics launched the Unified soccer program last year to bring together athletes both with and without intellectual disabilities on a single team. Together, athletes and partners improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills, challenge the competition and help overcome prejudices.
The members of the MNUFC Unified team began their day by signing their contracts in the NSC classroom with MNUFC Sporting Director Manny Lagos and then having their official headshots taken. Members of True North Elite came to the event to show their support. The kids then headed down to the indoor field where training was wrapping up. Play-by-play commentator Callum Williams announced the lineup name by name and the players got to run through a high five tunnel of first team players.
The Unified Team will travel to Colorado in June to face their counterparts at Colorado Unified when the first team heads west for a match with Colorado Rapids. In July, they will play host to the team from Wisconsin Unified at TCF Bank Stadium when the first team plays LAFC.
“The partnership with Special Olympics has been unbelievable,” said Lagos. “Things like this really say a lot about what kind of club we are and what kind of club we want to be. I think it’s inspirational for us and I hope it’s inspirational for the members of the Unified team. This initiative is super special and I think it’s just going to grow, and help grow the partnership. Today, it was really cool to meet the kids, have them sign and become part of our family.”
Full Roster:
GK — Lauren McCullough, #41
GK — Joey Sueker, #30
D — Soni Schrader, #31
D — Matthew St. John, #1
D – Quinn Schomburg, #5
M — Emily Dillon, #3
M — Elizabeth Page, #23
M — Jagger Zoller, #6
F — Grace Torgerson, #13
F — Grace Jacobson, #21
F — Jacob Colich, #11
F — Lauren St. John, #10
F — Jonathan Sund, #35
F — Connor Tyszka, #5
F — Jayysel C. Gonzalez, #4
Minnesota United’s next home match is on Saturday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m. against San Jose Earthquakes. With 14,500 season ticket holders for 2018, MNUFC has started a 2019 waiting list for season tickets at Allianz Field. Get on the list today with mini plan starting at five matches for this season, now available at MNUFC.COM or by calling 763.4SOCCER.
