Our Game Magazine
Amber Brooks
June 25, 2011
Amber Brooks: Always Playing for Charlotte
While I was playing in Sweden with the U23 WNT, the third annual Score for the Cure 3vs3 soccer tournament took place near my hometown in Yardley, PA. Three years ago, my friend Heidi Sabatura, who now plays at Villanova, and I, established the tournament for our senior internship in honor of Charlotte Moran. If you’re involved in girls’ and women’s soccer and haven’t heard of Charlotte Moran, I’d be shocked. But, just in case you haven’t, let me tell you a little bit about this amazing woman.
Charlotte was involved in youth soccer for more than 20 years! She served as executive Director of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association as well as Region 1 Girls ODP Administrator. However, despite all of her professional titles, for me, Charlotte was a caring mentor and my “soccer mom.” It’s difficult to put into words all that Charlotte did for me and countless of other girls soccer players, but without a doubt, she has been one of my biggest influences. Charlotte, my mom, and I used to meet up at IHOP for brunch on weekends and gossip about all the news in the soccer world. My favorite story she used to tell me about was when she called my UNC coach Anson Dorrance and told him that she had a “future Tarheel in Eastern PA.” I’m sure Anson’s heard this hundreds of times, but even he will admit it meant something special from Charlotte. She simply knew her players and was always looking out for us. Unfortunately, Charlotte passed away from pancreatic cancer in May 2009, just a few months shy of being able to watch me run out of the UNC tunnel in my Carolina Blue #22 jersey. However, she is constantly on my mind and never far from my heart. I ink “CM” into my wrist tape with a permanent sharpie before every game, and I am always playing for her. She helped me achieve so many of my dreams and I am eternally grateful to have known her and to know represent her. This year, former high school teammate’s and Pennington School seniors Shannon Roche and Meg Castranova took it upon themselves to continue the tradition of honoring and remembering Charlotte. They organized the successful event that hosted over a hundred girls aged 10-14 at YMS Maccelsfield Park on June 17th and saw $4,400 raised for the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research in Charlotte’s name! A big hit at the event was the raffle, which featured two USA warm-up signed by the members of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Team, a soccer ball signed by my UNC Women’s Soccer Team, and other college soccer paraphernalia. I would like to personally thank Shannon, Meg, and one of my former Pennington coaches, Patrick Murphy, for all their hard work in the past few month’s to ensure that the Score for the Cure tournament successfully honored the amazing and never forgotten, Charlotte Moran.
Bucks County Local News
SOCCER: Charlotte Moran Remembered at Score for the Cure
Published: Monday, June 20, 2011
By Steve Sherman, BucksLocalSports.com Editor
Area soccer players take to the turf at Yardley's Macclesfield last Friday, June 17 in the annual Score For The Cure soccer hosted by some members of the Pennington School girls soccer program. The event took in $4,400 in funds headed for the Lustgarten Foundation. (photos by Hope MacKenzie)
View and purchase photos
While Score For The Cure soccer tournament co-founder Amber Brooks could not be there for the third annual tourney last Friday at Yardley's Macclesfield, the Pennington School alum was there in spirit.
Brooks, who now plays Division I soccer at the University on North Carolina when she's not playing for Team USA, is currently in Sweden competing for the US Under-23 Women's National team. Before the games got underway, a small presentation was made in which a signed photo of Amber was presented to Ed Moran.
Ed is the son of Charlotte Moran, the Southampton woman for whom the tournament was first dedicated. For more than 20 years, Moran, who died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer, was greatly involved with youth soccer, the Pennsylvania Olympic Development Program (ODP) and Region One ODP. As executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA), Charlotte promoted professional women's soccer leagues and encouraged clubs and schools to offer girls soccer.
The photo presented to Ed Moran depicts Brooks in her Team USA uniform standing for the National Anthem prior to the Americans' quarterfinal in the U-20 Women's World Cup last summer in Germany. Brooks signed the photo with the signature, "Always playing for Charlotte."
After Moran succumbed to pancreatic cancer in May of 2009, Brooks and her former Pennington classmate Heidi Sabatura -- ODP Players themselves – decided the funds raised by Score For The Cure should go to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Last year, Pennington graduates Alexa DeMaio and Renee Washington directed the second Score For The Cure tournament dedicated to Moran's memory. This year, Shannon Roche of Yardley and Meg Castronova of Lawrenceville ran things. Despite impending threats from Mother Nature, the tournament for girls, ages 10 to 14, was again a huge success, taking in $4,400 this year.
Last Friday over the course of three-plus hours at the riverfront park, approximately 100 girl soccer players lined the turf at Macclesfield for the three-on-three tourney, each playing in at least four games.
During intermission, directors raffled off various items collected from Red Raiders' past who took once took the soccer field at Pennington. The raffle took in a lot of money this year as soccer memorabilia was gathered from Pennington alums now playing collegiate soccer in all corners of the U.S. including Kait Kerr (Duke), Hannah Knudsen (Wesleyan), Alexa DeMaio (Vermont), Alexa Carugati (Villanova), Washington (LaSalle) and Brooks (UNC).
After the break, the two best teams from each age group faced one another for bragging rights. The YMS Killer Snails took the top prize in the U9 bracket, edging the Messi Girls. YMS Explosion took the trophy in the U-13 age group. Clubs from both sides of the Delaware were well-represented including Lawrence Hammetts, Upper Makefield Newtown Soccer Club, CRUSA, Yardley-Makefield Soccer, Southampton, Hopewell Valley Soccer Club and Princeton Football Club.
Area residents and soccer fans can still help the cause by donating money or purchasing bracelets.
For more information or to donate online, visit www.scoreforthecuresoccer.com.
NOTES: Score for the Cure co-founder Heidi Sabatura, now playing at Villanova, was in attendance. Amber's Mom, Jean, a longtime friend of Charlotte Moran's was also in attendance. Tourney participants were given Philadelphia Independence and Sky Blue game tickets.
SOCCER: Pennington Fundraiser Score for the Cure is Friday Night
Published: Monday, June 13, 2011
By Steve Sherman BucksLocalSports.com Editor
This Friday at Macclesfield, Pennington seniors Meg Castranova and Shannon Roche are hosting the third annual Score For The Cure soccer tournament.The three-on-three tourney for girls, ages 10 to 14, takes place over the course of three-plus hours beginning at 6 p.m. at the riverfront park in Lower Makefield, Pa.The first Score For The Cure was held two years ago at Macclesfield in honor of the late Charlotte Moran, who died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. For more than 20 years, Moran was heavily involved with youth soccer, the Pennsylvania Olympic Development Program (ODP) and Region 1 ODP.The executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA), Moran promoted professional women's soccer leagues and encouraged clubs and schools to offer girls soccer.After Moran succumbed to pancreatic cancer in May 2009, Pennington School graduates and former Red Raider soccer players Amber Brooks and Heidi Sabatura -- ODP Players themselves – decided the funds raised by Score For The Cure should go to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.On Friday (June 17), more than one hundred girl soccer players will line the turf at Macclesfield for the three-on-three tourney, each playing in three games. Before they get to the championships, a raffle is to be held. This year, organizers have collected some cool soccer collectibles including two Nike U.S. Womens' National Team warm-up tops signed by the entire World Cup squad that is headed to Germany, a soccer ball signed by the UNC-Chapel Hill women's soccer team, a juggler ball signed by the USA's womens world cup team and a bed lamp signed by the SkyBlue womens' professional team. Additional raffle items include training shirts and other athletic items from various womens' college soccer programs including Villanova, Tennessee, Miami, Wesleyan, LaSalle and LaGrange.The winners of last year's tournament included YMS Soccer Sisters (U-10), the YMS Armadillos (U-12) and the Wildcats Gaum (U-14). The runners-up were the Warriors (U-10), YMS Blonde Bombers (U-12) and the Wildcats Hackett (U-14).NOTES: Area residents and soccer fans can help by donating money, or purchasing bracelets. For more information or to donate online, visit www.scoreforthecuresoccer.com.
Amber Brooks
June 25, 2011
Amber Brooks: Always Playing for Charlotte
While I was playing in Sweden with the U23 WNT, the third annual Score for the Cure 3vs3 soccer tournament took place near my hometown in Yardley, PA. Three years ago, my friend Heidi Sabatura, who now plays at Villanova, and I, established the tournament for our senior internship in honor of Charlotte Moran. If you’re involved in girls’ and women’s soccer and haven’t heard of Charlotte Moran, I’d be shocked. But, just in case you haven’t, let me tell you a little bit about this amazing woman.
Charlotte was involved in youth soccer for more than 20 years! She served as executive Director of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association as well as Region 1 Girls ODP Administrator. However, despite all of her professional titles, for me, Charlotte was a caring mentor and my “soccer mom.” It’s difficult to put into words all that Charlotte did for me and countless of other girls soccer players, but without a doubt, she has been one of my biggest influences. Charlotte, my mom, and I used to meet up at IHOP for brunch on weekends and gossip about all the news in the soccer world. My favorite story she used to tell me about was when she called my UNC coach Anson Dorrance and told him that she had a “future Tarheel in Eastern PA.” I’m sure Anson’s heard this hundreds of times, but even he will admit it meant something special from Charlotte. She simply knew her players and was always looking out for us. Unfortunately, Charlotte passed away from pancreatic cancer in May 2009, just a few months shy of being able to watch me run out of the UNC tunnel in my Carolina Blue #22 jersey. However, she is constantly on my mind and never far from my heart. I ink “CM” into my wrist tape with a permanent sharpie before every game, and I am always playing for her. She helped me achieve so many of my dreams and I am eternally grateful to have known her and to know represent her. This year, former high school teammate’s and Pennington School seniors Shannon Roche and Meg Castranova took it upon themselves to continue the tradition of honoring and remembering Charlotte. They organized the successful event that hosted over a hundred girls aged 10-14 at YMS Maccelsfield Park on June 17th and saw $4,400 raised for the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research in Charlotte’s name! A big hit at the event was the raffle, which featured two USA warm-up signed by the members of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Team, a soccer ball signed by my UNC Women’s Soccer Team, and other college soccer paraphernalia. I would like to personally thank Shannon, Meg, and one of my former Pennington coaches, Patrick Murphy, for all their hard work in the past few month’s to ensure that the Score for the Cure tournament successfully honored the amazing and never forgotten, Charlotte Moran.
Bucks County Local News
SOCCER: Charlotte Moran Remembered at Score for the Cure
Published: Monday, June 20, 2011
By Steve Sherman, BucksLocalSports.com Editor
Area soccer players take to the turf at Yardley's Macclesfield last Friday, June 17 in the annual Score For The Cure soccer hosted by some members of the Pennington School girls soccer program. The event took in $4,400 in funds headed for the Lustgarten Foundation. (photos by Hope MacKenzie)
View and purchase photos
While Score For The Cure soccer tournament co-founder Amber Brooks could not be there for the third annual tourney last Friday at Yardley's Macclesfield, the Pennington School alum was there in spirit.
Brooks, who now plays Division I soccer at the University on North Carolina when she's not playing for Team USA, is currently in Sweden competing for the US Under-23 Women's National team. Before the games got underway, a small presentation was made in which a signed photo of Amber was presented to Ed Moran.
Ed is the son of Charlotte Moran, the Southampton woman for whom the tournament was first dedicated. For more than 20 years, Moran, who died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer, was greatly involved with youth soccer, the Pennsylvania Olympic Development Program (ODP) and Region One ODP. As executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA), Charlotte promoted professional women's soccer leagues and encouraged clubs and schools to offer girls soccer.
The photo presented to Ed Moran depicts Brooks in her Team USA uniform standing for the National Anthem prior to the Americans' quarterfinal in the U-20 Women's World Cup last summer in Germany. Brooks signed the photo with the signature, "Always playing for Charlotte."
After Moran succumbed to pancreatic cancer in May of 2009, Brooks and her former Pennington classmate Heidi Sabatura -- ODP Players themselves – decided the funds raised by Score For The Cure should go to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Last year, Pennington graduates Alexa DeMaio and Renee Washington directed the second Score For The Cure tournament dedicated to Moran's memory. This year, Shannon Roche of Yardley and Meg Castronova of Lawrenceville ran things. Despite impending threats from Mother Nature, the tournament for girls, ages 10 to 14, was again a huge success, taking in $4,400 this year.
Last Friday over the course of three-plus hours at the riverfront park, approximately 100 girl soccer players lined the turf at Macclesfield for the three-on-three tourney, each playing in at least four games.
During intermission, directors raffled off various items collected from Red Raiders' past who took once took the soccer field at Pennington. The raffle took in a lot of money this year as soccer memorabilia was gathered from Pennington alums now playing collegiate soccer in all corners of the U.S. including Kait Kerr (Duke), Hannah Knudsen (Wesleyan), Alexa DeMaio (Vermont), Alexa Carugati (Villanova), Washington (LaSalle) and Brooks (UNC).
After the break, the two best teams from each age group faced one another for bragging rights. The YMS Killer Snails took the top prize in the U9 bracket, edging the Messi Girls. YMS Explosion took the trophy in the U-13 age group. Clubs from both sides of the Delaware were well-represented including Lawrence Hammetts, Upper Makefield Newtown Soccer Club, CRUSA, Yardley-Makefield Soccer, Southampton, Hopewell Valley Soccer Club and Princeton Football Club.
Area residents and soccer fans can still help the cause by donating money or purchasing bracelets.
For more information or to donate online, visit www.scoreforthecuresoccer.com.
NOTES: Score for the Cure co-founder Heidi Sabatura, now playing at Villanova, was in attendance. Amber's Mom, Jean, a longtime friend of Charlotte Moran's was also in attendance. Tourney participants were given Philadelphia Independence and Sky Blue game tickets.
SOCCER: Pennington Fundraiser Score for the Cure is Friday Night
Published: Monday, June 13, 2011
By Steve Sherman BucksLocalSports.com Editor
This Friday at Macclesfield, Pennington seniors Meg Castranova and Shannon Roche are hosting the third annual Score For The Cure soccer tournament.The three-on-three tourney for girls, ages 10 to 14, takes place over the course of three-plus hours beginning at 6 p.m. at the riverfront park in Lower Makefield, Pa.The first Score For The Cure was held two years ago at Macclesfield in honor of the late Charlotte Moran, who died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. For more than 20 years, Moran was heavily involved with youth soccer, the Pennsylvania Olympic Development Program (ODP) and Region 1 ODP.The executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA), Moran promoted professional women's soccer leagues and encouraged clubs and schools to offer girls soccer.After Moran succumbed to pancreatic cancer in May 2009, Pennington School graduates and former Red Raider soccer players Amber Brooks and Heidi Sabatura -- ODP Players themselves – decided the funds raised by Score For The Cure should go to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.On Friday (June 17), more than one hundred girl soccer players will line the turf at Macclesfield for the three-on-three tourney, each playing in three games. Before they get to the championships, a raffle is to be held. This year, organizers have collected some cool soccer collectibles including two Nike U.S. Womens' National Team warm-up tops signed by the entire World Cup squad that is headed to Germany, a soccer ball signed by the UNC-Chapel Hill women's soccer team, a juggler ball signed by the USA's womens world cup team and a bed lamp signed by the SkyBlue womens' professional team. Additional raffle items include training shirts and other athletic items from various womens' college soccer programs including Villanova, Tennessee, Miami, Wesleyan, LaSalle and LaGrange.The winners of last year's tournament included YMS Soccer Sisters (U-10), the YMS Armadillos (U-12) and the Wildcats Gaum (U-14). The runners-up were the Warriors (U-10), YMS Blonde Bombers (U-12) and the Wildcats Hackett (U-14).NOTES: Area residents and soccer fans can help by donating money, or purchasing bracelets. For more information or to donate online, visit www.scoreforthecuresoccer.com.
