Dear Members,


As we approach the end of August, and the dog days of summer fade into Autumn; the Fall soccer season comes into view. Our third-quarter installment of 2022 brings news of amazing tournaments this Fall and Winter, with a special feature on our annual women's, "Celebrate the Tatas Tournament of Champions."


As our member leagues ramp up for Fall, we wish each of our leagues and all of our players best of luck and a successful soccer season! 



NCASA Board of Directors

FOUR NCASA TEAMS COMPETE at

USASA Champions of Regions!

Four incredibly talented North Carolina adult amateur teams proudly represented our state and the North Carolina Adult Soccer Association at the USASA Champions of Regions held August 19-20th in Murfreesboro, TN.


Congratulations to our NC teams! 

Charlotte Eagles National Women's Championship Finalist

Sporting Charlotte National Over-40 Cup Finalist 

Goldsboro Strike Eagles Werner Fricker Cup Semifinalist

Wanderers FC National Over-40 Cup Semifinalist


Great job players! NCASA is proud of your accomplishments!

AROUND THE STATE

Tournaments happening near you!

The Beer City Cup 8v8 Tournament hosted in partnership with Asheville Buncombe Adult Soccer Association ABASA, will be held September 2-4 at the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex, Buncombe County Sports Park, and Memorial Stadium, Asheville NC. Food trucks, craft beer, and great soccer are on tap!

OCASL Labor Day Tournament

Orange County Adult Soccer League (OCASL) is hosting a 7v7 Benefit Soccer Tournament at Cedar Falls Park, Chapel Hill September 3rd, to raise money for the OCASL Foundation which provides financial assistance to league players who lack the financial means to pay.


CELEBRATE THE TATAS

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

October 15-16, 2022

Richard Barry Memorial Park,

Huntersville, NC (Charlotte metro area)


Team Registration is OPEN!

Event Highlights!


  • 16 Women's Teams
  • 2 Divisions
  • Personal Trainers
  • Free! Catered Lunch Sat+Sun
  • Free! Fruit, Bagels, Snacks, Drinks
  • Tournament T-Shirt
  • Swag
  • High-profile Guest Speakers
  • Pop-Up Vendors
  • Saturday Night Dinner + Raffle!


Donate

Register

Volunteer

Join Our Free Agents List

Celebrate the Tatas Video

CAROLINAS CUP

Dec 3-4, 2022

Winston Salem, NC

Registration begins September 1st!

We've got an incredible event lined up this year! You'll enjoy a fun atmosphere and fierce competition.


Plus! We're hosting a special FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Viewing Party, Saturday and Sunday. Stop by our viewing tents at Truist Park to catch your favorite national team and enjoy a beer!


This year's event features:

  • 13 Divisions
  • 78 teams
  • Top referees
  • Trainers
  • Food Trucks
  • Beer Garden
  • Captains' Gifts
  • Carolinas Cup t-shirts & other merch for sale
  • Concession stand for a quick drink & snack

Photograph by Blue Cottage Creative Photography Studio.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Celebrate the Tatas Tournament of Champions - NCASA's Charity Women's Tournament - How It All Began and the Successful Signature Event It Has Become.


Nine years ago, on the pitch of a USASA Region III U-23 Men's National Cup Qualifier in Murfreesboro TN, a chance meeting between NCASA Executive Director, Darius Ejlali, and Celebrate the Tatas Founder, Talia Goldman, set in motion, what would become NCASA’s annual women’s charity event: Celebrate the Tatas Tournament of Champions.


Darius Ejlali fondly recalls the lively first encounter with Goldman. “Talia's son was playing for Charlotte United and she wanted some answers about a match he was playing in. I responded that this was an adult tournament and I interacted with the coaches, state reps or team managers. If she had questions, she would need to ask the coach. That didn't sit well with Talia, and we had some spirited dialogue. Later, we ran into one another at the hotel and struck up a more casual conversation. Talia mentioned that she was the Founder of Celebrate the Tatas, a program that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for breast-cancer research.”


That interaction sparked an idea. During his nine-hour drive home from the qualifier, Ejlali thought about the meeting with Goldman and how they might collaborate. “This was a time when NCASA was ramping up efforts to engage our women athletes. The idea to hold a women's soccer tournament and tie it to a cause for women, just seemed like a great idea. I called NCASA's Women's Commissioner, Alexandra Vidaurri and ran the idea by her, then called Talia, and we all LOVED the concept.” Ejlali brought the idea to NCASA former President, Bob Kepner, who along with the Board of Directors, enthusiastically supported the idea, and helped secure a USASA grant to assist with operational costs for the fledgling tournament.


When asked about the origin of Celebrate the Tatas, and joining forces with NCASA, Goldman stated, “I started this program with Hadassah, one the largest women’s volunteer organizations. Women volunteered to have their "tatas" painted by women artists. They were then photographed by women photographers and the pictures printed into a gorgeous poster. I partnered with the Ritz-Carlton, honored physicians, nurses, technicians, and also partnered with the community and high-end restaurants. Posters were sold, auctions brought in money. In seven years, we raised half a million dollars.” She added, “Darius suggested we team up. NCASA would have an opportunity to showcase their female players, and at the same time raise money for a cause near and dear to everyone’s heart. And that, in a nutshell, is how it all began.”


Since 2014, the Celebrate the Tatas Tournament of Champions has raised over $80,000 for breast cancer causes. Last year, the event raised over $40,000. Proceeds were equally divided between two hospitals; the Levine Cancer Institute and Novant Health Cancer Center to provide free mammograms for uninsured and under-insured women in the Charlotte metro area.


Each year, NCASA’s tournament committee works hard to raise as much money as possible for breast cancer causes, while creating a fun and festive weekend for teams. “The event has taken on a life of its own. Celebrate the Tatas Tournament of Champions has become a celebration of play and giving, not to mention a lot of fun.” Ejlali said.


Upbeat music is piped onto the fields, and bright-colored jerseys printed with cheeky team names like, Cleats and Cleavage and Boo Bee Ballers flood the field with color and humor. From casual players to top competitors from around the state, the tournament offers playing opportunities for every woman soccer player. This year, 16 teams are expected to register to play.


Thanks to donations, players are treated to bagels, energy bars, fruit, drinks and a catered lunch on both tournament days. Players receive a commemorative tournament t-shirt.


Personal trainers donate their time to help with minor injuries and aching muscles. Medical experts and sports leaders speak at the event. Health vendors set up booths, hand out swag, and a mobile mammogram unit is invited. Plus, NCASA hosts a celebration dinner and fundraiser raffle Saturday night. After a long day of games, players can relax, enjoy a beverage, eat a good meal, and win great prizes!


Women's Commissioner, Alexandra Vidaurri spoke to the success of the annual tournament and fundraiser. “Celebrate the Tatas is a special event for so many reasons, but what feels the most important to me is that we are an all-women’s event that relies heavily on the generous support from community members, donors, and players.”


Nine years after Ejlali and Goldman’s chance meeting, their inspired collaboration has evolved into a hugely popular and successful annual event. The social atmosphere; the quality of play, and the overarching spirit of sisterhood and charity are the connective tissue that make this tournament work year after year.


The star of the annual event, however, is the continued generosity of the donors, sponsors, guest speakers, volunteers, players, and their families, who give their time, money and energy for one special weekend in October each year.


Celebrate the Tatas Tournament of Champions teaches us that within community lies power. Women athletes come together to play the sport they love and to take action against a deadly disease. In the end, this is a special and important event honoring those lives that have been lost to breast cancer, while celebrating life and the survivors that walk among us.


Your support and contributions save lives.

Celebrate the Tatas

Text to Donate:

Text TATAS22 to 44-321


NCASA Celebrate the Tatas Committee 2021. Left to Right: Sam Cohen, Darius Ejlali, Alexandra Vidaurri, Cindy Morrison and Talia Goldman

2022 UPCOMING EVENTS

NCASA BOARD MEETING 7:00PM (Virtual)

SEPTEMBER 19

USASA AGM

Aurora, Colorado

SEPTEMBER 23-25

North Carolina Adult Soccer Association | ncasasoccer.org

Facebook  Twitter