The Board of Directors of Webster Soccer Association and Empire United Soccer Academy are very pleased to announce the merger of the Lakefront Classic Soccer Tournament and the Empire Cup.  The Lakefront Classic Tournament and Empire Cup will take place on June 18-20, 2010 in Webster, NY and will create the largest youth soccer tournament in New York State.

The Empire Cup, hosted by the Empire United Soccer Academy, an elite level youth soccer tournament, is celebrating its eighth anniversary.  Each year, teams from the northeast United States and Canada have competed for the prestigious Empire Cup. 

The Lakefront Classic Soccer Tournament, hosted by Webster Soccer Association, has for nearly two decades been one of the leading youth travel soccer tournaments in the region.  In 2009, the eighteenth annual Lakefront Classic hosted nearly 240 teams and 4,000 youth soccer players from New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Canada.  The new "Empire Cup Elite Division" has now been added to the Lakefront Classic - this flight will be for premier level teams competing in ages U8-U15. 
 
Rich Rogers, Lakefront Classic Director, has stated that the timing of the joint venture by WSA and Empire USA is perfect, with the introduction this year of the WSA-YSL Dynamo Elite Soccer Academy. "WSA’s premier teams are excited to host, along with Empire USA, the top youth soccer teams from the Northeast."  Mike Henderson, Empire Cup director, has stated that Empire USA has wanted to join forces with another tournament in order to create a dynamic atmosphere for the Empire Cup.  "The Lakefront Classic has not only been one of New York State’s longest running and largest youth soccer tournaments, but is also very well organized and managed.  The facilities in Webster will provide top level pitches for all of our matches."

With an anticipated participation by 300 teams and nearly 5,000 youth soccer players, the Lakefront Classic / Empire Cup will bring New York State’s largest youth soccer event to the Webster area.

For further information contact Lakefront Tournament Director, Rich Rogers at tourndirector@webstersoccer.com, or visit the tournament website at www.webstersoccer.com/tourn/index_E.html.