ATHLETICS | A day of service helped make the Loyola Marymount men’s soccer team scheduled trip to Florida more eventful and meaningful beyond the competition. The team traveled to Florida this weekend for two nonconference contests, but the Lions added relief work in between games.
“We provided support for the Hurricane Irma relief effort,” said Miles Chow, a junior midfielder, “by sorting, sanitizing, and reorganizing hundreds of temporary mattresses for use by victims who were evacuated from their homes.”
The team helped with the recovery effort from the massive hurricane that hit Florida from Aug. 30 to Sept. 12, causing at least 82 deaths, including 43 in the Caribbean and 39 in the United States. The storm affected all areas of Florida and caused an estimated $50 billion in damage to the state.
“Sharing with others in time of need is not something extraordinary for us, but part of our culture,” said Bill Husak, LMU’s athletic director. “Our Lions athletes and our coaching staff know that we are blessed with great gifts and talents. The men’s soccer team has been performing such acts for years during Coach Krumpe’s tenure. We continue to think of those impacted by the hurricanes in the South through prayer and deed.”
In Friday’s game at Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Meyers, Florida, the Lions came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the Eagles, 2-2. FGCU’s campus was closed through Monday because of the hurricane, but the team hosted LMU for Friday’s game. On Sunday, LMU traveled to South Florida University in Tampa, but lost to the Bulls, 1-0. South Florida canceled its home game against Stetson on Thursday, but approved field conditions for Sunday’s game.
If you would like to contribute to the ongoing hurricane relief efforts, the following agencies are providing aid:
- United Way of Miami Dade supports local agencies that will provide for local community needs such as hotel vouchers, food pantries, and mental health services.
- Catholic Relief Service is soliciting donations to respond to Irma and to prepare for Hurricane Jose for people in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and other Caribbean Islands.
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is working with animals who have been separated from their owners during Hurricane Irma.
- Team Rubicon is deploying veterans to Florida to begin the clean-up of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma.
