Some of the top high school boys and girls soccer teams in District 2 will get their unofficial head start on the upcoming season when they gather for the Patriot Cup Aug. 5 at the Bucky Harris Complex at the Pittston Area Primary Center in Hughestown. Rain date has been set for Aug. 6.

The tournament is outside the official Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association season, which has the opening day of practice on Aug. 14 and the first game on Sept. 1. Therefore, teams technically have to compete under club names or nicknames rather that represent their high school, but each team consists of players from a particular school.

The Pittston Area Soccer Booster Club sponsors the event, which serves as both its top fundraiser, but also a chance for the club to set up competition that benefits a variety of local teams.

The Patriot Cup was in place as for almost a decade as a boys event before girls soccer in the Wyoming Valley Conference moved from the fall to the spring in 2012. At that point, the tournament became a co-ed event, which it will be for the sixth straight year with separate boys and girls divisions.

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The event usually draws eight boys and eight girls teams. The girls field is already filled while six of the boys spots have commitments with time to potentially complete the field.

Pittston Area, Lake-Lehman and Scranton Prep will have boys and girls teams involved.

Dallas, Wallenpaupack, Wyoming Area, Holy Redeemer and Wyoming Area are the other girls teams. Coughlin, Hanover Area and Crestwood are the other boys entries.

The all-day event, played on three full fields, has a rain date of Aug. 7.

“It’s a fantastic complex,” said Michelle Mikitish, who is in her ninth year as booster club president. “The fields are beautiful and we are lucky to have the environment to host this. Because the fields are one right next to the other, families can bring tents and parking is not overwhelming.

“We, of course, do a food stand. We sell the best burgers you’re ever going to have at 9 in the morning off the charcoal grill. We’ll have people in line at 9 in the morning for those burgers.”

Teams are guaranteed three pool play games, each with two 25-minute halves.

After those games, the top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals.

Scranton Prep beat Crestwood for the boys championship last season while Wallenpaupack beat Holy Redeemer in the girls final. Scranton Prep went on to win the District 2 Class 2A boys championship during the high school season.

The Pittston Area Soccer Booster Club supports the boys and girls varsity teams as well as the co-ed junior high team at the school. It uses fundraisers for various projects, such as providing the scoreboard that is at the main field, as well as senior gifts and team clothing items.

“The school will buy uniforms, but then we will accessorize, like all of the warm-ups or all of the bags the kids use,” Mikitish said.

Pittston Area’s Preston Cain, right, passes the ball around Wyoming Area defender Mike Wall as WA goalkeeper Shane Sonday moves in during a Patriot Cup game in 2016.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Cup1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Preston Cain, right, passes the ball around Wyoming Area defender Mike Wall as WA goalkeeper Shane Sonday moves in during a Patriot Cup game in 2016. Bill Tarutis file photo | For Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area’s Ryan Shuleski, right, controls the ball ahead of Pittston Area’s Shane Syms in a 2016 Patriot Cup game.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Cup2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Ryan Shuleski, right, controls the ball ahead of Pittston Area’s Shane Syms in a 2016 Patriot Cup game. Bill Tarutis file photo | For Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area’s Jimmy Pliska, left, watches his pass ahead of Wyoming Area’s Brendan Lee in a 2016 Patriot Cup game in Hughestown. Pliska would go on to score the only goal of the game.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Cup3-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Jimmy Pliska, left, watches his pass ahead of Wyoming Area’s Brendan Lee in a 2016 Patriot Cup game in Hughestown. Pliska would go on to score the only goal of the game. Bill Tarutis file photo | For Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area’s Mia Barbieri, left, controls the ball ahead of Wallenpaupack’s Rebeca Pizzo in a 2016 Patriot Cup game in Hughestown.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Cup4-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Mia Barbieri, left, controls the ball ahead of Wallenpaupack’s Rebeca Pizzo in a 2016 Patriot Cup game in Hughestown. Bill Tarutis file photo | For Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area’s Jenna Smith, right, defends Wallenpaupack’s Giulianna Iona in a 2016 Patriot Cup game in Hughestown.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Cup5-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Jenna Smith, right, defends Wallenpaupack’s Giulianna Iona in a 2016 Patriot Cup game in Hughestown. Bill Tarutis file photo | For Sunday Dispatch

By TOM ROBINSON

For Sunday Dispatch

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