Division II turned one unique opportunity into another at the recent men’s and women’s soccer championships in Tampa.

Because both genders’ soccer finals are played at the same site, student-athletes from all four teams were able to participate in a community-engagement activity that benefited children and gave players who otherwise would be competing against each other a chance to bond for a cause.

Sean Paradise and Lee Squires from Lees-McRae; Caitlin Boyak and Molly Streeter from Grand Valley State; Amanda Zagala and Caslyn Wells from Cal State Dominguez Hills; and Zane Wells and RJ Parke from Fort Lewis visited St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital of Tampa during the off-day between the championship semifinals and finals.

The student-athletes interacted with about two dozen children at the 100-bed facility.

While community-outreach efforts are typical at the Division II National Championships Festivals, during which hundreds of student-athletes are at the same site, the outreach at this year’s soccer championships may have set a new precedent.

“I certainly hope this kind of activity catches on at all our championships,” said Division II Vice President Mike Racy. “Since ‘service’ is among the six attributes in our strategic position, our championships serve as a highly visible platform to demonstrate how our student-athletes can provide an uplifting spirit at the championship site.”

Division II Director of Championships Roberta Page said the results were effective in Tampa.

“As with most community-outreach efforts of this nature, the student-athletes get just as much out of it as the children they’re there to comfort,” Page said. “That was no different in this case. You saw people who would compete against each other for a national championship less than 24 hours later bonding together for a higher purpose. It was special.”

Fort Lewis went on to win the Division II Men’s Soccer Championship the next day with a 1-0 victory over Lees-McRae. Grand Valley State captured its first Division II women’s title by the same score over Cal State Dominguez Hills.