April 10, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The fourth annual Kicks Against Breast Cancer Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Tournament will be held at the University of Maryland, Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16, 2000. The tournament will feature matches between eight powerhouse women's soccer teams from the University of Maryland, United States Naval Academy, George Mason University, University of Illinois, Clemson University, University of Virginia, Penn State University and James Madison University. The tournament is the only one of its kind in the nation, and benefits the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource and Image Center, an affiliate of Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, located in Columbia, Md.

The tournament kicks off on Friday evening, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. with a memorial banquet at the University of Maryland Inn and Conference Center to honor the players and the memory of Claudia Mayer for whom this tournament is dedicated. The banquet is open to the public - the cost is $50.00 per person.

On Saturday evening, April 15, two featured matches will be played beginning at 5:30 p.m. as Penn State, 1999 NCAA Tournament finalists, plays Virginia, followed at 7:30 p.m. by a match up between Maryland and Clemson. Games will be played at the University of Maryland's Ludwig Field. Admission tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for youth (18 and under). Youth group tickets (10 or more) are also available for $6.

Tournament games will be played on Saturday and Sunday with each team playing a total of four games throughout the weekend. Tournament schedules are available on the Kicks website at www.kicksagainstbreastcancer.com.

The Kicks Against Breast Cancer Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Tournament was conceived to raise awareness about breast cancer, which strikes one in eight women annually. Since the tournament began in 1997, more than $150,000 annually has been raised to benefit the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource and Image Center, named in memory of Claudia Mayer who died of breast cancer in 1996. The collegiate players have raised more than $25,000 since the inception of this tournament. The Center was created to provide individuals living with cancer the educational and aesthetic tools needed to enhance their quality of life while living with the disease. Featuring a comprehensive approach to cancer support, the Center offers a wide variety of library and image services for cancer patients and their families.

For tickets to the Saturday night soccer games or the Memorial Banquet, please call the Amateur Sports Group at 888-947-KICK or 410-729-2754.