Historically, the primary focus of the Cape Express Soccer Club Varsity Program was to continue to help our club players prepare to play in college through a structured, progressive curriculum, offering college guidance, providing strong competition through league and friendly games, and by participating in college showcases and tournaments. 

Within the last two years, CESC has implemented an Academy style program where players are afforded an opportunity to compete and play on multiple CESC varsity teams.  In this eventuality, players can play age appropriate or on a higher age group if authorized.

This year the CESC Varsity Program will consist of four teams and may be adjusted based upon the number of registered players.  The proposed team are as follows:

U15/16 Girls – This team will be Trained and Coached by Scott Kurkowski.  Scott is an Assistant Coach with Middle Township High School Boys Soccer team. Scott has been with CESC since 2016 and also played youth and varsity soccer at CESC.  Scott has had a lot of success with a number of boy’s and girls’ youth teams in the CESC program.

U/17/18/19 Girls – This team will be Trained and Co-Coached by CESC Trainers Austin Johnson and Sal Zampirri.  Both Austin and Sal played youth soccer with CESC.  Austin continued his soccer career at LaSalle University and York College while Sal played at Cabrini University. Sal is also an Assistant Coach with the Wildwood High School Boys Soccer team.

U-15/16 Boys – I will be Training/Coaching the U-15/16 boys.  I have been with CESC for over twenty years both as a parent volunteer coach, club trainer, and Director of Coaching for CESC. I was an Assistant Coach with Lower Cape May Regional High School’s Girls’ Soccer program and am currently the Head Coach with Middle Township High School’s Girls’ Soccer program.

U-17/18/19 Boys – Sal Zampirri will be Training and Coaching this team. In addition to his playing and coaching experience, Sal also played and helped coach the CESC Men’s U-23 team.

U-23 Boys and Girls – These teams, which train and play primarily during June and July of the summer months, will be Trained and Coached by Bill O’Neill.  Bill is the current Head Coach of the Men’s and Woman’s soccer teams at Bryn Athyn College in Bryn Athyn, Pa.  BAC participate in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.

In addition to coaching the U-23 teams, Bill will also act as our CESC College Soccer Advisor/Liaison.  Bill will be available to provide guidance and support to varsity players who have an interest in playing college soccer.  As the Head Coach of both BAC programs, Bill has access to a significant number of DI, DII, and DIII college coaches in the tristate area and will advocate for our players when possible.

This year CESC teams will primarily play college showcase tournaments with the first two to three tournaments taking place before the winter break in December.  CESC Varsity teams will return for training in mid-February and finish their remaining tournaments by May 2021.  Depending upon availability, most CESC varsity teams compete in four to six college showcase tournaments. 

In the interim, we are asking all interested players who wish to participate in the varsity program to register immediately at Capeexpress.com.  There will be no obligation to pay until a formal acceptance e-mail is forwarded to the CESC players.  If you have any additional questions do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

Best regards and I hope to see you on the pitch soon.

Mike Hickman
CESC DOC