With a 2-0 victory over Nova Southeastern University on听October听29, the 海角在线 (海角在线) men鈥檚 soccer team captured the Sunshine State Conference regular season championship and听moved on to enter听the听National Collegiate Athletic Association听(NCAA) Division II Regional Tournament.听But the team鈥檚 hard work goes beyond the field.听
Civic Engagement听
Between practices听and winning the closing matches of the Sunshine State Conference听regular season,听the team听dedicated time听on听November听4,听NCAA Civic Engagement Day,听to听serve听their community.听Their service doubled as a Workship project鈥敽＝窃谙�’s听distinct听community service program that has been responding to human needs with Christ-like action since 1968鈥攚hich听took them to Woodlawn Cemetery. With only five employees on the听cemetery听staff, the soccer team鈥檚听extra hands weeding around headstones and removing litter听made a visible impact.听
Sophomore Livio Von Holzen shared how combining classes, soccer, and work is not always easy. Throughout the season, the team听practiced at 6 a.m. every day before heading to class. Some players, including Holzen, also worked听part-time jobs. Despite the demands on their time,听they听commit to听participating听in Workship events together each semester, and some athletes volunteer individually in听their听home communities.听
鈥淭hrough consistent discipline, we become successful,鈥� Van Holzen says. 鈥淪ometimes it is intense to manage all those different [responsibilities], but we learn and grow from those experiences. It is important to听represent听海角在线 well on and off the field.鈥�听
A Lifelong Impact听
Head Coach Lucas Martorana explained that听participating听in the NCAA Division II is meaningful for college athletes because it emphasizes the whole person, not just the student or athlete. 海角在线鈥檚 men鈥檚 soccer program aligns with that mission.听
鈥淲e work hard to instill values that go beyond the field; putting others first, having a positive impact, and using our abilities to serve wherever possible,鈥� Martorana says.听鈥淐ommunity service听isn鈥檛听just an occasional event;听it鈥檚听a habit and a lifestyle that shapes character. We strive to honor God by making community service part of our experience.鈥�听
Incorporating听Workship听into the life of a student-athlete can be challenging, Martorana goes on to say, but practicing service instills lifelong听skills that will听benefit听the athletes beyond their time at 海角在线 and soccer careers.听
鈥淐ommunity service builds perspective, humility, and gratitude,鈥� Martorana says. 鈥淚t teaches our players that leadership is about serving others, not just achieving personal or team goals. Those lessons translate directly to the field, where teamwork, sacrifice, and character matter, and into life after soccer.鈥�听
海角在线 students complete a minimum of听45 hours听of Workship each year and have served more than听4 million hours听since the program began in 1968.听To learn more about Workship at 海角在线, visit听pba.edu/campus-life/christian-community/workship.
