Penn State Altoona new head men’s soccer coach Fraser Kershaw is only the third coach in the history of the program, and he is more than ready to undertake the challenge.

At PSU Altoona, the coaching positions are not fulltime, but that will not deter Kershaw. He feels that Penn State Altoona has one of the best four-year setups for any collegiate player to grow both on and off the field. He feels the 24-plus majors offered at the campus are a definite plus in attracting prospective players.

That, along with a new state-of-the-art workout gym, top level faculty, excellent staff of PSU trainers, a multi-million dollar lighted stadium and a beautiful campus, should enhance any prospective player’s interest. Kershaw is excited to get players from all over to join in his program of hard work, intense dedication and fun.

Kershaw grew up with soccer, training with the Nittany Kaisers under Penn State head coach Barry Gorman. He played on the Olympic Development Program team and on a U.S. team of youth players which traveled to compete in France, Spain and England.

After playing high school soccer at State College, he went on to play at NAIA Division 1 California Baptist University in southern California.

After graduating , he coached soccer clinics through Latin America with Hope International Services and went on to start Lynchburg, Va.’s first international soccer tournament. Later, he became the Director of Soccer at Rancho Capistrano.

Most recently, he served as the head coach of the junior high school team at Lancaster Mennonite High School. Kershaw is hopeful this wide variety of experience can serve him well at PSU Altoona in developing his incoming team.

Elsewhere …

n Mike Alianiello, Director of Soccer Operations at the Summit, finally drew his indoor soccer leagues to a close, with his second league session winding up on March 21, culminating a league with 78 total teams competing. Alianiello shut operations down for only a brief period when mandated by the governor. He was able to pull off his 7-on-7 junior high school and adult tourney with 39 registered teams.

“The soccer community rose to the occasion of playing around COVID 19,” he said.

Safety precautions of limited attendance, social distancing and wearing face coverings while not on the soccer court were used. Alianiello also worked to recruit top flight referees with most of them having their United States Soccer Federation license or PIAA certification.

Indoor soccer is one of the most popular sports in Central Pa., and Alianiello had hundreds of teams take part in the two league sessions and various tournaments.

n Area soccer clubs are gearing up and preparing for a full slate of games in the spring season for in-house, travel and classic teams. Some rule changes will be in effect to deal with the Coronavirus. Spectators will be limited, there will be no pre- or postgame lineups, referees may wear masks with beepers in place of whistles, and face coverings will be used by players not on the field. It will be a challenge, but all clubs have given the spring season the green light.

Reports of COVID cases may alter that during the course of the season, but club administrators have looked at all different scenarios, and most are prepared to open play on the weekend following Easter.

Tom Schmitt writes a monthly soccer column for the Mirror.