THE PAT BALDISERRA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments,

but what is woven into the lives of others."

MSSL is honored to sponsor the

Pat Baldiserra Memorial Scholarship

MSSL is truly proud to call Pat Baldiserra one of its own.

For three years, Pat was instrumental in making Milmay FC Juve a formidable opponent in the MSSL U23 Regional league.

When not playing, Pat favored our organization as a lead Field Marshall at MSSL Showcases and Tournaments.

Thankfully, we got to know Pat in many different ways.

Pat's dedication, sense of responsibility, friendly demeanor and gracious manner made him a joy to spend a day with, whether playing or working. We will miss Pat.

In Pat's name and honor, MSSL is establishing the Pat Baldiserra Memorial Scholarship. In 2007, the scholarship for a one-time grant of $2000 will be awarded at the MAPS/MSSL 2007 Winter College Showcase. You are welcome to join us on the grandstand at Doughboy Fields at Fort Dix (where Pat both competed and worked), at 1:00 PM on Saturday November 24, 2007.

RECIPIENTS OF THE PAT BALDISERRA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

2007 - James Ono - Rutgers-Camden University

2008 -

CRITERIA FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD:

1 - Varsity soccer player competing at the NCAA Division III level (where Pat Baldiserra excelled as an NSCAA/adidas All-American).

2 - Male and Female candidates are eligible.

3 - Candidate's college conference competes in a state, or candidate resides in a state, where the MSSL Regional League is active. (Currently, NJ / NY / CT / PA / DE / MD.)

4 - Candidate exemplifies qualities that reflect favorably on college athletics: competitiveness, good sportsmanship, academic dedication, community awareness.

5 - Candidate's name and a brief paragraph of his/her qualifications must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee for consideration between January 1 and August 31 of the year in which the award will be granted.

Please submit nominations for the 2008 award to the Scholarship Committee, starting January 1, 2008.

MSSLsoccer@aol.com

Pat Baldiserra's Brilliant College Career at Rutgers-Camden

One of the top Division III soccer players in the nation in 2006, Pat Baldiserra was honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America after his junior season when he was named to the 2006 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division III All-America Team. He became the first NSCAA All-American in Rutgers-Camden history. The All-America honor followed a banner year for Baldiserra, who also earned his second straight NSCAA All-Metro Region First Team honor (regional All-American) and was named to the inaugural d3kicks.com All-Metropolitan Region Second Team.

The Raptors’ star midfielder captured his third consecutive All-New Jersey Athletic Conference First Team honor, was named NJAC Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 30, NJAC Offensive Player of the Week Nov. 13 and was the ECAC Div. III Metro Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 31. He also was named the tournament MVP as Rutgers-Camden won the ECAC Metro Soccer Championship Nov. 12 to finish the 2006 season with a 13-4-6 record.

Baldiserra collected 13 assists for the season, setting the Rutgers-Camden single-season program record. The 13 assists raised his career total to 24. He would have entered his senior season only four shy of the school record.

The only player in the conference to earn All-NJAC First Team honors in each of the past three seasons, Baldiserra capped his junior year with a goal and three assists while leading the Raptors to the ECAC Metro title. He scored his fourth goal of the season and added an assist in a 5-0 quarterfinal victory over City College of New York Nov. 9, then added an assist in each game over the weekend as the Raptors defeated Richard Stockton (2-1 Nov. 11 in the semifinals) and New Jersey City University (1-0 Nov. 12 in the title game).

Baldiserra finished his season with four goals (two game-winning goals) and a team-leading 13 assists for 21 points. He was second on the team in scoring. In the final NCAA Division III statistics, Baldiserra tied for 18th nationally with 0.62 assists per game.

During his three seasons at Rutgers-Camden, Baldiserra collected 14 goals, five game-winning goals, 24 assists (second on the career list) and 52 points (seventh) in 62 career games.

Pat Baldiserra passed away in a car accident June 26, 2007.

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