MIT to Showcase Fall Sports at Athletics Weekend on Saturday
This Saturday, MIT will hold its annual Fall Athletics Weekend to highlight fall varsity sports. They will be showcasing three of the most prominent fall sports — men’s football, women’s field hockey, and men’s soccer — throughout the day, with fun activities and events for fans. The festivities will begin at 12:30 p.m. outside the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center with a basketball shooting contest and pull-up contest. Participants and MIT sports fans will be given free lunch as well as markers and poster board to make signs for their favorite MIT players and teams.
The first main sporting event of the day on campus will begin at 1 p.m., as the MIT Football team (0-3) takes on the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Corsairs on Roberts Field at Steinbrenner Stadium. The Engineers are still looking for their first win of the season, in their conference, and under their new head coach Chad Martinovich. At halftime, volunteers can participate in a hot dog eating contest, in which contestants will compete to devour 6 hotdogs in the shortest amount of time as the crowd cheers them on.
Next on the schedule, Springfield College will take on the MIT field hockey team (7-2) at 2:00 p.m. on Jack Barry Field. The Engineers started 7-0, but lost the last two games by a combined three goals. They will be looking to right the course and get back on track to win their conference. During halftime, Tim the Beaver will take a break from his duties of supporting all sports to focus on the field hockey game, where he will take a spot in goal as fans try to score on him for a prize.
The Sports Yard Sale will go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside the Z-Center. Fans and students will have the opportunity to buy old sports equipment for $5.00 a piece. In preparation for the game at 5:00 p.m., there will once again be pizza outside the Z-Center at 4:30 p.m.
The final match of the day will be the men’s soccer team (6-3) taking on Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Roberts Field at 5:00 p.m. The team has looked impressive out of the gates and is looking to take another NEWMAC Championship after winning their first conference match against Clark University this past Saturday. A fan volunteer will once again have the opportunity to score for a prize by shooting on goal at halftime.
Additionally, free t-shirts will be given out at the football, field hockey, and soccer games.