One Knox Soccer kicks off a four-game run at Maryville College starting Saturday, June 18
June 14, 2022
Hot though it may be, the early summer heat wave isn’t enough to wilt enthusiasm for a crowd that’s expected to be at capacity on Saturday, June 18, when the One Knox Soccer Club makes its Blount County debut on the Maryville College soccer field.
According to Drew McKenna, one of the co-founders and partners behind the semi-professional venture, the inaugural season of the club hasn’t necessarily exceeded expectations, because he and others working to establish soccer as a marquee sport in East Tennessee had high ones to begin with.
“I will say that it’s been awesome!” McKenna said. “We really feel like we’re speaking to a portion of the East Tennessee community that we’re really proud to play for, and we’ve managed to win a few games as well. In year one, we were looking to bring One Knox to the people of this area, and Maryville College has a great soccer culture.
“We played a few games at (area high schools), and when we reached out to (MC Athletic Director) Sara Quatrocky about six months ago, we let her know that we love the culture, we love what Pepe Fernandez (head coach of the men’s and women’s soccer teams) is doing, we love the field, and that we can’t wait to get on it.”
A member of the United Soccer League (USL), a franchise based in Tampa, Florida, and sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, One Knox is part of the USL’s League Two, which is made up of 72 franchises and designed as a “stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world,” according to the USL website. At 6-1-1, One Knox currently sits in second place in the Southern Conference’s South Central Division standings, behind only Asheville City SC.
Part of that success, McKenna said, is due to the support the team has received during its inaugural season. Case in point: One Knox matches have been selling at or over capacity, and with an estimated 1,500 fans expected to come to MC for Saturday’s match against the Peachtree City (Georgia) MOBA, McKenna came to campus earlier this week to maximize the seating configuration.
It may be crowded, he said, and it may be hot, but it’s going to be fun.
“We’re just really open and excited about this partnership, and we’re thrilled to explore it, and to bring a really unique experience to Maryville that’s different than most soccer games in the area,” McKenna said. “We’ll be doing a pre-game event at RT Lodge with a barbecue meal, and folks who want to walk from there to the field can do that. It’s not just soccer; it’s a community event. You just happen to have a team competing at a high level.”
And while the team’s focus is on winning out the regular season and advancing to the playoffs that begin on July 22, the experience has been one that will certainly weigh into a potential return to MC for 2023 play, he added.
“We’re totally focused on 2022, but it’s been great to work with the Maryville team to put on four great games,” he said. “The whole (athletic) department has been so collaborative and open to partnership, which is unique. They didn’t have to support us in this way, but they care about soccer, they care about the Maryville community, and we’ve just been so grateful and honored to have their partnership throughout this process.”
“We’ve been excited since day one of these conversations, and we appreciate everything Drew and his partners have done to bring One Knox to East Tennessee,” Quatrocky added. “We’re looking forward to showcasing soccer to the Maryville community, as well as showcasing the growth and the spirit of our campus. The fans have been incredibly enthusiastic, and the crowds have been incredible, and we’re looking forward to bringing that to Maryville.”
Saturday’s match takes place at 7:30 p.m. on the MC soccer field. Additional games at Maryville College include: 7:30 p.m. June 25 vs. Tennessee SC; 7:30 p.m. July 9 vs. Southern Soccer Academy Kings; and 7:30 p.m. July 12 vs. East Atlanta. Tickets are $16 per game and can be purchased on the One Knox website at www.oneknoxsc.com.
