PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Pace University, in collaboration with Tyler Adams, Captain of the United States Men's National Team for the 2022 World Cup, has secured a gift from Kenda Sports Group to re-launch the men's soccer program. The gift of $500,000 will bring back the program and help grow the sport in the Hudson Valley and strengthen the University's NCAA Division II sports sponsorship. 

"We are excited to bring men's soccer back to Pleasantville and thank Kenda Sports Group for their visionary gift and support to lead this initiative," said Mark Brown, Pace University Athletics Director. "The addition of men's soccer will allow us to again compete in the world's most popular sport and bring even more excitement to our campus for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the surrounding Pleasantville community."

Brown said the institution will modify its sport sponsorship to bring the soccer team on board. As a result, the university will discontinue its men's cross-country program following the 2024 fall season.

The men's soccer program, which last competed in 1990 as a NCAA Division II member of the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC), will begin competition in the Northeast-10 Conference in the Fall of 2025.

 "Pace University bringing back men's soccer is a tremendous victory for the university, athletic department, and to the proud alumni who are excited to welcome this return," said Mike Jacobs '94, General Manager of Nashville SC of Major League Soccer (MLS). Being a student-athlete at Pace was such an important part of my life and career, and I feel very fortunate to see other young men get the opportunity to represent Pace University on the soccer field."

About Pace Kenda Sports Group
Kenda Sports Group is a sports management company dedicated to the growth in participation of youth soccer and recreational sports within the Hudson Valley. Founded in 2024, Kenda Sports Group works with over 1,000 amateur athletes each year to meet their individual athletic goals.

About Pace University Athletics
Pace University Athletics is a member of NCAA Division II, competing within the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10). Pace Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, along with cheer, dance, and E-Sports programs. In 2023-24, Pace student-athletes posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.37. Additionally a total of 311 Setters were selected to the NE10's Academic Honor Roll following the spring 2024 semester.