Goshen, IN — In addition to honoring the Goshen College men’s soccer senior players in Saturday night’s match against Mid-Central Conference foe Indiana Wesleyan University, all ticket profits and overall proceeds will go completely to relief efforts of Hurricane Katrina devastation, the school announced Thursday.

Goshen College athletic director Ken Pletcher said that the college, in partnering with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), will send all event revenue to the association’s Katrina Relief Fund, focusing on providing support for the five NAIA institutions located in the gulf coast region.

“The NAIA wanted to extend support to member institutions in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, and our administration found this event to best help that cause,” Pletcher said. “With it being our senior night, we are anticipating one of the largest crowds of the season. We’re hoping to provide the NAIA with a respectable donation to help those schools in need.”

In addition to providing the NAIA with complete gate revenue, Pletcher said that fans will have the option of donating money for the cause in addition to admission costs. The same will hold true for Goshen College students, who will still be admitted free to the event. Match time is set for 7 p.m. Saturday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex.

“We’re hoping that our student-body, parents of our players and local fans will want to donate to this cause, in whatever way they can,” Pletcher said. “No amount is too little, and no amount is too much.”

Goshen’s response to the relief fund came after an official NAIA request that asked member institutions to designate a single athletic event in which proceeds would be donated to the cause. The NAIA has nine schools located in the affected region, with five schools (Dillard, Loyola, SUNO, Xavier and the New Orleans and Mississippi Gulf Coast campuses of William Carey) canceling fall classes. One hundred percent of the total proceeds generated in this effort will be donated to those institutions in need. For a detailed look at the NAIA’s Hurricane Katrina relief fund efforts, click here.

The Leafs’ announcement to take part in the fundraising efforts came — coincidentally — a day after the Goshen men’s soccer team just missed cracking the NAIA’s Top 25 poll for the first time this season. After weeks of receiving votes but coming up just short, Goshen secured the 26th-place slot in the association’s most recent poll, just missing the Top 25 by two votes.

“Our team goal is not trying to being ranked in the Top 25,”said Tavi Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “We’re not playing to be rated. Our goal is to win every time we step on the field. Rankings are generally based on your record, and when you win enough, it gets noticed. At the same time, being rated is nice for our guys and it’s exciting. We’ve beaten some really good teams, and (the ranking) is a reflection of what we’ve been able to do so far.”

Goshen has maintained a two-week stronghold on the 19-team NAIA Region VIII number one ranking, overtaking Cornerstone University and Madonna University on Oct. 3 as the highest-rated team in the eastern Midwest. For a complete breakdown of the NAIA regional and national men’s soccer ratings, click here.