NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Southern Connecticut State University men's and women's soccer programs will host soccer ball collections at selected October home games as part of the Kick for Nick initiative. The group was founded through the efforts of PFC Nick Madaras, a former Wilton High soccer standout who was killed in Iraq. Thus far, more than 41,000 soccer balls have been sent to kids around the world to support this cause.

Fans attending the men's home games on Oct. 8, Oct. 11 and Oct. 14 or the women's games on Oct. 4, Oct. 11, Oct. 15 and Oct. 18 are asked to bring a new or used soccer ball that will be sent to the organization. Both programs have had collections at home games in previous years, while the women's program collected nearly 250 soccer balls last year to support the cause.