CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After spending three weeks in West Virginia training, conditioning, hosting soccer clinics and defeating all challengers, the India under-16 national soccer team will play its final game of its Mountain State tour at 7 p.m. today in Schoenbaum Stadium.

Tonight's contest against the Reading (Pa.) Rage should offer the Indian team its stiffest competition of its tour.

"The Reading Rage has been in the national finals for the last three years in a row," said Brian Parrott, program director for FS Sports WV, LLC, the organization sponsoring the Indian team's visit. "We're hoping this team will put up a good fight and make this last game a real challenge for the kids from India."

In its opening game here, the Indian team defeated the Metro FC Rapids of Dayton, Ohio - ranked 13th in the nation - 6-1, then drubbed 18th ranked NCAA Blast of Columbus, Ohio, 11-0. The Indian team then went on to beat the Elite Soccer Camp All-Stars 5-1 and 6-0, before defeating the West Virginia Olympic Development Program team 10-0 and 6-0.

"Before the Indian team came here, we didn't know for sure the level of competition they would need to be seriously challenged, so we arranged for them to play mid-level teams," Parrott said. So when the team's final game of the tour - which had originally been scheduled with Morgantown's West Virginia United - fell through, an opportunity arose to crank the level of competition up a notch by scheduling the Pennsylvania team.

In addition to practicing and competing, members of the Indian team hosted a soccer clinic at Appalachian Power Park, drove go-karts at Southridge Centre, visited Hawks Nest State Park and the New River Gorge, and took in a Major League Soccer game in Columbus.

"The team and the coaches have enjoyed their stay here," Parrott said. "They liked their accommodations and food at the Embassy Suites, and the traditional foods prepared by people from the Indian community here. They liked playing at Schoenbaum Stadium. They told us that the Astroturf there is the best surface they've ever played on, and they've played on fields across Asia and the Middle East."

The visit by the Indian team was made possible through the efforts of Charleston anesthesiologist Francis Saldanha, a native of India who wanted to both boost the Indian soccer program and promote West Virginia as an athletic training locale.

"We're looking at having the team back next year," Parrott said.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After spending three weeks in West Virginia training, conditioning, hosting soccer clinics and defeating all challengers, the India under-16 national soccer team will play its final game of its Mountain State tour at 7 p.m. today in Schoenbaum Stadium.

Tonight's contest against the Reading (Pa.) Rage should offer the Indian team its stiffest competition of its tour.

"The Reading Rage has been in the national finals for the last three years in a row," said Brian Parrott, program director for FS Sports WV, LLC, the organization sponsoring the Indian team's visit. "We're hoping this team will put up a good fight and make this last game a real challenge for the kids from India."

In its opening game here, the Indian team defeated the Metro FC Rapids of Dayton, Ohio - ranked 13th in the nation - 6-1, then drubbed 18th ranked NCAA Blast of Columbus, Ohio, 11-0. The Indian team then went on to beat the Elite Soccer Camp All-Stars 5-1 and 6-0, before defeating the West Virginia Olympic Development Program team 10-0 and 6-0.

"Before the Indian team came here, we didn't know for sure the level of competition they would need to be seriously challenged, so we arranged for them to play mid-level teams," Parrott said. So when the team's final game of the tour - which had originally been scheduled with Morgantown's West Virginia United - fell through, an opportunity arose to crank the level of competition up a notch by scheduling the Pennsylvania team.

In addition to practicing and competing, members of the Indian team hosted a soccer clinic at Appalachian Power Park, drove go-karts at Southridge Centre, visited Hawks Nest State Park and the New River Gorge, and took in a Major League Soccer game in Columbus.

"The team and the coaches have enjoyed their stay here," Parrott said. "They liked their accommodations and food at the Embassy Suites, and the traditional foods prepared by people from the Indian community here. They liked playing at Schoenbaum Stadium. They told us that the Astroturf there is the best surface they've ever played on, and they've played on fields across Asia and the Middle East."

The visit by the Indian team was made possible through the efforts of Charleston anesthesiologist Francis Saldanha, a native of India who wanted to both boost the Indian soccer program and promote West Virginia as an athletic training locale.

"We're looking at having the team back next year," Parrott said.

After leaving West Virginia on Saturday, members of the Indian team will travel to England, where they have been invited to participate in a prestigious training camp sponsored by the Manchester United soccer team.

Tickets for tonight's game will be available at Schoenbaum Stadium for $5.

Want to go?

Final game today

The Reading (Pa.) Rage should offer the Indian team its stiffest competition of the Mountain State tour.

WHEN: 7 p.m. today

WHERE: Schoenbaum Stadium

TICKETS: $5 at the stadium

Reach Rick Steelhammer at 348-5169 or rsteelham...@wvgazette.com.