(Crookston, Minn.) - The University of Minnesota, Crookston's Women's Softball team will hold a chili feed on Friday, February 18 at the UMC Sports Center. The event will be held in conjunction with the women's and men's basketball games that will be aired on Midcontinent Cable against Upper Iowa. The chili feed will run from 4:30 until 8 p.m. with the women's and men's games beginning at 6 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $3 and can be purchased from any Golden Eagle Softball team member or coach. For more information contact Head Coach Mitch Bakken at 281-8414 or bakke044@umn.edu.
 
"We held this event last year and it was a big success and we expect it to be even bigger this year with the basketball team playing on Midcontinent. It will be a great way for fans to come out and eat supper, fill the stands and possibly be on television," says Bakken. "The event is also a way for fans to meet the 2011 softball squad and to raise money for our spring training trip to the Cocoa Expo in Titusville, Fla. in March. The trip is crucial to our season as we can get several games in with little threat of bad weather and play quality programs that will help prepare us for the conference season," Bakken adds.
 
The Golden Eagles open the 2011 season on Saturday, February 26 when they travel to St. Cloud State for the Husky Dome Invitational. Minnesota, Crookston will play Southwest Minnesota State at 1 p.m. and Northern State at 3 p.m. UMC returns to the field on Sunday, February 27 to play host St. Cloud State at 3 p.m. and Valley City State at 5 p.m. The team will travel to the Cocoa Expo from March 11-17 for 10 games. The Golden Eagles open the NSIC season on April 2-3 when the team travels to Winona State and Upper Iowa. The double-headers are scheduled for 1 p.m. and noon respectively.
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
 
 
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