Studies and soccer: Aspiring youth minister works in a season at New Kensington

By ADAM BABETSKI

This story is courtesy of a PSUAC partnership with the sports journalism program at Penn State.

Ben Edwards has emerged as a contributor on a Penn State New Kensington men’s soccer team that will finish its season in a national tournament. How he reached that point was the culmination of an unlikely journey.

Edwards was born in the small town of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, and was interested in sports from a young age. He enjoyed running, biking and hiking in elementary school, and later joined his high school’s track and tennis teams. He also was a member of the Interact Club, a community service organization where he worked in a group setting and met many of his friends. 

Edwards also comes from a religious background. He went to church with his parents every week at Grace Community Presbyterian Church, and he quickly became an involved member of their congregation. One of Edwards’ favorite church programs was Operation Christmas Child, where he packed gifts and essentials into shoeboxes to send to needy families around the world.

Edwards got his start in soccer in third grade, when his friends recommended that he join a youth league. He found that many of the values of his faith applied to his favorite sport as well. 

“Soccer teaches many life lessons,” he said. “Teamwork is important, because it is a great way to build friendships and trust with one another. We all have different strengths, and we help each other out through the good times and the tough times.” 

Edwards spent his summers at a Christian camp called Pine Springs from the time he was in elementary school until he graduated high school. He was inspired to pursue ministry from his time there, and has since returned to the camp as a counselor. 

“You never know the impact you can have on campers with the kind words and encouragement you can give,” he said. “I always relate it to the parable of the mustard seed, where the smallest actions can make the biggest difference in someone’s life.” 

Edwards applied to Waynesburg University and Grove City University, but chose Penn State’s New Kensington campus because of its atmosphere and small-town feel. 

“You actually get to know people, and you get to work with your professors,” he said. “Having a small class size where they know you by name and not just a number is what is really amazing.” 

Edwards still had a passion for soccer in college, but he was not able to find the time to fit it into his busy schedule. Now in his senior season, his schedule finally let up enough for him to be able to play.  

“I put academics first”, he said. “Taking 15 credits along with soccer would have been hard for me, but now that I have nine credits it is nice to have a balance and be able to play soccer.” 

New Kensington team has a 12-5 record this season, reached the semifinals of the PSUAC tournament, and is now headed to the USCAA Division II tournament in Virginia later this month. 

Edwards is a versatile bench player, and has participated in 14 of the team’s 17 games so far. He is primarily a midfielder, but also spends time on the wings and is a skilled defender. He credited the team’s coaching staff for keeping the players focused on their academics along with training for games.

Edwards’ coach, Mark Duffield, began his soccer career in his home country of England and has been at New Kensington since 2018. Duffield described Edwards as a role model for the younger players, even as they were all just starting out on the team.

“Even when he’s not playing, he is on the subs bench encouraging the rest of the lads,” he said. “A lot of the younger players will talk to him about other things, like school, and he is there to give them advice.” 

Edwards found that he fit in with his teammates almost immediately, despite his being a rookie near graduation.

“It is a great team environment because it doesn’t matter what grade level we’re at,” he said. “A lot of the freshmen are actually helping me with soccer because I haven’t played in years and I was a little rusty.” 

Edwards graduates in December and will pursue a master’s degree in youth ministry. He hopes to continue to play soccer recreationally. 

“The thing about ministry is that there are a whole bunch of opportunities in that field that relate to each other in different ways,” he said. “I’m just keeping the door open to the opportunities that God provides and being patient.”