JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Thiry plans for future in soccer

CANTON -- If everything goes as Crystal Thiry hopes, she will own and operate a big soccer complex like Tri-County Sports Complex in Struthers, where she will be able to teach youth how to play the game within a Christian environment.
"I want to set up soccer programs for youth [with a] religious aspect [and a] combination of religion and sports. It would be religious work in a sport environment," said Thiry, a 2001 Hubbard High graduate and a sophomore at Malone College, where she is the leading scorer for the women's soccer team.
Through 12 games, Thiry, a forward in her first season with the team, has scored 19 points on seven goals and five assists, leading the Pioneers to an 8-3-1 record for coach Todd Clark entering this weekend's play. She has attempted 28 shots.
Thiry had two goals and two assists for six points in a recent 5-1 win over Heidelberg, and she had a pair of goals for four points in Malone's 4-0 win over Geneva.
Found a home
A four-year starter in high school -- one year at Niles and then three at Hubbard for coach Dennis Smith -- Thiry has found a home at Malone in her first year at the school.
She had attended Youngstown State and then Akron for one year each before transferring to Malone.
"I went to Youngstown on a soccer scholarship right after high school, and I redshirted there. I decided after a year that I wanted to switch for academics to Akron," she said.
"I came here because I wanted to go to a smaller school and because they offered the major I am interested in."
Thiry is majoring in sports ministry, which is a blend of sports management and religious work, like working with youth at camps, coaching, teaching and counseling then in a religious environment.
"It's pretty similar to sports management," she said.
In fact, Thiry transferred to Malone for sports management, but then decided to switch to sports ministry after discussing the matter with her parents, Pam and Scott Thiry of Hubbard.
She has an older sister and brother, Tamara and Dustin.
Credits her teammates
Thiry credits much of her success at Malone to her teammates.
"I am getting a lot of passes from the midfield," she said.
One of the players feeding her the ball has been Taryn Carlson, a freshman midfielder from Poland. Carlson, also a starter, has one goal and four assists.
Another area player on the team is Adrienne Detesco, a freshman goalkeeper from Cardinal Mooney High.
"Adrienne doesn't play because there are two goalies ahead of her," said Thiry, referring to Laurie Franklin, a junior, and Crystal Russell, a sophomore.
Scoring ability
Thiry said her scoring ability is "pretty much getting the passes at the right time, and being at the right spot when the ball is coming to me. A lot of it is like movement, communicating with teammates, and timing," she explained.
But being ambidextrous also has given her a scoring advantage.
"I kick with both feet in the game. I have scored with my left foot, but mostly with the right."
However, Thiry believes the real reason for her success at Malone so far is twofold.
"I couldn't accomplish what I have done without my team or the Lord Jesus Christ," she said.