Complex to hold 24-team tourney

The meet is July 17-18 at the Tri-County Sports Complex and Mickler Field.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
STRUTHERS -- A 24-team high school soccer tournament is scheduled for July 17-18 at the Tri-County Sports Complex and Mickler Field.
The James J. Simon Memorial Soccer Tournament will have 12 boys teams and a dozen girls teams from throughout the state playing in a round-robin event.
Proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the Mahoning Valley chapter of the Shriners Hospitals for Children organization.
"These are some of the heavyweights of Ohio High School soccer," tournament director Joe DeMay said. "We have commitments from a former state champion, many state contenders and several teams in the field have played in the regional tournament recently."
The schools entered
In the boys field will be Cardinal Mooney, Salem, Stow Walsh Jesuit, Bay Village Bay, Toledo St. Francis DeSales, Warsaw River View, Hilliard Davidson, Chagrin Falls, Massillon Perry, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin and Sylvania Southview.
In the girls tournament will be Austintown Fitch, Ursuline, Howland, Cardinal Mooney, Warren JFK, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, St. Augustine, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Chippewa, Northwestern, Mentor Lake Catholic and Beaumont.
Each team will play twice on July 17 and then two more games the following day. There will be action under the lights at Tri-County.
On the opening day, the Fitch High School girls are scheduled to meet Howland High and the Cardinal Mooney boys are paired with Chagrin Falls.
Last fall, Chagrin Falls defeated Mooney 2-0 in the regional final.
Expected to expand
Due to space and time constraints, only 24 teams will play this year. More teams are expected next summer when the event will expand to two weekends.
"We see this becoming a major Midwest tournament, real soon," DeMay said.
Ohio college soccer coaches will be invited along with many coaches from the region. For details on the event, call DeMay at (330) 519-9918.
Donations to the Shriners can be mailed to Mark Koury at Simon Roofing, 70 Karago, Boardman 44512.