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Canfield’s shutout streak continues through four
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Canfield’s Patrick Stickle (16) tries to maneuver around Howland’s Scott Heinemann (7) during a soccer game Thursday in Canfield. The Cardinals defeated the Tigers, 3-0, with Stickle scoring two goals.
By John Bassetti
CANFIELD
Baseball has the Boys of Summer.
Kenny Chesney sings about the Boys of Fall.
So, how does the Canfield High boys soccer team fit into the mix?
The Boys of Shut-tember, maybe?
Phil Simone’s squad has shut out four opponents while rolling up 12 goals after Thursday night’s 3-0 win over Howland.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” said Simone. “I’m on my 10th year and I’ve never started with four shutouts, so it’s a good feeling. Hopefully, we can keep that up.”
This is also Simone’s third season as head girls soccer coach, so, coupled with Canfield’s 1-0 win over Howland in a girls game Wednesday, the coach guided back-to-back winners.
After a scoreless first half Thursday, Patrick J. Stickle registered goals within five minutes of each other to breathe life into the Cardinals before Gianni Donofrio added the final goal to deflate the visiting Tigers (3-1).
Tony El-Hayek assisted on Stickle’s first goal and Dylan Seybert helped Stickle give Canfield a 2-0 lead.
Julian Fusillo assisted on Donofrio’s goal.
Simone addressed the Cards’ tendency to start slowly before picking up steam in the second 40 minutes.
“Unfortunately, that’s what it seems to be right now. The last couple games we’ve come on stronger in the second half. I just told my kids [in the post-game talk] that they’ve got to start playing from the opening whistle and try to put the two halves together so we don’t find ourselves in a hole the first half.”
Both of Stickle’s goals followed free kicks after quick restarts, which don’t allow the opponent much time to set up its defense.
“Both were quick restarts and we found the net on both,” Simone said.
From near midfield, El-Hayek booted the ball to Stickle, who made a left-footed kick from about 16 yards out at 33:19 after Howland goalie Robert Daniels made his move trying to grab the ball.
On his second goal at 27:50, Stickle deflected Seybert’s line-drive kick which met the middle striker not far from Daniels and his team’s net.
Less than a minute after his second goal, Stickle and a Howland defender went in the air and collided.
“He went up for a header and he got bumped a little bit while in the air and landed on his face,” Simone said of the moment that left his leading scorer woozy.
Stickle tried to stay on the field, but seemed disoriented somewhat and was helped to the bench for the remainder of the game. The coach believes Stickle may have had a concussion.
Donofrio’s goal — his first varsity tally — came while filling in for Stickle.
“He’s a junior and he [Donofrio] did a great job getting in between people to get the ball played to him [by Fusillo] and getting his foot on the ball,” Simone said.
Donofrio is one of several juniors in the lineup.
“They’re the core of our team,” Simone said.
Canfield has outscored its previous opponents Fitch (5-0), Poland (3-0) and Boardman (1-0), but due to a combination of factors.
“We do have an outstanding goalkeeper,” Simone said of Thomas, “but our back line, our whole defensive line has been playing phenomenal,” the coach said of the back line of Steve Negley, Aaron Kunz, Travis Gorley and Jack Monda and Monda’s sub, Sean Keyse.
Canfield took 14 shots to Howland’s 10 and Daniels had nine saves to seven for Thomas. Stickle has seven of Canfield’s 12 goals.