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Cailor’s late goal lifts Spartans to tie
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SOCCER - (24) SueJude Hamdan of Boardman battles (3) Paige Bidinotto of Canfield for the ball during thier game Saturday night in Canfield. - Special to The Vindicator/Nick Mays
By Greg Gulas
CANFIELD
Alexis Cailor’s first goal of the season with 1:12 remaining helped lift the Boardman High girls soccer team to 1-1 tie against Canfield Saturday at Cardinal Stadium.
A freshman defender, Cailor said her first varsity goal could not have come at a more opportune time.
“It was a corner kick that was executed just perfectly,” Cailor said.
The Spartans (6-5-2), winners of two straight going into the game, had just one shot on goal in the first half and four overall.
Spartans coach Fawzi Mujahed was impressed with Canfield’s game plan.
“They [Canfield] controlled the game because they were able to control the mid-field area,” Mujahed said. “They moved the ball very well and created a lot of opportunities offensively.
“In the first minute of the second half, we missed a really good scoring opportunity, but while we didn’t have a lot of shots on goal we did get the right one to fall.
“That was a special goal for Alexis [Cailor] as well as the team,” Mujahed said.
The Cardinals (6-4-3) outplayed their opponent for the second straight game and had nothing to show for their effort.
They suffered a 1-0 loss to Hathaway Brown earlier in the week after outplaying them while controlling the ball a good portion of the game.
“We were sluggish at times tonight and we can play better, especially with the tournament ready to take place the week after next,” Cardinals coach Phil Simone said.
“It’s always a tough game against Boardman. It’s not a conference game nor is it a division game, but it’s for the bragging rights to Route 224 and that is why it is such a battle,” Simone said.
“In soccer, it doesn’t matter how much you dominate a game because one shot can kill you and that is what happened to us tonight,” he said.
The Cardinals got on the board first when Paige Bidinotto notched her eighth goal of the season at 23:29 of the opening half.
“The goal came off of a corner kick and Hannah Day positioned the ball just right for me,” Bidinotto said. “After leading a good portion of the game, it’s rough to settle for a tie but we’re looking forward to tournament play hoping to go as far as we can.”
The tournament draw will take place today in Niles and Simone, whose team was Division I last year but Division II this year, remains excited about his team’s chances.
“A third division was added this year, but we feel like we have a good shot at a District title,” Simone said. “We can make a run, but we’ll have to play our best.”
Canfield held an 11-4 shots on goal advantage and is now 3-4-2 at home.
They are 2-1-3 against Division I opponents.
Boardman is 1-2-1 against Division II competition including 0-2-1 on the road.