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Canfield Cardinal Classic hosts teams from Ohio and Pa.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A member of the Canfield High School boys soccer team kept his eye on the ball during a game at the sixth annual Canfield Cardinal Classic Soccer Tournament sponsored by the Canfield Soccer Boosters July 12.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A member of the Canfield High School boys soccer team protected the ball during a game at the sixth annual Canfield Cardinal Classic Soccer Tournament sponsored by the Canfield Soccer Boosters July 12.
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The Canfield High School boys soccer team goalie was ready and waiting during a game at the sixth annual Canfield Cardinal Classic Soccer Tournament sponsored by the Canfield Soccer Boosters July 12.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield High School Soccer Boosters hosted its Sixth Annual Canfield Cardinal Classic Soccer Tournament July 12-13 with 60 teams from 32 schools participating in the two-day event. Five fields were in use, all located on the high school grounds and including the stadium, with each team playing three 40-minute games.
For the first time, the tournament took place during two days, with the boys’ teams playing on Saturday and the girls’ teams playing on Sunday.
Teams from Ohio and Pennsylvania participated in the boys’ and girls’ divisions and included Canfield, Poland, Mineral Ridge, Niles, Crestview, Marlington, Austintown Fitch, Salem, Harding, West Branch, Howland, Lakeview, East Liverpool, Boardman and Girard, along with numerous teams from the Akron, Cleveland and Columbus areas, with Tri Valley traveling the farthest.
The Cardinal Classic is a key fundraiser for the Canfield High School boys and girls soccer program, and was organized by the parent members of the Canfield Soccer Boosters, with Elizabeth Garono serving as president.
“We are very grateful to all the players’ parents. They have been involved in all areas of this tournament and are a really great group of people,” Garono said.
Proceeds from the tournament are used to buy new uniforms, fund scholarships for players and pay entrance fees for tournaments.
The goal of the tournament was to give the coaches a chance to view the players pre-season and to prepare for fall. Coaches used this opportunity to see the players with the ball and to learn what the team needs to work on for the upcoming fall season. It also gave the coaches a chance to watch the players and get a sense of which players to select for the junior varsity and varsity teams.
“This is a pre-season showcase. It’s a great opportunity to get an early look at players,” said Phil Simone, Canfield head boys and girls soccer coach.
The tournament also had community support and corporate sponsors, which included Zim’s Max-Freeze, Eagle Rentals, Davis International, SCA Care of Life, Comprehensive Logistics, ValleyCare Hospitalists Northside Medical Center, Boak and Sons, Great Maids LLC, Boardman United Methodist Church, Canfield Auto Spa, Massage Caf , Mill Creek Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, Komara Jewelers, Simon Roofing, The UPS Store, McCamon-Hunt Insurance Agency, All Ohio Title and Escrow LLC, Hunter-Stevens Land Title Agency Ltd., Pinnacle Health Concepts, Canfield Baseball Club, Austintown Podiatry, Mark J. Squicquero D.D.S., Avion Banquet Center, Eye Care Associates, Drakes Landing Banquet Center, Title Works Agency LLC, Atway & Cochran Attorneys at Law, Women’s OB/GYN Care, Lil Baby Cakes, Fusillo Flooring, Pro Adjuster Chiropractic Clinic and RGG Lawn Care and Landscape Services.
Concession stand supporters included Arby’s, Chad Anthony’s Cocca’s Pizza, Giant Eagle Canfield, Kaleel Brothers, Youngstown Propane and Chick-Fil-A Southern Park Mall.
Canfield Soccer Boosters parents volunteered at the tournament in every aspect from the concession stand to selling T-shirts to helping set up the tournament the day before. Members of the Canfield High School National Honor Society were also able to earn service hours by helping at the tournament.
The Canfield boys soccer team’s home opener is set for Aug. 21 versus Revere, with junior varsity playing at 5 p.m. and varsity playing at 7 p.m. The Canfield girls soccer team’s home opener is set for Aug. 16 versus Hathaway Brown. Junior varsity is playing at 5 p.m. and varsity is playing at 7 p.m.