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Mancini’s goals propel Canfield
By Ryan Buck
CANFIELD
The Canfield High School girls soccer team captured its fourth consecutive Division II district championship Thursday night with a 3-0 victory over Niles.
The Cardinals, the district’s top seed and the second-ranked team in the most recent state coaches’ poll, rushed second-seeded Niles early and often.
Cardinals sophomore Anita Mancini’s two early goals ignited the offense and the Red Dragons, who were making their first district title game appearance, never recovered.
“We were really ready for this game and we were really excited,” Mancini said through sniffles brought on by a week-long illness. “We wanted it more than anything so it was really important to come out and get the early lead.
“It’s nice that I got two with my sister [Sophia, a senior] while she was still here and that we’ve been able to play this long together and win two district championships.”
Three minutes into the match, Mancini patiently waited for teammate Haylee Klacik’s deflected corner kick to bounce in her direction. When the Red Dragons failed to clear the ball, Mancini’s quick strike from six yards out was true.
Two minutes later, Canfield senior forward and leading scorer Bailey Fischer galloped through two Niles defenders and poked a pass ahead of Mancini, who was charging the Niles defense from her left forward position.
One touch was just enough to evade one Niles defender before a right-footed shot escaped Niles goalkeeper Makayla Butler’s grasp. The ball trickled into the goal off the right goal post with 34:59 remaining in the first half.
“It’s hard to come back from two quick goals like that,” Niles coach Jennifer Mease said. “I would obviously like the first five or 10 minutes of the game back, but Canfield’s a very good team.”
Canfield coach Phil Simone sensed his team — with six seniors in tow — was ready for a fast start.
“We talked the seniors a lot this week,” Simone said, “about how a lot of kids across this state don’t get the opportunity to get one district championship.
“We have the opportunity to get four and they came out on fire. They attacked, pressured all over the field and jumped on them quickly.”
The Red Dragons had two shot on goal in the first half, none of which seriously threatened the Canfield net patrolled by Raquel Abel.
Canfield’s onslaught continued into the second half as Fischer, Klacik and Ana Kilbert attacked Niles’ usual second-half goalkeeper Vada Flannery at will.
Flannery, a sophomore, was up for the challenge. She robbed Fischer on three separate occasions, including a diving save on one of the effortlessly fast Fischer’s many runs at goal. A rebound opportunity was knocked away seconds later.
Flannery withstood 14 second half shots off Cardinal cleats, making eight saves.
“[Flannery] had a great performance with key saves,” Mease said. “She’s had a great year and has a great future.”
Mease, in her sixth season as head coach, has a young Niles team (14-3-2), champions of the All-American Conference White Tier, building for bigger things.
With 11:29 left in the match, Fisher ceded a shot on goal in favor of a crisp pass. Sophia Mancini, who is slowly recovering from a knee injury sustained in late September, rolled a shot inside the left goal post for Canfield’s final tally.
The Cardinals (15-4-0) are back in familiar territory. They take on Mentor Lake Catholic for a berth in the title game.