English leads Canfield in district semis

Canfield senior scores twice and assists on another goal as team advances to D-II district final

By JOHN HARRIS

sports@vindy.com

CANFIELD

Canfield dropped the hammer early against Poland in the Division I boys soccer district semifinals.

Senior Tanor English blasted two first-half goals and contributed a second-half assist in the Cardinals’ 3-1 victory Wednesday night at Bob Dove Field.

“A lot of people said we’d be rebuilding with 12 seniors graduating last year,” said Canfield coach Phil Simone, whose team improves to 11-6-1 and advances to face Lakeview in Saturday’s district final at Niles’ Bo Rein Stadium. “Our boys worked hard. Everything we asked them to do, they did.”

In what proved to be a typical Canfield-Poland slugfest — the Cardinals edged the Bulldogs in last year’s district final and the teams played to a 3-3 tie on Sept. 20 — there were plenty of haymakers thrown as both sides went for the knockout.

Braced for an early Poland barrage, Canfield absorbed some body blows. Like a prize fighter, the Cardinals eventually feinted the Bulldogs out of position and went for the knockout.

“It made us come out harder than we were playing,” English said. “We found our momentum.”

English’s first goal staggered Poland (9-4-4). Receiving a pass from sophomore Hunter Hale, English deposited a wicked left-foot shot in the far corner of the net for a 1-0 lead at the 17:29 mark of the first half.

English delivered what appeared to be the knockout with his second goal less than 10 minutes later.

If anything, English’s second goal, also delivered from the left side following a pass from junior Will Files, was delivered with even more gusto and accuracy.

“Tanor did a great job. He scored two beautiful goals,” Simone said. “We were very patient moving the ball across the top of the box to break them down on those two goals.”

From there, Canfield tried to put the clamps on Poland’s attack. But in typical fashion, the Bulldogs made a game of it when senior Evan Rumble sent a perfect header into the back of the net following a corner kick to make it 2-1 with 29:17 to play.

“Even down 2-0 at halftime, we felt good,” Poland coach Brian Garcar said. “We always expect that.

“I’m very happy with our season,” he said. “We were in every single game and found a way to win four of our last five regular season games.”

English capped what turned out to be a career night when he slid a pass to junior Brendon Maurer in front of the goal that was so well placed Maurer couldn’t help but score at the 4:58 mark.

While Poland’s season comes to an end, Canfield enters familiar territory in reaching the district final for the third time in four years.

“Winning a game like this gives us confidence,” English said.