Mancini’s hat trick helps Canfield girls knock out Howland

Mancini’s hat trick helps Canfield girls

knock out Howland in AAC Red match

By MIKE McLAIN

sports @vindy.com

CANFIELD

If soccer fans threw hats onto the pitch after hat tricks, Canfield Cardinals senior Anita Mancini would keep sporting goods stores in business.

Mancini, who produced her second three-goal performance of the season in a 3-1 All-American Conference Red Division win over the Howland Tigers Wednesday at Bob Dove Field, can’t remember how many hat tricks she’s registered. Suffice to say, plenty of them have been mixed into the 66 goals she’s scored in her high school career.

Mancini was a ball of energy up front for the Cardinals, who are 5-0 and 2-0 in the AAC. Her goals came on a perfectly executed set piece, a penalty kick and what can be described as a layup late in the match to seal the win.

“We expected her to be our go-to person,” Cardinals coach Phil Simone said. “But it’s the players around her that are making her look good, too. They’re working hard all over the field and giving her those opportunities.”

Mancini would have had a fourth goal if not for an outstanding save by Tigers keeper Kamryn Buckley in the second half. Buckley stopped a point-blank shot from about 15 yards in front of the net.

There was nothing Buckley could do about the set piece the Cardinals worked to perfection in the first half. Mancini sprinted along the left wing near where a teammate was executing a free kick. Alana Petracci took the free kick and immediately delivered a perfect pass to Mancini, who scored from about 22 yards and to the left of Buckley at the 26:21 mark.

“Our team pulled it off really well,” Mancini said. “It was obviously a team effort. We worked on it in practice. I’m glad we were able to finish it.’

Simone installed the play at practice Tuesday. It’s one he might want to keep in mothballs until an opportune time later in the season.

“We practiced that for about half an hour,” Simone said. “That was executed perfectly by the girls.”

Mancini extended the lead to 2-0 with 11:04 remaining in the first half on a penalty kick following a Howland infraction inside its penalty area.

The Tigers (2-2 and 1-1 in the AAC) showed signs of life early in the second half. Their hard work paid a dividend when sophomore Amarah Howard scored from 25 yards on a shot from the left wing. The play was set up by a pass from Na’pier Ramsey.

The goal provided a spark for the Tigers, who began to gain some control of play after a dominant first half by the Cardinals. Canfield, however, regained the upper hand with strong play on the defensive end by Elizabeth Pilolli, Paije Georgeoff, Ashley Story and Ellie Accordino and solid play in transition.

Senior Ana Kilbert set up an easy goal by Mancini by staying with play near the goal line and to the right of the Howland goal. She was able to punch the ball to Mancini, who was open in the goal area for the score with 14:59 remaining in the second half.

“We were good in the second half,” Tigers coach Joe Megyesi said. “The only thing was that little lapse when they put that third goal in. We keep telling them until you hear the whistle keep playing. We thought there was going to be a call, and they stopped for that split second.”

Cardinals keeper Olivia VanDevender made three saves. Buckley stopped four shots.

Mancini pointed to the play of her teammates on her third goal as a sign of better things ahead.

“On that last goal, Ana Kilbert worked her tail off,’ Mancini said. “We wouldn’t have gotten that without her and all the younger kids stepping up. We’re definitely improving.”