Canfield ousted by Massillon Jackson
Polar Bears goalie keeps Cards scoreless
By JEFF ZUPANIC
PERRY TOWNSHIP
Two breakaway goals by Massillon Jackson ended Canfield’s season Thursday night in the girls Division I soccer district final at Perry High School.
The Polar Bears scored a goal in each half to get past the Cardinals, 2-0 It is Jackson’s 22nd district title overall and eighth straight going back to 2011.
Canfield (15-3-1) had not allowed a goal in either of its two tournament wins. That streak was stopped 22:27 into the match when Jackson’s McKenna Morrison drew goalie Lauren Slanker away from the net and trickled the ball past her for a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals had a few scoring chances in the first half but were unable to muster a serious threat against Jackson goalkeeper Haley Durr, who has not given up a goal in three tournament wins.
A second breakaway less than eight minutes into the second half was the backbreaker for the Cardinals. Jackson’s Isabella Arnold and Slanker were in a foot race to the ball just outside the goalie box. Arnold got to the ball first and slid it between Slanker’s feet for a 2-0 advantage at the 32:29 mark.
Neither goal was a bullet, but both were good enough to find the back of the net.
“Just a couple of unfortunate breaks for them. They got behind us and were able to take advantage,” said Canfield head coach Phil Simone. “The one goal was a one vs. goalkeeper and it got past her. They had a couple of lucky breaks and that is the nature of this game.”
Simone felt the Cardinals had their chances early in the second half with a couple of good looks. Canfield even had a free kick with about nine minutes remaining that bounced off the top of the crossbar out of bounds.
“If we get one or two of those breaks early in the second half it changes the complexion of the game for us,” Simone said. “I thought other than a couple of breakdowns by us, we played a pretty solid game.”
Slanker is one of six Canfield seniors, along with Ashley Story, Alexis Barnat, Brianna Remias, Julia Petrallo and Fiona Lally. Slanker and Story were starters, so the Cardinals return nine players from its starting lineup next season.
“I’ve known most of these girls since they’ve been nine or 10 years old and they’ve put in a lot of time with the sport. It’s no coincidence they’ve had success,” Simone said. “The seniors have played in three district title games. We think we might be moving back to Division II next year and that will be beneficial because it’s hard for us going against schools that are three to four times our size in Division I.”
Jackson advances to a regional semifinal against Madison, the Mentor district champion, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Nordonia High School.