LHSA celebrates 50th season

Lawrence Hamnett Soccer

By Tim Falls, Sports Editor
   Over 500 players came out to celebrate the start of the Lawrence Hamnett Soccer Association’s 50th season.
   LHSA hosted it’s first season kickoff party on Saturday and had a tremendous turnout.
   ”We had a lot of green, red and purple-headed players running around,” said Lawrence Hamnett’s vice president of recreation, Sue Glass.
   With Fantastic Sam’s spray-painting players’ heads and plenty of inflatable attractions for the younger players, the event had a carnival feel. The wonderful weather also contributed to the event’s success.
   ”We had over 500 players come out,” said Glass. “That exceeded our expectations on turnout.”
   The season kickoff party will be a yearly event scheduled for the third Saturday of August.
   Along with the attractions, the kickoff party featured several soccer-related competitions, such as an obstacle course players had to dribble across and a soccer ball juggling competition.
   The event also featured a game between the league’s coaches.
   With the help of Rico Scardelletti, the president of Lawrence Hamnett, and Ernie Cerone, the treasurer, and the other league volunteers, the kickoff party was a complete success.
   The party was also the first large event at the Glenn Myernick Training Fields in Village Park. The facility was dedicated to the former Lawrence soccer star last spring.
   ”Everything, from the food, the games, the carnival, the competitions, it all wen very smoothly,” said Glass. “Everybody’s marking their calendar for the third Saturday in August next year.”
   LHSA will officially begin its 50th season on opening day, Sept. 8.
   Lawrence Hamnett was formed in 1957 and named after Tom Hamnett, a groundskeeper at Hetzel Fields who provided soccer balls for neighborhood children.
   LHSA features competitive and recreational teams for boys and girls ages U-8 to U-17.