Shirt sale supports Mary Harris Youth Soccer Day
Aug. 31, 2022 | By Lisa Scagliotti
Young players wear their Mary Harris shirts at the 2021 soccer training with high school players at Mad River Park. File photo by Lisa Scagliotti
Harwood Girls Soccer will host its annual Mary Harris Youth Soccer Day on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Mad River Park from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
The event is a chance for young soccer players in the Harwood school district to join the high school girls varsity, junior varsity, and junior high players for soccer drills, games and fun.
Players from pre-K through sixth grade are invited and some 200-250 youngsters are expected to attend. As part of the tradition, each of the young participants will receive a free t-shirt.
To help cover the cost of those shirts for the young players, sales are open now online for anyone in the community to purchase long- and short-sleeved t-shirts and sweatshirts. Harwood Girls Varsity Coach Mike Vasseur says that $5 from each purchase will help pay for the youth shirts and any additional funds raised will support scholarships for summer youth soccer camps.
The ordering deadline is Sept. 11 using the website lovelikemary.itemorder.com.
Keeping a tradition
The Harwood girls soccer program for years has organized an annual fall event to bring together the high school players and the younger athletes for a fun training session. Originally held in late October just after the regular high school fall season ends, it was a highlight of the season before the state playoffs began.
That changed in October 2016 when five local teens lost their lives in a wrong-way car crash on Interstate 89. Four were Harwood students including Harwood Union soccer player Mary Harris who was a junior. Known for her warm smile, friendly disposition and team spirit, her loss was profound for her team. Afterward, her coach and teammates decided to dedicate the annual youth event in Mary’s honor. They’ve since scheduled the event closer to the anniversary of the crash when all of the Harwood teams make a point to remember the students lost.
Very quickly, a slogan attached to the gathering was coined —“Love Like Mary” — as shorthand to remember her example.
The shirts designed each year for the event carry those words. Also printed on the back this year is a quotation Mary wrote in a school essay and that her family shared after her death. Subsequent Harwood girls soccer teams have adopted it as their mantra: “So I ask you to be kind. Be compassionate. Be respectful. Be selfless. Because without kindness, what’s the point?”