Calling all youth girls soccer players to Mad River Park on Tues.

Oct. 7, 2022  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

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

This Tuesday, Oct. 11,  after school at Mad River Park in Waitsfield, Harwood Girls Soccer hosts its annual Mary Harris Youth Soccer Day from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The event brings together 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. Youngsters do not need to be on a fall soccer team to participate. 

An annual soccer practice led by the  teenage players with their younger counterparts has been a longtime tradition in the Harwood girls program. After 2016, it was named in honor of Mary Harris, an 11th grader on the team that year who died in a car crash on Oct. 8 along with four other friends and classmates from the school district. 

Harwood Girls Varsity Coach Mike Vasseur reminds players to dress for the weather, wear shin guards and bring a water bottle. The event is free and as part of the tradition, each of the young participants will receive a free “Love Like Mary” t-shirt.