Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Canfield senior Maci Toporcer dribbles upfield during a match against Cardinal Mooney last week. She leads the Cardinals with 18 goals this season.

To say Phil Simone has seen and coached a plethora of Canfield soccer — girls and boys — may be an understatement.

In his 30 years around the Cardinals’ programs, this current iteration of the girls program may be one of his best teams, as it boasts a trio of Division I commits.

The irony is that all three players will someday share a pitch as competitors and teammates in the Horizon League.

Senior Maci Toporcer is committed to Purdue Fort Wayne, while fellow senior Hanna Wahib and junior Ava Paris are staying home to play for Youngstown State.

Toporcer leads the undefeated Cardinals (5-0-1) with 18 goals and five assists, while Wahib follows suit with four goals and five assists. Paris also has scored a goal this season.

“I’ve had some really good teams over my years here. I’ve had some D1 players, but I’ve never had three on one team. We got a couple others that are looking at some D2s and D3s,” Simone said. “It’s special, we’re excited. I enjoy watching this group play a lot, not only as players, but they’re a fun group to be around. So they bring the whole thing to the table.

“I keep talking to them. They have to embrace it. They can’t come around in December and say, if we only would have done this, we could have done that. We shoulda, coulda, woulda. So we talk about that a lot and tell them to bring it now because we know that it’s a special group and we don’t want them to miss that opportunity.”

Toporcer, who also has the opportunity to compete alongside sophomores Halle and Lexi Toporcer, made the commitment to the Mastodons nearly a year ago.

“It was a super exciting moment for me. It was something I always dreamed about when I was younger, and I’m super lucky to have such a great support system with these girls, without whom, I wouldn’t be able to be where I am,” Toporcer said. “We have such a great group of girls. A lot of us grew up playing together, so we all have a special connection. We all push each other and at the end of the day we’re all still best friends.

“It’s a team effort. I wouldn’t be able to get those goals if it wasn’t for my team. They set me up for really nice balls, (in the) right place, (at the) right time, just to be able to put those in the back of the net.”

Wahib’s father, Samir, attended YSU, which was a factor in her decision to continue her career with the Penguins.

“It’s so crazy, I’m so excited to be playing with Ava and then be playing against Maci. It’s going to be a fun experience. We’ve all been playing together for so many years,” Wahib said. “(My parents) live 20 minutes away (from campus), so they’ll be able to come to my games, so that’s super exciting.

“Just working together, moving the ball around — that’s when we have great success and that’s when we score goals. It’s very special, everyone just works together, (and) it’s super special, even playing here, it’s super exciting.”

Paris, a defender, was the latest domino to fall commitment wise, and has been playing soccer with her fellow Cardinals since she was seven.

“It was really about the coaches, and they have a good pre-med program. So they have a good program for soccer and they have something I want for my future, so it was a deal for me,” Paris said. “It’s exciting, because I’ve grown up with Maci and Hanna, so the fact that I get to play with (and against) them for the next four to five years is really nice, I’m really looking forward to it.

“I still feel like I’m a freshman. It doesn’t feel like I’m going to be a senior next year and the fact that all of my friends on this team are graduating next year doesn’t really feel real. I feel like we could definitely make the state semifinal. We have a lot of potential, and if we work, and put it to it I guess, then I feel like we can make it somewhere.”

Simone adds, “They’re all a little bit different. Ava is stout defensively. It’s very hard to get by her in a 1-on-1 duel — her speed is lights out. Hanna just has a knack for seeing, (with) her vision. She’s strong on the ball, and her skill level is at a different level, so she’s able to take players on 1-on-1. Maci has got the whole package and she has a nose for the goal, which is one of those things that sometimes you can’t teach.”

Toporcer looks forward to the future matchups that pit the Mastodons against the Penguins.

“That’s super exciting, because those two girls, we grew up playing together, so it’s amazing to see them be able to follow their dreams and be able to compete at the next level. Being able to share the pitch with them is even more special,” Toporcer said. “I think what’s exciting (this year) is that we have our core group back from last year, and I think we have a good group that’s willing to work hard and put in the work to get to our goals and meet those.

“(We) just have to keep the momentum going. Just work on playing fast, keep working on quick connecting passes and just keep playing the way we’re playing.”