Submitted photo Canfield student-athletes, from left, Ellie Accordino, Ally Stein and Hannah Stein are continuing their athletic and academic careers at Walsh University.

The three amigas of the Canfield High School girls soccer team will continue their athletic and academic careers at Walsh University.

Twins Hannah and Ally Stein joined Ellie Accordino to make their decisions official when signing their National Letters of Intent late last month.

The trio has been nearly inseparable for many years.

“We’ve been friends and teammates since about the fourth grade and we’re excited to be able to continue playing soccer together for four more years,” Hannah Stein said. “We played club together for years with Soccer Vision Academy. (Walsh coach Lauren Lewicki) saw us playing in a tournament in Canton.

“Ally and I took our visit and we (verbally committed) the next day. Ellie took her visit the same day that we (committed) and she committed right there. So we all (committed) the same day, but we didn’t know it, nor did we plan that.”

However, according to Hannah Stein, the girls were in constant contact mode, “discussing a lot of things and bouncing ideas off each other.”

One of the biggest drawing points for all three was the coaching staff.

“They make you feel right at home and they put you above the program,” Accordino said. “If you’d be a better fit at another school, I think they would point you in that direction and help you get there.”

The thought of starting a new stage of their lives has been a little easier on the girls knowing that they will be there to support one another.

“It’ll be very beneficial on and off the field,” Ally Stein said. “We go in already knowing two of our teammates and we’ll be there to push each other. We’ll also be there for support in academics. We’ve basically known each other and played soccer together for our entire lives and that won’t be changing. That’s a blessing.”

The trio was separated last fall on the field, as Accordino suffered an ACL injury while playing club ball in a national tournament in July and did not play for the Cardinals, who lost to Chagrin Falls in a Division II regional semifinal.

“We finished 17-3 and won a district championship, but not having Ellie was such a huge factor,” Canfield coach Phil Simone said. “We all believe if Ellie was playing, we’d have gotten further than the sweet 16 without a doubt.

“I’m very happy for the girls that they get to continue their friendships and athletic careers at the same school.”

Hannah Stein, a four-year starter, scored 29 goals at forward this past season and was named first-team all-state and was the Player of the Year in the district.

“Hannah has deceiving speed and is solid on the ball; it’s tough to get the ball away from her as a defender,” Simone said. “Ally was a three-year defensive starter in the central midfield and she has tremendous speed and strength. She’s very physical and her distribution started our attack.

“Ellie started every game as a freshman, sophomore and junior and her soccer IQ is off the charts. She has tremendous vision. She was an outside defender her first two years, but we moved her to center midfield as a junior.

With her injury, Accordino has become intrigued with the medical field and hopes to pursue a nursing degree at Walsh.

“I want to help treat sports injuries and I plan to focus on becoming a nurse practitioner,” she said. “Walsh has an amazing nursing program, a very hands-on program.”

No surprise here, but Hannah also anticipates focusing on nursing. Ally’s academic focus is undecided heading into college.

“We’re all looking forward to the new challenges and meeting new friends and teammates and we’re fortunate enough to be doing it together as old friends and teammates,” Hannah Stein said.