Soccer tourney gives Cape a kick where it helps

For Larry O'Neill, his wife, Becky, their family and their children's guests, the 10th annual St. Francis Indoor Invitational soccer tournament is the last hurrah of Christmas vacation before returning to school on Monday in Marion, Ill.

The O'Neills enjoyed a week off with the children and have been staying at the Drury Inn since Friday night. They ate at Fazoli's Friday night, a place everyone agreed on. Besides Hawks team members Luke, 9, and Maggie, 11, the O'Neills' 13-year-old son Lawrence and two of Maggie's friends are staying in Cape Girardeau for the weekend while Luke and Maggie play their four games over the weekend.

"It's fun, great exercise and good socialization for the kids," said Larry O'Neill, who along with his wife coaches outdoor soccer in Marion.

The tournament began Friday at 5 p.m. and continues until 7 p.m. today. It showcases 96 teams with youths ranging from 8 to 18. The tournament includes both boys and girls teams and a few teams that are coed.

A total of 160 games are played in 35 hours at the Show Me Center, the Student Recreation Center and Houck Fieldhouse. Players travel from four states: Missouri, Illinois, Mississippi and Kentucky.

Families with children not involved in the games have plenty of room on the sidelines for toddlers to make themselves at home amid the diaper bags packed with mommy paraphernalia. Handheld games occupy older youngsters between games.

All those teams and players have a big impact on Cape Girardeau.

The Drury Inn reported 89 of the 139 rooms filled during the tournament. By Saturday night all of the double occupancy nonsmoking rooms were booked.

Other area hotels reported similar bookings.

Teams around Cape Girardeau and Jackson make up 35 of the teams. Sixty-one teams travel from outside the immediate area, including St. Louis, Sikeston, Poplar Bluff, Kennett and Perryville.

Denise Cramer of Jackson has a 10-year-old son, Seth, playing for Jackson, but says she supports all the players. "These are all my kids: Bryce, Dustin, Hunter ... we've played these boys from since they were 5 years old. Nobody gets mad or anything."

Dennis LeGrand of Poplar Bluff started coming to the tournament seven years ago. He is the president of the Poplar Bluff Soccer Club. "I got into soccer because anything you can do to keep kids off the streets is important," he said.

LeGrand comes with his wife and their two children, Nathan, 11 and Jackie, 14. Besides visiting The Wall and Outback Steakhouse LeGrand said, "We go to the mall, too. I told you, I've got a 14-year-old daughter."

cpagano@semissourian.com

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