When Soccer is More Than Just a Game [VIDEO]

Masuk High School soccer coach Brian Humpal's team clawed back from a 1-0 deficit to tie Weston in the second half of Wednesday's home game, only to allow a goal to the visitors moments later leading to a 2-1 defeat for the Panthers. But this was not the main story of the night.

Families of American Youth Soccer Organization players filled up a good portion of the stands to root for the Panthers. Boys from U8 and U10 wore their soccer teams' jerseys in celebration of Masuk Youth Sports Night, a tradition begun by the girls' teams last fall.

The 21 children met players from both Masuk and Weston high schools before the game, each receiving a soccer ball signed by the entire Panthers' team. Players took the field with a boy in his AYSO jersey running alongside him when the starting lineups were announced. The boys then shook the coach's hand before the "National Anthem."

Maggi Zacchilli, registrar of AYSO and mother of Masuk soccer player, Dan Zacchilli, organized this year's event.

"This is a great way to connect the kids with the high school players," she said.

AYSO had reached out to the boys and girls soccer teams at Masuk last year, but Humpal said the Masuk Youth Sports Night for the boys just didn't happen. Zacchilli was determined to have one this year.

"Maggi called me and said, 'Let's do it,'" Humpal said. "The link between the youth and the high school kids is the best part of this night. All of the players here were one of these guys."

He noted how high school soccer can seem like the big leagues to boys playing youth soccer. "They're like professionals almost," Humpal said of Masuk's players. "They play under the lights."

Humpal hopes Masuk Youth Night sparks an interest in playing soccer for Masuk one day. "If they stick with soccer, that will be great," he said.

The younger players being on the field with the older ones is based upon an English tradition, in which amateurs meet with professionals during the announcement of starting lineups.

In addition to the pregame festivities, at halftime the AYSO players lined up to take shots on goal with freshmen goalies defending the net.

Six prizes were also raffled off. Every boy wearing his AYSO jersey got a ticket and boys won a tote bag with a soccer ball, a Panther baseball cap, a Masuk water bottle, shin guards and a "Play Soccer" T-shirt.

"If you circle three letters in the middle, you get AYSO," Zacchilli said with a smile.

The first 75 boys to arrive at the game wearing their AYSO jersey got a free Masuk water bottle.

Bonnie Meyerle went to the game with her son Johnny, 9, wearing his red AYSO jersey, and her five-year-old-daughter Amanda.

"It sounds fun," Meyerle said of Masuk Youth Sports Night. "I want to inspire Johnny to play soccer more and to like it more. He's been playing since he was five and she just started," she added looking at Amanda.

Johnny said he was most excited about "hitting the ball in the goal" at halftime. He wants to play for Masuk one day.

Kippy Johnson was among the parents cheering on the Panthers from the stands. Her son, James, a Masuk senior, is one of the captains of the varsity team.

"I think it's great that the kids have role models and get to watch a high school game," she said of Youth Sports Night.