East Rochester hosts Red Card Cancer game

By PAUL GOTHAM

EAST ROCHESTER, N.Y. — When Mike Yacuzzo’s father-in-law, Jeff Renner, passed away this summer after a battle with cancer, the East Rochester boys’ soccer coach was inspired to join in the fight against the disease.

What Yacuzzo learned is that a cause can bring opposing sides together.

Wednesday evening on ER’s Don Quinn Field the Bombers and Sodus Spartans came together as one in the battle against cancer.

“The whole experience has been uniting,” Yacuzzo said. “It was incredible to see how many people had their own story.”

The fourth-year coach started plans for the event in August.

Local businesses supported the effort with financial contributions to pay for T-shirts and wristbands representing Red Card Cancer. The two teams gathered at midfield for a photo prior to the start of the game.

Opposing sides, both wearing the same red shirt.

“I respect Sodus a lot for being able to put any differences we may have aside and come together for something that’s way more important than a game,” said East Rochester senior captain Eli Tanner whose grandfather passed away from cancer.

For fellow classmate Liam Kinney, the game also had added significance.

“It means a lot to me because my mom had breast cancer,” he said. “Coming into the game, I had a mentality that I want to do this for her. I want to do this for everybody that has it. Everybody deals with cancer or could deal with it at some point.”

During halftime, ER players had a T-shirt toss for fans in the bleachers.

Donations were made to the American Cancer Society.

“From the first time the parents knew what we were doing, I was getting replay emails from all of them,” Yacuzzo said of the community support. “It was well-received immediately.”

Renner was a fixture on East Rochester campus. His daughters played field hockey and lacrosse for the Bombers, and he could be seen at all games. After his children graduated and went on to college, Renner stayed active in the ER sports program. He served as public address announcer at games and also was part of the broadcast crew when games were televised locally on Channel 12.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ON BEHALF OF ER BOYS SOCCER.

He passed away in July.

“That was an eye-opening moment for me,” Yacuzzo said. “Me, personally that was my inspiration, for sure. Big hometown guy. He loved ER. He loved every sports program.

“We decided to kinda deviate from that a little bit and make the it less specific, make it a general awareness thing. Truthfully, when we did that, it was incredible to see how many people had their own story.”

On the pitch, ER (10-1-0) won its 10th straight game.

Kinney finished with two goals and two assists in a 5-0 win. The senior midfielder followed his own shot and volleyed a rebound into the back of the net to provide all the offense needed in the fourth minute. Kinney made it 3-nil early in the second half with an assist from Sean Hogan.

4’ Liam Kinney takes his own rebound off the post and finds the back of the net to give ⁦@ERBombers⁩ an early 1-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/1SzgBQuxot

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 2, 2024

Third corner kick of the half produces the second goal of the game for ⁦@ERBombers⁩ Sean Lewis on the finishing end from Dom Romach. pic.twitter.com/ghuPSDypt6

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 2, 2024

52’ Liam Kinney to Eli Tanner. ⁦@ERBombers⁩ 4-nil. pic.twitter.com/DaQfLuB8SU

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 2, 2024

Tanner finished a Kinney corner kick in the 53rd minute, and then Kinney set up Perry Francis for another Bomber goal.

Sean Lewis also scored with an assist from Dom Romach.

Alex Entz (two saves ) and Steven McCann combined for the shutout – ER’s ninth clean sheet of the season.

“How we ended last year, everyone on this team knows we have unfinished business,” Yacuzzo said of the 1-0 loss in the 2023 Class C1 sectional final. “We’re in a position to take advantage and get right back to where we left off, especially our seniors. They do not like the taste that was left in their mouths after losing in sectionals. I think we have a little different mindset coming into it this time.”

Plans are already being put in place for a Red Card Cancer game next season.

Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society on behalf of ER boys’ soccer by following this link.

“It felt like I was playing for something more than myself and more than a win,” Tanner said. “I was playing for something way more important than a game.”