BRAWNY SOCCER PLAYER EXCELS : GIORDANO WORKS HARD AT CANYON.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

Canyon High soccer standout Jimmy Giordano stands 6 feet 4 and weighs 215 pounds. He's just 16 and still growing.

He has his own large Tupperware bowl he fills with cereal. An 18-ounce box is gone in three breakfasts.

After practice, he's home piling the lunch meats and mustard onto two big rolls, washed down with a cup of noodle soup. One hour later, he's eating dinner.

On game days, his mother makes him an entire pound of rigatoni with meat sauce and at least three stalks of broccoli, his favorite vegetable.

After games, if the team stops at a fast-food restaurant, Giordano is sure to order an extra-large hamburger combination or five tacos and a small burger. Then he makes his rounds and helps himself to his companions' french fries.

His mother, Kathy, goes shopping every day.

``He eats nonstop,'' she said, ``and we always know when he's growing. He eats more than usual during a growth spurt.''

Not that he is the sole reason for daily market trips. His two older siblings, Steve and Kristi, were soccer stars at Canyon in their time. Both were defenders, as is Jimmy. His sister also could score goals, as Jimmy does now. His four scores rank third on the team.

He also plays football and volleyball. He comes from an athletic family. His father, Jeff, played college baseball at Adelphi. His mother was a volleyball star at Nassau Community College. An uncle once won an Amateur Athletic Union swimming title.

Around his Canyon soccer teammates, Jimmy stands out. He towers over them by several inches, and his carrot-color hair contrasts with the brown or black mops on the field.

His size hasn't prevented him from being an effective player in a game where speed is key. In the field, he is slower than most opposing forwards, but he makes up for it with intimidation and foresight. Coach Juan Arias said Giordano has the gift of seeing where the play will unfold before it does, so he can get there in time.

Giordano gets in front of opposing soccer players.

``They usually don't get around me. . . . They're usually intimidated. I come in hard right away. Once they realize I can do that, they give up (challenging him).''

It is that physical style that has other Foothill League teams nervous, especially on corner kicks. Saugus coach Nate Wright said he doubts any team in the league has the size to match Giordano.

``He's a force in the middle,'' Wright said. ``You can't let him let loose with that cannon of a shot. He's the main thrust to their show.'' Giordano's shot at the goal is as hard as anyone's. In a recent practice, Canyon's goalies looked frightened as Giordano received a corner kick, controlled it and drilled a shot past them.

In matches, he scored twice from beyond the 18-yard penalty area and twice up close by heading the ball.

``When he goes on the field, he is all business,'' Arias said. ``He gives me 150 percent. He's not resting. When other players see him doing that, it's contagious. Everyone wants to give me 150 percent.''

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Photo

Photo: (Ran in SAC and AV Editions) Jimmy Giordano, 6 feet 4 and still growing at 16, is a powerful soccer player for Canyon High School.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News