PRO SOCCER TEAMS GIVE TOWN A THRILL.Byline: CONNIE LLANOS llanos (yä`nōs), Spanish American term for prairies, specifically those of the Orinoco River basin of N South America, in Venezuela and E Colombia. Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - About 6,000 sports fans crowded into College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. Cougar cougar: see puma. cougar or puma or mountain lion or panther Species (Puma concolor) of large, graceful cat that lives in a wide variety of habitats in the Americas, from southern Alaska to Patagonia. Stadium on Sunday to welcome Major League Soccer -- a battle between the Los Angeles Galaxy The Los Angeles Galaxy are a professional football (soccer) team based in Carson, California that participates in Major League Soccer. The name "Galaxy" refers to Los Angeles being the home of many Hollywood "stars". and the Columbus Crew The Columbus Crew is a professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that participates in Major League Soccer. The club was owned by Lamar Hunt, who also owned the Kansas City Chiefs and FC Dallas until his 2006 death, upon which his son, Clark, took over his sports properties. -- to a town that virtually invented the soccer mom soccer mom n. An American mother living in the suburbs whose time is often spent transporting her children from one athletic activity or event to another. . "This is beyond exciting," said Nancy Park, surrounded by at least two dozen young soccer players. The game was expected to raise about $50,000 for the nonprofit Michael Hoefflin Foundation, which will use the money for cancer research and outreach services. "The Galaxy has been supportive of the Hoefflin Foundation for the last 12 years," said Jill Mellady, communications director for the foundation. Previously, the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. soccer team participated in soccer dinners in Santa Clarita and held special soccer games for local families. Among the crowd at Sunday's game, more than 100 families had more than a game to cheer about, as they had received services from the foundation. For Sandi Franco, soccer and other sports are ways for 8-year-old Mateo, stricken with T-cell cancer, to feel like a kid again. "This is a chance to have a little bit of fun after a not-so-fun time," Sandi Franco said as she rubbed the head of her son. "This has been a tough year and a half." For Mateo's father, Joe Franco, it's just nice to see his son doing normal kid things again. "Whatever will help give him back a little bit of what he's missed out on in the last few months, we'll do," Joe Franco said. Self-proclaimed soccer mom Elena Cantu rushed to her seats holding the hand of 5-year-old Andres and carrying 2-year-old Aaron. She said soccer is not a pastime but an essential activity in her family. "Yeah, I basically had them play soccer as soon as they could walk," Cantu said. Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. , co-owner of Mercedes-Benz of Valencia and a board member for the Hoefflin Foundation, watched the crowds reach out for a free autographed soccer ball. Malone said he isn't a soccer dad because his children played baseball, but he considers a professional soccer game in Santa Clarita a great motivation for the young athletes in the valley. "These kids are getting a chance to see the best soccer players in the world in Santa Clarita," Malone said. For results of the game, see Sports. connie.llanos@dailynews.com (661) 257-5254 CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Los Angeles Galaxy player Quavas Kirk, left, takes control of the ball during a charity exhibition game between his team and Columbus Crew at College of the Canyons on Sunday. (2 -- 3) Above, kids play a game at halftime during a charity exhibition game between the L.A. Galaxy and Columbus Crew to benefit the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for children's cancer at College of the Canyons on Sunday. At left, Galaxy fans cheer on their team during the exhibition game. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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