Westlake resident wins state soccer shoot-out

Westlake resident Mary Garcia, age 7, shot a perfect score in the Elks' soccer contest state finals.

On Saturday, July 26, 7-year-old Westlake resident, Mary Garcia, won the U8 Elks State Soccer Shoot out, held in Coshocton, Ohio. Mary scored a rare, perfect 45 points in the contest by making 15 shots through a series of five goals, decreasing in size from 48 inches to 17 inches from 15 feet away. 

During the summer 35,000 children across the state of Ohio participate in Elks Soccer Shoot contests. In early June, Mary participated locally and won the spot of representing her district in the June 21 district finals. There, she competed against five other girls in her age class and advanced to the state finals.  

She will represent the state of Ohio at the Mid-Atlantic Invitational in March 2015, against U8 girls from six other states.