Making saves on and off the pitch

Cavalry keeper's fundraiser starts

Marco Carducci is out to “save a bunch of balls this year ...”

Both literally and figuratively.

On the field, it's the Calgarian's job, of course, to guard the Cavalry FC net, stopping any soccer balls that are driven its way.

And off the field, the superstar goalkeeper is on a mission to prevent testicular cancer — something he's experienced first-hand as a survivor of the disease — with the help Calgary-based registered charity Oneball.

“Nuts, balls, family jewels ...” said Carducci to open his Youtube launch of his `Saving Oneball at a Time' fundraiser. “Whatever you call them, they're often funny ... until you find a lump.”

That happened to Carducci in February 2022, after which he drew immediate medical help and leaned on the support of Oneball, which focuses on victims of testicular cancer and was founded and is run by survivors of the disease.

Two healthy years later, the Cavalry goalie is giving back by raising funds for the city organization.

For every save he makes this season, including in Friday night's Canadian Premier League game for Cavalry (0W-2D-1L) against incoming Vancouver FC (2-0-1) at ATCO Field (7 p.m., Onesoccer, Onesoccer.ca), he's asking fans to donate a per-save pledge.

“Yeah ... so we're doing a savea-thon style of a fundraiser for every save that I make or is made by any goalkeeper playing in Cavalry's goal,” Carducci said. “Let's say you want to donate $2 a save and I make 73 saves, like I did last year, then that's $146.

“We're hoping it blows up here with the Cavalry supporters and the fans and the football community here but also beyond with the entire Canadian community.”

He hopes to raise $15,000 from the initiative, which went live earlier this month and has already garnered more than $2,000.

“Oneball does incredible work,” Carducci said. “They provide patient financial assistance. They fund research. And they promote the advocacy awareness, which is so important.”

Carducci found out just how much during his cancer scare two years ago.

After enduring discomfort `down there,' he sought out medical assistance.

And once the discovery was made, the medical experts quickly got to work on his situation. Less than 48 hours from his diagnosis on Feb. 16, 2022, Carducci was through surgery and back home in recovery.

And that recovery included help from Oneball, for which he's thankful. It's allowed him to get back to the game he loves and continue playing it at a world-class level.