Former Prospect soccer standout wins Fire tryout

A former All-State soccer standout for Prospect High School emerged from a 210-person field of hopefuls to win the 2011 Chicago Fire Open Tryout, Chicago’s MLS team announced.Midfielder Paraskevas #147;Pari#148; Pantazopoulos will join the Fire for a week of training when the club opens its preseason camp at the Bridgeview Soccer and Sports Dome on Monday, Jan. 31. #147;Playing professional soccer has always been a dream of mine,#148; Pantazopoulos said in a prepared statement released by the team. #147;I have been a supporter of the Fire since I moved to the United States in 1998. I am very thankful to the club for this opportunity.#148;Born in Athens, Greece, Pantazopoulos began his soccer career with Vrilissia Academy in Greece at 8 years old. Following his family#146;s move to Mount Prospect, the attacking midfielder played with Green and White club teams and with the Illinois Youth Soccer Association. He graduated from Prospect High School in 2007 as a two-time All-State striker, 2006 Mid-Suburban League East Player of the Year and co-captain of the Daily Herald#146;s 2006 All-Area boys soccer team.Following graduation, he joined Asyl Lisis in Cyprus for a year, then returned to Greece to play with Zakynthos from 2008 to 2010.#147;Our Player Development staff evaluated a lot of talented players over the course of two days,#148; said Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas in a prepared release. #147;Pari stuck out amongst the crowd. Our open tryout gives players, like Pari, a chance to fulfill their dream of playing soccer at the professional level. We are excited to have Pari train with the first team to see if he has what it takes.#148;