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CORRALES -- Lauren Horger had one belief about the soccer tournaments in which she participated as a youngster.

"She always thought that everybody should get a trophy and a T-shirt," said John Horger, Lauren's father.

"My daughter said the best tine to play soccer was when she was little from U-6 to U-10 because after U-10, it became more of a job,"he added. "She always through if she was going to have a soccer tournament, everybody should get a trophy, not a medal, and a T-shirt. Because that’s what kids go to tournaments for."

So everyone of the 232 participants who played in the Lauren A. Horger Tournament took home a T-shirt as well as a bendable-man trophy.

Lauren Horger was a goalkeeper who played at Cibola High School and for Rio Vista before moving on to Northern Arizona University, where she played intramural ball.

But One night in 2008, during in her junior year, Horger went to sleep and never woke up.

So her family thought the best way to honor her was to establish a tournament in her memory. That was in 2009.

"It’s great to see the kids having a good time," John Horger said. "And the parents having a good time. Sometimes the coaches get a little intense. We try to remind them that this is a fun, recreational tournament."

Entry fees and money raised through silent auctions of donated merchandise pay for soccer scholarships for youth players whose parents may not be able to afford club fees or travel expenses.

And the family has also endowed a Spirit Scholarship for Cibola graduates. The first $500 award went to defender Jordyn Harney, who will be attending the University of Tampa. She and the ensuing winners also will have their names engraved on a permanent trophy displayed in the Cibola trophy case.

So far the family has given out nearly $5,000 in scholarships, John Horger said.

Seeing the players cavorting in grass at the Corrales Community Center, smiles creasing their faces is its own reward, the creating the tournament also did wonders for the family.

"We see a lot of youngsters out here and a lot of times it will remind us of our daughter when she was that age and playing, whether it was in the goal with goalie gloves that were way to big for her or uniform that’s way too small," he said. "It’s fun to watch. It’s about the kids. It’s all about the kids."

Creating the tournament was also an important step for the whole family.

"It really helped with the grieving process," he said.