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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
The 2012 girls high school soccer season was highlighted by Packer Collegiate’s first Athletic Association of Independent Schools regular season and post season crowns since 2001 and 2005, St. Edmund’s first-ever Brooklyn and Queens Class-A crown, and division championships for Fort Hamilton and Grand Street Campus in the Public School Athletic League.
But that’s just the names of the winners. Here’s the Courier’s picks for the participants who shined the most this year:
All-Brooklyn girls soccer player of the year: Maria Pettet, Fort Hamilton
Pettet was one of the league’s most dominant players. She scored the second-most goals with 36 and dished out 14 assists. The senior mid-fielder’s speed and creativity helped lead the Tigers to a division title before falling in heartbreaking fashion in the opening round of the playoffs.
All Brooklyn girls soccer coach of the year: Dan Mangano, St. Edmund Prep
Mangano guaranteed his Eagles club would win the Brooklyn and Queens Class A crown and his confidence was contagious. He helped developed the team’s core and watched it beat rival St. John’s Prep to erase the memory of last year’s loss in the final. He expects his club to be right back there next year.
All-Brooklyn girl’s soccer first team
Mid-fielder Jocelyn Aguilar, Grand Street Campus
The freshman had an immediate impact for the division-winning Wolves. Aguilar tallied 21 goals and 20 assists.
Mid-fielder Maura Bellone, St. Edmund
Bellone, a sophomore, was a force all season and scored the biggest goal of her life in the title game. Her well-timed strike gave the Eagles a 1–0 win and their first-ever crown.
Mid-fielder Cindy Henderson, Fontbonne Hall
The senior is one of the borough’s most creative players with the ball at her feet. Henderson’s blazing speed down field helped make her the Bonnies’ leading scorer.
Foward Keegan Mendez, Packer Collegiate
Mendez tallied 15 goals and 22 assists. The senior scored three times in Packer’s Athletic Association of Independent Schools final victory, giving the school its first crown since 2005.
Goalie Rigopoula Nasopoulos, Fort Hamilton
The Tigers defense was one of the best in the borough and the junior keeper was a big reason why. She allowed just 12 goals in 13 games, while making 138 saves.
Defender Kate Oliver, Fontbonne Hall
Oliver may be small in stature, but she is big on toughness and heart. The senior was the lynch pin to the Bonnies’ defense, always ready to make the hustle play.
Goalie Shirley Palmer, Grand Street
Grand Street coach Andre Lamy has called Palmer his most important player since she was a freshman. The senior didn’t disappoint again, allowing 17 goals in 14 games.
Forward Jane Tewkesbury, Poly Prep
Tewkesbury had to fill a big hole with the loss of Sam Domurat to graduation. She did just that as the catalyst for the Blue Devils’ offense, often coming up big in tight games.
Midfielder Cansu Usta, Fort Hamilton
Usta continued to be a prolific offensive threat. The sure-footed junior scored 16 goals and dished out 20 assists. It’s her team next season.
Midfielder Sarah Van Horne, Packer Collegiate
The freshman was the second half of Packer’s 1-2 punch. She scored 28 goals, helping her team make up for the loss of the graduated Shannon Rhodes.
Forward Pamela Wishart, Leon Goldstein
The Army-bound forward and her powerful leg did a little bit of everything for Goldstein. She tallied 30 goals and would play defense when the Dolphins had a late lead.
All-Brooklyn honorable mentions
Forward Lizeth Celaya, New Utrecht
Midfilder Jenny Fay, Bishop Kearney
Forward Viviana Gonzalez, Franklin D. Roosevelt
Forward Anfisia Gordeev, St. Edmund
Midfielder/Defender Oonagh Jordan, Brooklyn Tech
Defender Mika Kligler, St. Ann’s
Forward Andrea Moonesar, Sheepshead Bay
Midfielder Chin Odim, St. Ann’s
Goalie Sarah Panitz, Brooklyn Tech
Forward Darian Raccuglia, Bishop Kearney
Midfielder Rorie St. Lawrence, Leon Goldstein
Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.