2006 All-Long Island Girls Soccer

BY ADAM RONIS | Newsday Staff Writer
December 17, 2006
A look at Long Island's best girls soccer players from the 2006 season.

MEGHAN BERLINGO

Sacred Heart

Goalkeeper, Senior

Meghan Berlingo helped lead Sacred Heart to the CHSAA state championship. Berlingo made 10 saves in the Long Island CHSAA championship game, a 3-0 win over St. Anthony's. Berlingo, who had five shutouts, will attend the University of Florida.

ALAINA BEYAR

South Side

Forward, Junior

Alaina Beyar was a player that had to be watched closely. One mistake by the defense and she made you pay. She had 20 goals and five assists. It didn't take long for her to make an impression on her teammates. Beyar, who transferred from Curtis (Staten Island), had two goals and two assists in her South Side debut against Massapequa.

SAMANTHA BUTZKE

Comsewogue

Defender, Senior

Samantha Butzke played defense and the midfield, depending on the matchup. She had eight goals and 11 assists and usually played defense, her natural position, against the better teams. At other times, she was responsible for getting the forwards the ball. Whatever was asked of her, she excelled. She'll play at Marist.

NICOLE CAVALLARO

New Hyde Park

Forward, Senior

Nicole Cavallaro broke the program record for career goals and finished with 90. She had 15 goals and nine assists and will play at Fairfield University next season. Cavallaro tore her MCL in a Nassau Class A semifinal against Garden City and missed the final against South Side. Cavallaro, a four-year starter, drew most of the attention from the opposition taking the pressure off her teammates.

CRYSTAL DUNN

South Side,

Midfielder, Freshman

Crystal Dunn was dynamic with 14 goals and 11 assists. Dunn made an immediate impact scoring the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime win against Massapequa in her debut. The bigger the game, the better her performance. She had two goals in a Class A state semifinal and three goals in the Nassau Class A county championship game.

JESSICA HERRMANN

Islip

Midfielder, Senior

When Jessica Herrmann missed a game, Islip was a different team. She has great field presence and could change the complexion of a game. The Penn State-bound Herrmann had 11 goals and 14 assists and led Islip to its second straight Suffolk Class A championship.

DANIELLE INGRAM

East Islip

Midfielder, Senior

Danielle Ingram distributed the ball well and had a blistering shot. The Fordham-bound Ingram helped get East Islip to the Suffolk Class AA semifinals. She had 10 goals and five assists.

ASHLEY KEOGH

Massapequa

Defender, Senior

Massapequa had four losses before the end of September before it rounded into the dominant team it usually is. The Chiefs allowed only five goals in their final 12 games and 10 were shutouts thanks to the defensive prowess of Ashley Keogh, who played a main role in leading the team to its fourth consecutive Nassau Class AA title.

ASHLEY KOWALCZYK

Wheatley

Forward, Senior

Ashley Kowalczyk broke the single-season program record for goals with 32. She also had 12 assists and led Wheatley to its second consecutive Nassau Class B championship and first Long Island title. At 5-11, she used her size to score many goals in the air.

STEPHANIE SOHN

Sachem East

Defender, Senior

The opposition scored one goal when Stephanie Sohn was on the field. She helped Sachem East record 15 shutouts in 21 games. Sohn, who will play at Notre Dame, had flu-like symptoms in the Class AA state semifinals and only played one half in a 3-0 loss.

AMY SPECK

Sacred Heart

Forward, Senior

Amy Speck was the type of player that could change a game. Speck, who will play at Georgetown, had 13 goals and nine assists, and many were key goals. Speck was named the Most Valuable Player in the Long Island CHSAA championship game against St. Anthony's in which she had a goal and an assist.

KATIE STARSIA

Long Island Player of the Year

South Side

Defender, Junior

Rarely do defenders get their due, but it is hard to ignore Katie Starsia. She anchored a defense that was nearly impenetrable. South Side won the Class A state title for the third consecutive season and Starsia played a key role. South Side didn't allow a goal in seven postseason games. Starsia, who has great speed and anticipation, earned the tournament's outstanding player upstate as well as the sportsmanship award. She has committed to the University of Virginia.

JESSICA WALSH

South Side

Goalie, Senior

Jessica Walsh, who will play at Western Illinois, had 14 shutouts and didn't allow a goal in seven postseason games. Walsh was in net for three consecutive state championships. Walsh made six saves in a 1-0 win over Burnt Hills in the state title game and was part of 21 consecutive playoff wins.

TIFFANY YOVINO

Suffolk Player of the Year

Sachem East

Midfielder, Senior

If you watched Sachem East, it's difficult not to like Tiffany Yovino. She's relentless and does it all. The Hofstra-bound Yovino had 13 goals and 14 assists and led Sachem East to a 20-1 record and a Class AA state semifinal appearance.

ALL-LONG ISLAND COACHES

PAUL PAINO

Nassau Coach of the Year

Wheatley

Paul Paino led Wheatley to its second straight Nassau Class B championship and first Long Island championship. It was the first time Wheatley (16-5) made the state final four and the Wildcats lost in the Class B championship. Paino, in his 18th season, loses only three starters, so a first state championship is possible next season.

RALPH FORMAN

Suffolk Coach of the Year

Sachem East

Hard to find a coach who did a better job than Ralph Forman. He guided Sachem East to 20 consecutive wins before the Flaming Arrows lost in the Class AA state semifinals. Sachem East was ranked fifth in the country at the time. Forman inherited a team that went 5-11-1 last season. He led the junior varsity to a 16-0 record last season before taking over the helm this season.

Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.

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