By The TimesLedger
Mititza Machuca Sr. GK Bayside
With a relatively young team playing in front of her, Machuca knew she’d be a busy goalkeeper and she didn’t disappoint, keeping the Commodores in a slew of games. The three-year starter made 152 saves — more than 10 per game — and allowed just 21 goals in 15 games. The Bayside captain will play at Division III John Hopkins University next year.
Melissa Lam Sr. Def. Bryant
Four years ago Lam didn’t know what soccer was, deciding to join the team on a whim. Fast-forward to this year and Lam is one of the borough’s best defenders. The Owls’ leader on and off the field, who will play at Queens College next year, had one goal and 11 assists and anchored a defense that allowed 17 goals in 17 games. She was also named her school’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Diana Thomas Jr. Def. Cardozo
Thomas did a little bit of everything for Cardozo this year, everything except play goal. The junior played the other 10 positions on the field and, despite being one of the Judges’ top defenders, joined the attack well, scoring four goals and assisting on three others. Thomas was also one of the strongest players out there, which is bad news for anyone in her path next year.
Patricia Sotirakis Jr. Mid. Cardozo
Cardozo coach Rich Parascos moved Sotirakis back from forward to center-midfield, but it didn’t stop her scoring prowess. One of the most talented players in the borough, the junior midfielder finished 10th in the city with 24 goals and 14 assists. What may be scary is that, according to Parascos, “her best soccer is ahead of her.”
Jaclyn Miccio Jr. Mid. Townsend Harris
Along with Sotirakis, Miccio is co-favorite for next year’s TimesLedger PSAL Girls Soccer Player of the Year award. Despite missing a chunk of the season to injury, the Bayside native was still one of the city's top scorers with 17 goals and 11 assists in nine games. Should Miccio continue to improve over the summer, she’ll have her pick of Division I schools to attend.
Kathryn Dubowski So. Mid. Townsend Harris
Thanks to Dubowski, the season was not over when Miccio went down to injury. One of the most underrated strikers in the city, Dubowski used her speed — she is also on the Townsend Harris cross country team — to score 17 goals and assists on 12 others to help lead a young Hawks team to the second round of the PSAL playoffs.
Kamila Barnes Jr. Mid. Forest Hills
Whenever there was a stoppage in play, Barnes was the person for Forest Hills to restart it. The junior midfielder took all the corner kicks, free kicks, penalty kicks and throw-ins. Barnes, also a basketball standout, came into her own this year as she led the Rangers with 10 goals. Barnes also became the team’s leader on and off the field.
Marja-Lisa Yee Sr. Fwd. John Adams
The borough’s leading scorer, Yee was fourth in the city, netting 34 goals in 15 games. But just because she had a knack for putting the ball in the net doesn’t mean Yee is a one-dimensional player. Yee, also a standout on the John Adams basketball team, did a great job of getting her teammates involved, often passing the ball back rather than taking on two or three defenders.
Carolina Verna So. Fwd Francis Lewis
Lewis coach Roger Sarmuksnis wasn’t sure what to expect from Verna at the start of the season, but what he became accustomed to was a versatile player, a team leader and a constant hustler. Verna, a co-captain with junior midfielder Jessica DiPardo, netted 11 goals and had one assist to lead a young Patriots team into the playoffs. She even spent the second half of some games in net, helping protect early leads.
Alba Carrasquero Jr. Fwd. Newtown
Newtown’s opponents knew it before the season started, but that doesn’t mean they could stop Alba Carrasquero from scoring. After scoring 15 goals last year, she doubled her total this year, netting 30 of her team’s 34 goals, good for fifth in the city. She scored 15 goals as a sophomore, 30 as a junior…opposing defenders are already having nightmares about her senior season.
Cristinia Alfonso-Zea So. Fwd. Bryant
While Lam first touched a soccer ball during her first practice at Bryant, it seems the ball was always headed to Alfonso-Zea’s feet. The sophomore forward has a knack for the goal and, according to Bryant coach Ralph Montanaro, “is the total package.” She was second on the team with 12 goals and four assists, despite missing eight games due to personal reasons.
PSAL Girls Soccer All-Queens Second Team
Eleni Petropoulos Jr. Def. Bryant
Carolyn Durniak Jr. Def. Cardozo
Jackie Soto Sr. Def. John Adams
Stefany Feliciano Sr. Mid. Forest Hills
Nikki Tzimas Jr. Mid. Cardozo
Jessica DiPardo Jr. Mid. Francis Lewis
Lourdes Minaya Jr. Mid. Flushing
Michelle Berrios Jr. Mid. Townsend Harris
Allison Christopher Sr. Fwd. Bayside
Lindsey Molina So. Fwd. Bryant
Angie Lozano So. Fwd. Richmond Hill
