Neal Kitson Sr. GK Cardozo
If there was any question about how good Kitson was, the league’s coaches answered that emphatically last week as the senior keeper ran way with the Heisman PSAL Wingate award, given annually to the top senior boys’ soccer player. An athletically gifted and lanky keeper, Kitson was a major reason the Judges shared the Queens A East crown. The Bayside native has narrowed his college choices to Stony Brook and Hofstra.
Steve Ortiz Sr. Def. Cardozo
A hard-working, consistent defender, Ortiz quietly excelled in Kitson’s shadow. Despite being the Judges top defender, Ortiz also showed an ability to find the back of the net. “Cardozo’s best player after Neal Kitson, Steve Ortiz wants to make things happen and is a very coachable player,” one Division I coach said.
Rahim Mashriqi Sr. Def. Flushing
A rugged defender, Mashriqi knew his role and did it well. A sweeper in the truest sense of the word, Mashriqi cleared away anything dangerous and was also strong in the air. He was a major reason why the Red Devils posted five shutouts during the year before falling to MLK in the semifinals.
Dariousz Stankiewicz Sr. D/MF Newcomers
Whatever he was asked to do, whether it was to solidify the defense, act as the playmaker in the midfield or score a key goal, Stankiewicz did it without a complaint. One of two second-year TimesLedger All-Queens players on the first team, Stankiewicz had four goals and three assists for the Lions.
Ronnie Bouemboue Jr. Mid. Aviation
After Mohammed Mashriqi, the most talented player in Queens and the native of Congo, Africa should be one of the most sought after players next season. An explosive, technically sound player who is dangerous one-on-one, Bouemboue led Aviation with 10 goals and six assists.
Oscar Yepes Sr. Mid. Forest Hills
A perfect compliment to Batista, Yepes helped form one of the best center midfields in the city. While Batista was the one who scored all the goals, usually it came from a pass from Yepes, who was second in the PSAL with 14 assists. Yepes is a technically sound midfielder who has good vision, is strong on the ball and makes sound decisions.
Garrett Knese Sr. Mid. Bayside
Not the biggest guy on the field at 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, Knese was one of the best defensive midfielders around. A tough, gritty two-way player, Knese was a coach’s dream; a guy who would do anything to help his team win. Knese had two goals and two assists and is considering the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point.
David Panchano Sr. Fwd. Newtown
One of the quickest players on the ball in the city, Panchano finished with seven goals and eight assists for Newtown, which missed the playoffs for one of the first times during Howie Ranzer’s nearly three decades as coach. The sparkplug from Jackson Heights chose the PSAL Soccer Classic — the league’s showcase event — to have his best game of the year, scoring two goals in a 3-2 win over Madison.
Frantz Porres Sr. Fwd. Cardozo
A magician with the ball, Porres was lethal around the 18-yard box. The senior striker, who also saw time in the midfield for the Judges, scored four goals and had five assists for 13 points for a Cardozo team that fell in the PSAL quarterfinals to Evander.
Freddy Carrasco Sr. Fwd. Bryant
What’s that they say about first impressions? How does a hat trick in an opening day rout over last year’s finalist Newtown sound? Carrasco quickly proved he wasn’t a one-hit wonder, finishing seventh in the PSAL with 52 points and 10th in the city with 22 goals. A strong, physical striker from Peru by way of East Elmhurst, Carrasco spent just one year on the Bryant soccer team, but helped put the Owls back on the map.
Jose Batista Sr. Mid. Forest Hills
Known as a playmaker for the Brooklyn Knights, Batista was one of the top goal scorers in the PSAL. The center midfielder was fourth in goals with 24 and fifth overall with 52 points. An explosive game-altering player Batista is considering St. Francis College among a handful of Division I schools.
PSAL All-Queens Second Team
Timothy Zappel Fr. GK Jamaica
Arturo Lanzura Sr. Def. Bayside
Max Lecca Jr. Mid.Cleveland
Kevin Mesa Jr. Mid. Newtown
Cedric Bouemboue Fr. Mid. Aviation
Hugo Guzman Sr. Mid. Long Island City
Gilbert Chaux Sr. Mid. Robert F. Wagner
Rashid Green Jr. Fwd. Jamaica
Richard Roberts Jr. Fwd. Long Island City
Jovahn Brown Sr. Fwd. Van Buren
Jooan Baarios Sr. Fwd. Franklin K. Lane
