Bayside’s Glazer tops Qns. girls soccer players

By Joseph Staszewski

Queens was back in a big way this year. Staten Island has been known for its dominance of the girls’ soccer world, but Queens is closing in fast.

Christ the King won its first Catholic High School Athletic Association Brooklyn/Queens title, beating out Mary Louis in the process.

Over the PSAL, Francis Lewis and Bayside both reached the Class A semifinals. The Commodores and star D.J. Glazer put together one of the best seasons in program history. So did Long Island City, which reached the PSAL quarterfinals for the first time in school history and St. John’s Prep won the inaugural Brooklyn/Queens ‘A’ crown.

With teams like St. Francis Prep and Molloy also in the borough, expect these kinds of accomplishments to keep flowing in.

All-Queens girls’ soccer Player of the Year: D.J. Glazer, Bayside

The junior’s first full high school season was a memorable one. Glazer shined in the biggest moments. She led Bayside to its first PSAL Queens A-IV title since 2008 and a trip to the Class A semifinals. She netted 59 goals and had five assists, including the timeliest of the season. Glazer twice produced the tying goal in the final three minutes to earn ties with rival Francis Lewis. In the post season, even when teams tried to take her away, Glazer made them pay on set pieces. She recorded a hat trick in a quarterfinal win against LaGuardia. Glazer had the tying goal late in regulation and the winner on a 15-yard free kick in the second overtime.

All-Queens girls’ soccer Coach of the Year: John Fayad, Christ the King

It was the season Fayad and the Royals had waited and worked for. The CK coach has watched his players, his team and his program develop into one of the city’s best, but there was no title to show for it until now. Fayad and the senior group that helped put things on an upswing won the Brooklyn/Queens regular season crown and rallied in dramatic fashion to beat Mary Louis for the program’s first-ever diocesan title. It is Fayad’s passion for this team and immense confidence in them that helped them believe this was possible.

FIRST TEAM

F Wendy Avendano, St. Francis Prep

If the Terriers were putting the ball in the back of the net Avendano, who had the lone goal in a win over St. John the Baptist, was usually a part of it in some way. The senior was nearly automatic from 18 feet and in, whether it was a perfectly placed kick or a timely header in one of the toughest leagues in the area.

F Therese Boyle, Mary Louis

The explosive forward was a few minutes away from leading the Hilltoppers to a CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens title with a gorgeous strike. It was nearly impossible to keep her off the scoreboard as Fontbonne Hall learned in the semifinals when she recorded a hat trick in a 3-2 win.

GK Julia Bernhardt, Francis Lewis

The senior has been one of the city’s top keepers since she started and this year was no different. The athletic Bernhardt made game-saving stops in the second round and quarterfinals, including a diving save on MSIT star Jackie Bruno. Lewis made the PSAL semifinals for the second time in four seasons.

F Casey Collins, Archbishop Molloy

Collins has quietly gone about the business of scoring goals the last two seasons. The senior scored twice, including the game-winner, in a comeback victory over rival St. Francis Prep. She brought a toughness and leadership to the field every time she stepped on it.

GK Kristen Drogsler, Christ the King

If there is a player the Royals have to thank for their most successful season in program history, it’s their sophomore goalie. Drogsler made three saves, including one of the punch variety, in the final 3:50 to preserve CK’s win over Mary Louis in final after frustrating the Hilltoppers all season.

M Geraldine Huisa, Long Island City

The junior provided exactly the balance, skill and leadership Long Island City needed. She had 20 goals and 22 assists to help lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever quarterfinal appearance. Huisa scored twice in a second-round win over Susan Wagner and had two assists in a near-upset of Bronx Science.

D Aimée Kasmally, St. Francis Prep

It will be hard to find a better sweeper in the five boroughs. The strong, athletic and extremely smart Kasmally helped the Terriers hang right with some of the top teams in CHSAA Nassau/Suffolk. She can angle a would-be scorer away from the goal or come out of nowhere for an important stop.

M Gena Koutsounadis, Francis Lewis

Patriots Coach Jeovani Paredes understood just how special Koutsounadis (11 goals, five assists) was, telling his team she would find a way to send them to the semifinals. The senior netted a second half penalty kick to do just that. She was the engine to a Lewis team that struggled to create offense if she wasn’t involved.

M Deirdre Ray, Mary Louis

Everyone on the field knew Ray at some point was going to try to dribble her way to a goal and few could stop it. The senior formed a dangerous tandem with Therese Boyle. She fell a few inches short of completing a near heroic rally with an injured ankle in the final.

F Fabiana Rebecca, Christ the King

A knee injury limited her early, but once the speedy Rebecca got going, she was a huge factor in the Royals winning their first CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens title. The senior outran the defense to net the tying goal in the final after Mary Louis had just taken the lead. Rebecca had 16 goals and eight assists.

M Christina Viaggio, Christ the King

With Fabiana Rebecca slowed in the early season, Viaggio carried the load valiantly. The strong-footed senior scored 16 of her 23 goals in the first six games. Viaggio also dished out 10 assists, two of which came in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens final.