The Post high-school staff takes a look at the top performers in football, boys soccer, girls soccer and girls volleyball from the week of Sept. 19.
FOOTBALL
Benjamin Ezike, Susan Wagner
The senior running back had 249 yards on 28 carries with four touchdowns to lead Wagner to its first win Saturday against Lehman. It was the kind of inspiring performance that the Falcons can build on this season.
Andrew King, Flushing
A bruising running back and outside linebacker, King led Flushing to an upset of previously undefeated Canarsie, 29-16, on Saturday in Queens. He ran for 113 yards on 12 carries and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns, returning a fumble 17 yards to the house and taking back an interception 28 yards.
Diequan Underwood, Beach Channel
Was there anything that Underwood didn’t do Saturday? The sophomore running back/defensive back had 89 yards rushing with touchdowns on the ground, on an interception return and a on a punt return.
Laray Smith, Xaverian
The Staten Island native ran wild in his home borough. The senior back piled up 203 all-purpose yards, including 137 on the ground, and three touchdowns for 60, 45 and 30 yards for Xaverian in a lopsided win over St. Joseph by the Sea.
Shyheim Wingate, Holy Cross
The senior running back didn’t leave coach Tom Pugh’s 200th win hanging in the balance Sunday. Wingate had five touchdowns, including three scoring grabs from quarterback Yianni Gavalas, to ensure the milestone victory against Holy Trinity.
BOYS SOCCER
Oliver Band, Collegiate
The stopper-turned-striker had a huge week, leading Collegiate to Ivy Prep League victories over Riverdale, Trinity and rival Poly Prep by scoring five goals. The sophomore struck twice on Monday in a 5-1 win over Riverdale, he added two more goals Wednesday as the Dutchmen knocked ofd Trinity by a matching 5-1 count and posted another tally in a 2-0 win over Poly Prep on Friday. Collegiate coach Ray Voelkel moved him up front with star forward Weller Hlinomaz nursing a groin injury.
Stephen Elias, Iona Prep
There’s little doubt Elias is the city’s best freshman. The Red Bulls academy standout had two goals and an assist against Archbishop Stepinac on Tuesday and a goal and two assists versus Christ the King on Thursday.
Santiago Moore, Bayside
A skilled junior attacking midfielder, Moore scored six times this week, upping his season total to a PSAL Class A-leading 11. He notched a hat trick in both of the Commodores’ matches, a 5-4 loss to rival Francis Lewis on Wednesday and 5-0 win over Flushing on Friday. He added assists in each tilt and now has seven on the year.
GIRLS SOCCER
D.J. Glazer, Bayside
The junior striker put her name out on the city stage. She scored eight goals in two games last week, including seven in a win over Queens HS of Teaching. No goal was bigger than her the one late in the second half to force a tie with rival Francis Lewis.
Annelise Steele, Dalton
The junior midfielder was first moved back to defense after sweeper Nora Bresette-Bucino was lost to injury earlier in the week. When that didn’t work she was put at forward and responded wirh a career-high four goals to lead Dalton to an important league win over Fieldston.
Cansu Usta, Fort Hamilton
The sophomore combined to score four goals and dish out four assists in two games last week. She tallied the game-winning goal in overtime in a 4-3 win over Midwood. The victory gives the Tigers sole possession of first place in Brooklyn A-III
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Carolina Alfonso Reyes, Cleveland
For the second year in a row, Alfonso Reyes was named the Cleveland tournament most valuable player. The senior outside hitter had 13 kills, nine digs and two service aces to lead the Tigers in the finals Saturday against Mary Louis.
Talia Colasante, St. Francis Prep
She didn’t get off the best start, but Colasante kicked it into gear when her team needed her most. The senior outside hitter had 18 kills and was instrumental in St. Francis Prep’s comeback in an eventual five-set victory over Archbishop Molloy.
Dominique Watt, Bronx Science
Going on a 14-0 service run against a strong team is no easy task, but Watt had one those and runs of eight and four in the Battle of the Bronx tournament final Saturday against Fieldston. The junior outside/middle also finished with 14 kills and was named tourney MVP.