Bayside has its star back, but a number of pieces from last year’s PSAL Class A semifinalists will not be on the field for the Queens school this season.
D.J. Glazer, an All-City first team selection by The Post last season, considered not returning to the Commodores due to what she called an “internal issue” and was away from the team for a few days. Her coach, Maggie Kassimis, and a number of the team’s players, including best friend and goalkeeper Vanessa Jimenez, convinced Glazer to return.”
“I’m here to play,” she said. “It’s fine. Everything is OK.”
In Glazer, a senior forward, Bayside returns the city’s top goal scorer and one of its most clutch players. Glazer found the back of the net 59 times a year ago and also had the tying goals in two regular season games against rival Francis Lewis and the tying and winning score in Bayside’s quarterfinal victory over LaGuardia.
“I think everyone is excited about what happened last year,” Glazer said. “Everyone is ready to go. … We want to pick up where we left off.”
They will have to proceed without some of their top contributors from a year ago. Fullback Heidi Karabay did not return to the team this season to concentrate on playing tennis year-round and Hedi Gomez will be focusing on softball. Five players, including Alyssa Molina, were lost because of academic reasons.
“We need to fill those spots.” Glazer said.
Glazer will have to be an even better leading on the field this season along with Jimenez, a second year starter in goal. Talented sophomores Christina Psomopoulos and Kalya Triana will also be back at midfield and Alyssa Ortega returns at forward. Kassimis believes this could be a breakout season for Psomopoulos, whose sister Despina was a star striker at Bayside. She will be part of a handful of girls who can support Glazer.
“She has the skills,” Kassimis said of Psomopoulos. “She’s not a freshman anymore. She can definitely put the ball in the net and so can Kayla.”
Bayside will feature two talented freshmen who are expected to contribute right away. Chelsea Espinosa will see time up front and Lenore Aponte will slide in a defense, a unit that will be a work in progress. Aponte will be joined on the back ine by senior Chelsea Fertig, who returns after missing the playoffs with a torn ACL.
This group will be tested early and often. The defending Queens A-IV champion, Bayside opens the season Sept. 6 at rival Francis Lewis. The new PSAL schedule has them crossing over to play top Queens A-V foes Long Island City and Forest Hills as well.
“They know what it takes to go that far,” Kassimis said. “It’s going to take even more to defeat the really good teams like Bronx Science and Beacon, and the other top programs.”