Beacon’s Jennifer Angione is The Post’s All-Manhattan girls soccer Player of the Year. (Denis Gostev)
Manhattan continues to produce some of the city’s top talent and teams year-in and year-out.
That always seems to start with Beacon, which has become the PSAL’s power program. The Blue Demons made their fifth straight finals appearance and won their third Class A crown this year.
Dalton put together one of its best season with a mix of young and old for a second-place finish in the Ivy League. LaGuardia put itself back among the elite with a PSAL Class A quarterfinal berth and Columbia Prep is on its way there after beating Staten Island Academy and playing with Riverdale in the NYSAISAA tournament.
All-Manhattan girls soccer Player of the Year: Jennifer Angione, Beacon
The big moment has never fazed Angione and the playoffs are when the senior shines the most. The striker scored 18 goals, had nine assists this season and she was one of the biggest reasons Beacon won its second straight PSAL Class A title. Angione put the team on her back in the final telling her teammates to play her the ball. She scored both goals in a win over rival Bronx Science. Teammate Alex Easton and coach Kevin Jacobs said they never saw her play so determined as she netted seven of her team’s 15 postseason goals. Her quickness with the ball at her feet and her accurate shot made her a nightmare for defenses to contain.
All-Manhattan girls soccer Coach of the Year: Andy Chappel, Columbia, Prep
It was a banner year for the small private school. Chappel’s dedication and development of his team, despite a young roster, was a big reason why. The Lions, with a group of talented sophomores, won an unbeaten NYCAL title, upset PSAA champion Staten Island Academy in the NYSAISAA play-in game and hung with eventual champions Riverdale in the quarterfinals. Chappel has instilled a confidence in his club that went 18-3-0 after winning just two games two years ago. The future is expected to be even brighter.
FIRST TEAM
M Izzy Branco-Lo, Columbia Prep
There may not have been a more dynamic player on the field for the Lions this season. The sophomore was one of the team’s offensive leaders with 18 goals and 17 assists as much of the Columbia Prep offense ran through her. She was also not afraid to mix things up on defense to help lead the Lions to one of their best season in recent years.
M Megan Caccavale, LaGuardia
The pint-sized senior was the Athletics engine at center midfield. She was a blur on counters and could turn defense into offense quickly. Caccavale netted 17 goals and dished out 16 assists helping lead LaGuardia to a second place finish in Manhattan A-II and a trip to the quarterfinals.
M Gabrielle Davis, LaGuardia
The senior defensive midfielder was the rock both on and off the field for LaGuardia. Davis controlled the defense and helped generate offense out of the back with nine goals and 15 assists. She netted a hat trick a rare hat trick in a critical win over Bard and was often the calming voice at tense moments.
M Alex Easton, Beacon
With the graduation of Sophie Kliger, Easton became the Blue Demons unquestioned leader at midfield. Her physicality and speed allowed her to dominate play. The senior, who had three goals and seven assists, had great chemistry with Jennifer Angione and Tyler Sloan and made freshman Emily Mendes feel comfortable from the start.
F/D Charlotte Hersh, Dalton
Hersh finished the season with 17 goals and two assists and provided some of Dalton’s most critical scores. The sophomore tallied her second goal and the winner in overtime against Fieldston to lock up second place in the Ivy League and scored four times, including the winner in OT. against St. Ann’s in the NYSAISAA quarterfinals.
D Liza Kapelus, Beacon
There may not have been a more effective sweeper in the city. Kapelus’ calm and cerebral approach made things look easy at times and Beacon didn’t allow a postseason goal for the second straight season. She helped worked in two young wing backs along with junior Emily Mendes
M Emma Lumey, Bard
The graduation of Mina Kobayashi left a gaping hole on the Bard offense that Lumey filled to perfection. While the center midfielder’s goal scoring numbers decreased she dished out an astounding 27 assists to go along with 10 goals to keep the Raptors among the PSAL’s elite.
F Tyler Sloan, Beacon
The junior striker made her presence felt after missing most of last season with an injury. She formed a dangerous combination up top with Angione and netted 14 goals and four assists. Sloan had a nose for the goal and could send a pinpoint cross into the box.
GK Lucy Rubin, Columbia Prep
The sophomore keeper was one of the biggest reasons why Columbia Prep had the success it did. Rubin is fearless in net, never afraid to challenge oncoming players. Her reflexes are quick and well timed and she projects a special level of toughness and confidence to her teammates.
M Taylor Wright, Dalton
Dalton had the better of play in the majority of the games it competed in this season and Wright was a big reason why. The senior tallied five goals and seven assists, but her contributions weren’t always tallied on the scoreboard. There were few players in the city who could muscle a ball from her and win control in the midfield midfield.
F Natalie Turner Wyatt, LaGuardia
Turner Wyatt was the player many people left most impressed with after watching LaGuardia and her future is certainly bright. The freshman had a fine first season netting 15 goals and dishing out 19 assists, including five in the postseason. Her speed and accurate shot will make her a threat for year to come.
HONORABLE MENTION
M Maria Barahona, Lab Museum
D Jessica Bonaventura, Columbia Prep
GK Polly Carr, Beacon
M Patti Curran, Baruch College Campus
M Rosie Ehrlich, Dalton
F Francesca Favorule, Marymount
M Emily Mendes, Beacon
D Safiyah Riddle, Bard
D Emily Richard, Beacon
F Katharine Safter, Bard
M Magdalena Zielonka, Hunter