ALL-NORTH COAST SECTION
Player of the Year
DELANIE SHEEHAN, LIBERTY
By NATE SMITH
Prep2Prep
Winning four straight Bay Valley Athletic League titles, going unbeaten in her last three years of league, and capturing two of the last three North Coast Section Division I titles are all tangible elements of what has made Delanie Sheehan’s high school career arguably the best in the history of her school, but also among the best careers ever in the BVAL and the NCS.
Sheehan, who is among the finalists for the California Gatorade Player of the Year award, recently brought even more recognition to her school when she became the first ever soccer athlete from Liberty High to be selected for the U-19 US Women’s National Team. That honor only adds to the list of accolades for the three-time league Most Valuable Player.
This season brought high expectations for the Lions, a surprise winner for the 2015 NCS title over a veteran and talented Monte Vista team, when the majority of the team were just sophomores. Liberty was among the best teams again in 2016, when the Lions went 12 straight matches without allowing a goal before falling 1-0 to Carondelet in the NCS semifinals. That left some unfinished business for this group in the 2017 season.
The Lions made good on the promise of realizing their talent on the field this year, going 20-1-1 and exacting revenge on Carondelet in the section championship game, beating the Cougars to claim their second NCS title. The lone loss was to a Marcus-Texas team which was ranked as the best in the nation at the time, according to Top Drawer Soccer, but even that loss has to come with an asterisk. Liberty was forced to play the game indoors, on a smaller field and in a time-shortened game. It would be the only blemish for the season.
The UCLA-bound Sheehan finished the year with 18 goals and 15 assists, including the game-winning goals against a Top 10 nationally-ranked Keller-Texas team and against Monte Vista in an early-season 1-0 victory. But it was what she did for her teammates that really allowed her to stand out on the field at all times.
“Delanie makes everybody else on the field better,” said Liberty coach Tony Martins. “She has great vision and creativity. She makes passes that a lot of people don’t see. Her anticipation is phenomenal, and she is a very calm player. Nothing rattles her.”
Her ability was on full display during this year’s post-season run, during which the Lions were rarely threatened. Sheehan scored goals in all four playoff games, and had both a goal and an assist in Liberty’s 6-1 rout over Monte Vista in the section semifinals. She scored again in the championship game win over Carondelet, putting the go-ahead goal in the back of the net early in the second half.
Sheehan’s leadership as a four-year standout led her team to finish the year ranked as the top team in California and the number-four team in the United States. For an outstanding career and a special senior season, Delanie Sheehan is our 2017 Prep2Prep Player of the Year.
Coach of the Year
CHAD HARPER, LIVERMORE
Livermore's Chad Harper is the choice for Prep2Prep NCS Coach of the Year.
By NATE SMITH
Prep2Prep
The turnaround in the Livermore girls’ soccer program started in the previous season, when the Cowboys broke a string of sub-.500 seasons and competed at the top of the East Bay Athletic League.
The transformation, however, became complete in the 2016-2017 season, as Livermore finished in second place in the EBAL, a mere two points behind Carondelet, and went on to win the NCS Division II championship, the first ever girls soccer title for the 125-year old campus.
Livermore returned a large portion of its roster this season, but one key piece was different, and that was the head coach. Chad Harper took over this year, and the results were telling. The Cowboys lost just one game all season, and took the field with an air of confidence every game.
“Our team last year was ‘good’ and we played hard, but we needed that extra push and comfort level for the playoffs,” said junior standout Lexi Romero. “(Harper) kept us focused and stress free in tough times, and with his attitude, it even made practice fun. He brought his system into our school and it helped for the better. I know it helped us win.”
Livermore opened the season with six straight wins, and were unbeaten through the first 11 games, with the lone blemish being a draw against Central Section semifinalist Clovis North. That included a 2-1 win over eventual league champion Carondelet, in the only meeting between the two teams.
“His way of coaching was the missing piece to the puzzle here,” Romero said. “He never exhibits any stress or nervousness, and is not only a great coach on the field, but an even better person off the field.”
A mid-January loss to California was followed by a draw with San Ramon Valley, but the Cowboys responded to those setbacks with five straight wins. A pair of draws to end the regular season cost Livermore valuable points in the race for the EBAL title, but the team had its sights set on a bigger prize.
After opening the playoffs with an 8-0 win over Richmond, Livermore survived a pair of 1-0 games, taking down Tamalpais and Bishop O’Dowd, with the latter game going to overtime against the WACC-Foothill champions. The win over the Dragons also avenged a shootout loss in the 2016 semifinals.
“We played for each other, and we played for Chad this season,” Romero commented. “Putting it all together, we were able to accomplish our goals this year, and I am honored to have been coached by him.”
Livermore capped its fantastic season with a 2-1 win over Northgate in the NCS Division II title game, bringing a long awaited NCS championship banner back home. For his team’s accomplishments, and his ability to make such an impact in his first year at the helm, Chad Harper is our 2017 Prep2Prep North Coast Section Coach of the Year.
Other coaches considered for this award: Liberty’s Tony Martins, Branson’s Tyler Gottschalk, Northgate’s Erin Hartmann, and Marin Catholic’s Liam Whelan.
FIRST TEAM ALL-NCS
Devyn Gilfoy, Liberty
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
The Pepperdine commit was a first-team All-BVAL selection, leading the Lions with 19 goals and 17 assists, as the team earned its second NCS title in three seasons. She scored in each of the last three playoff games, with a goal against San Ramon Valley in the quarterfinals, three goals against Monte Vista in the semifinals, and a goal and assist against Carondelet in the title game.
Haley Brown, Las Lomas
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
The DAL-Foothill MVP led the Knights with 27 goals and 11 assists and is headed to Cal State Fullerton next season. She registered goals in each of Las Lomas’ final 11 games this season, including four goals in an NCS win over Albany.
Cassidy Tshimbalanga, Carondelet
Position: Foward
Year: Junior
The first-team All-EBAL selection and U-16 US National Team member led the Cougars to a league title and a berth in the NCS Division I title game, scoring 14 goals to go with four assists. In fact, she scored both of Carondelet’s goals in the title game against Liberty.
Lexi Romero, Livermore
Position: Foward
Year: Senior
The Co-MVP of the East Bay Athletic League, the Air Force commit led the NCS Division II Cowboys with 20 goals and 10 assists. Those numbers included the game-winning goal in a quarterfinal win over Tamalpais, and an assist on the game-winning goal in the semifinals against Bishop O’Dowd.
Francesca Camahort, Branson
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
The MVP of the Marin County Athletic League, Camahort dominated up front with 18 goals and 10 assists. That included a goal and an assist in a NCS quarterfinal win over Head-Royce, and the game-winning goal in overtime against Marin Academy in the semifinals, allowing the Bulls to advance to the championship, where they downed Marin Catholic in a shootout for their second straight section title.
Delanie Sheehan, Liberty
Position: Midfield
Year: Senior
Currently a member of the U-19 US National Team, Sheehan became a three-time MVP in the Bay Valley Athletic League, leading a Liberty team which did not lose a game in league play over her final three seasons. She will play at UCLA next season.
Kamryn Farro, Livermore
Position: Midfield
Year: Sophomore
Farro was one of the top distributors in the section, registering 18 assists for the Cowboys this season, and also taking a large number of Livermore’s corner kicks. She scored just three goals, but one of them came in a regular-season win over Carondelet. The first-team All-EBAL player assisted on the game-winning goal in the semifinals against Bishop O’Dowd, and notched another in the title game victory over Northgate.
Reina Bonta, Bishop O’Dowd
Position: Midfield
Year: Senior
Bonta was a dominant ball-handler and distributor for the Dragons, who reached the NCS semifinals. Named the Player of the Year for the WACC-Foothill Division, Bonta tallied six goals and 14 assists during the season, including an impressive three-assist performance during a first-round win over Pinole Valley.
Katelyn Beasley, Las Lomas
Position: Midfield
Year: Junior
The Co-Most Valuable Offensive Player of the DAL-Foothill Division, Beasley controlled the attack for the Knights, scoring 10 goals to go with 12 assists. She was incredibly accurate when she decided to shoot, getting 17 of her 25 attempts on goal, while placing 10 into the back of the net.
Gillian Cabral, Carondelet
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
The outstanding defender drew rave reviews all season for her ability to lock down the Cougars’ defense, despite being one of just four seniors on the roster. She was a first-team All-EBAL selection, and even her lone goal this season was the go-ahead goal in a league match with San Ramon Valley.
Sydney Shepherd, Monte Vista
Position: Defender
Year: Junior
The Michigan commit earned first-team All-EBAL honors for the Mustangs, leading a young group which advanced to the NCS Division I semifinals. Aside from locking the defensive side of the field, Shepherd also came up to score six goals and three assists, including the game-winning goal against Amador Valley in the section quarterfinals.
Robyn McCarthy, Liberty
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
The Lions’ sweeper, the first-team All-BVAL selection tallied five goals and five assists, often moving up in goal-scoring, set-piece opportunities. Her throw-ins were considered one of the deadliest weapons on the field.
Ashley Morton, Livermore
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: Senior
Morton posted 16 clean sheets and allowed just six goals all season, and two of those were against Central Section semifinalist Clovis North. In the playoffs, she posted three straight shutouts before allowing just a single goal in the championship game win over Northgate. Morton made plenty of saves as well, including a trio of eight-save performances against Bishop O’Dowd, Carondelet, and California.
SECOND TEAM ALL-NCS
Sydney Spina, Novato
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Spina tallied 13 goals and three assists for the Hornets, and was a first-team All-MCAL selection. The Cal Poly commit showcased her ability against top competition after the regular season as well, when she tallied a pair of goals in the NCS All-Star Game.
Leah Kochendorfer, Piedmont
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Kochendorfer registered 18 goals and eight assists for the Highlanders, who finished second in the WACC-Foothill and advanced to the NCS Division III semifinals, falling in overtime to Marin Catholic. She scored Piedmont’s only goal in the loss to the Wildcats, and also scored in a first-round win over Encinal.
Nikki Trucco, California
Position: Forward
Year: Sophomore
Trucco was a first-team All-EBAL selection after scoring 18 goals to go with six assists, helping lead the Grizzlies to the NCS Division I semifinals. She had a pair of hat tricks this year in wins over Berkeley and Dougherty Valley, and also scored both a goal and had an assist in a playoff win over Deer Valley.
Lauren Fuentes, Newark Memorial
Position: Midfield
Year: Junior
The junior midfielder earned MVP honors for the Mission Valley Athletic League after leading the Cougars to a second-place finish in league play and a berth in the NCS Division II quarterfinals. She had 10 goals and six assists, including two goals in a first-round playoff victory against El Cerrito.
Sydney Westley, Branson
Position: Midfield
Year: Senior
The attacking midfielder was a first-team All-MCAL selection, tallying 14 goals and 12 assists. Her final two goals of the season were especially critical for Branson’s success – the game-winning goal in a late-season 1-0 win over Novato, and the game-tying goal in an eventual overtime win over Marin Academy in the NCS semifinals.
Jenae Packard, Heritage
Position: Midfield
Year: Junior
The University of Pacific commit was a first-team All-BVAL selection, despite missing some time due to injury and playing most of the season on only one good leg. Despite that, she led the Patriots with eight goals and seven assists, including a big assist in Heritage’s tie with section champion Liberty.
Sarah Emigh, Alhambra
Position: Midfield
Year: Senior
The Chico State bound Emigh was a first-team All-DAL selection after controlling the midfield for the Bulldogs. She demonstrated her skill on both the attack and defensively, especially in the NCS quarterfinal win over Las Lomas, when she registered nine steals and also set up Alhambra’s first goal on a nifty flick from a throw-in, not to mention converting one of the game-winning spot kicks in the deciding shootout.
Ema Willis, El Cerrito
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
Named the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the TCAL-Rock, Willis anchored a Gauchos’ defense which carried the team to a league title and a berth in the NCS Division II playoffs. In the TCAL tournament semifinals against Albany, Willis moved up from her usual center back position to the midfield, where she tallied both goals in a 2-1 overtime victory.
Nicki Rucki, Alhambra
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: Senior
The DAL-Foothill’s Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year, Rucki posted eight clean sheets but also came up big for the Bulldogs in the biggest moments. That included a shootout victory over Las Lomas in the NCS quarterfinals, in which she made numerous saves against the talented Knights’ attack to extend Alhambra’s season. Six of her 10 goals allowed during the season came to Las Lomas, while two of the other four came against section finalist Northgate.
THIRD TEAM ALL-CCS
Position: Forwards
Taylor Chaplin (Northgate), Julia Rossi (Campolindo), Madalina Chaney (Ygnacio Valley), Kyllie Glock (Washington), Ellie Ospeck (Carondelet), Kaytlin Brinkman (Freedom), Rachel Murphy (San Ramon Valley), Samantha Frost (Amador Valley)
Position: Midfielders
Lauren Foehr (Redwood), Lauren Sisneros (Liberty), Clara Kochendorfer (Piedmont), Sarah Broacha (Foothill), Megan Edelman (Monte Vista), Marianna Giovanetti (College Park), Zinet Siddiqi (James Logan), Alyssa Vigallon (Castro Valley)
Position: Defenders
Samantha Dukes (Livermore), Marissa Bryant-Sepulveda (Newark Memorial), Ava Biehn (Piedmont), Alia Morris (Encinal), Katarina Brekalo (California)
Position: Goalkeepers
Gwyer Unsworth (Branson), Angelina Anderson (Carondelet), Juliet Allen (Amador Valley)
HONORABLE MENTION:
ACALANES:
Emily Smith, Callie Erickson
ALAMEDA:
Trina Eichel, Rachel Wellman
ALBANY:
Vibeke Gran
ALHAMBRA:
Chloe Taylor, Carly Agostino
AMADOR VALLEY:
Lorna Roberts
AMERICAN:
Netra Ravishankar
ANTIOCH:
Jazmin Alanis
ARROYO:
Samantha Arrizon, Vanessa Jones
BEREAN CHRISTIAN:
Samantha Gotz, Molly Kolander
BISHOP O'DOWD:
Marina Ramsey, Kamryn Rooney, Julia Kernan Woitalla
BRANSON:
Callie Jones, Maegen Dillon
CALIFORNIA:
Lexi Trucco, Mary Swisher, Kaitlin Groleau
CAMPOLINDO:
Lindsay Easter
CARONDELET:
Rory Biles, Devin Lozano
CASTRO VALLEY:
G’ana Losson
CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER:
Lizzie Annison, Sierra Bruni
COLLEGE PARK:
Natalie Leroux
CONCORD:
Rylie Pearson
DE ANZA:
Nadia Maldonado, Vanessa Rico
DEER VALLEY:
Randi Knox
DOUGHERTY VALLEY:
Autumn Halvorsen, Kolette Cho
DRAKE:
Sadie Cudd
DUBLIN:
Miori Freeman
EL CERRITO:
Raniyah Burton, Sophie Marengo
ENCINAL:
Juliene Grandy
FOOTHILL:
Ariana Nino, Tamilyn Kwong, Kira Broacha
FREEDOM:
Janet Lopez, Kylie Schneider
GRANADA:
Leslie Jimenez
HAYWARD:
Briana Torres, Yamilie Ramirez
HEAD-ROYCE:
Nadia Ngom
HERCULES:
Ariana Romero, Natalia Chavarria
HERITAGE:
Kailee Gross, Susanna Garcia
JAMES LOGAN:
Vanessa Mejia, Aundria Vargas, Reana Juarez
KENNEDY-FREMONT:
Ariana Fuentes, Jasmine Pacheco
KENNEDY-RICHMONS:
Fatina Perez
LAS LOMAS:
Kelsey Thompson, Kelsi Schacht, Victoria Scalfaro
LIBERTY:
Haley Bostard, Elle Ray, Madison Carlton
LICK-WILMERDING:
Kierra Coe-Collins
LIVERMORE:
Marley Walke, Makenzie Farro, Sydney Duncan
MARIN ACADEMY:
Liza Kinney
MARIN CATHOLIC:
Sara Young, Summer Hohmann, Camille Bayer
MIRAMONTE:
Samantha Devecchi, Morgan Johnson
MISSION-SAN JOSE:
Claudia Chinn
MONTE VISTA:
Maya Nielan, Nicole Rivas
MT. DIABLO:
Viviana Ramirez
MT. EDEN:
Monse Garcia, Shyh Saenz
NEWARK MEMORIAL:
Hollyann Burgess
NORTHGATE:
Carly Ortega, Katie Hollister
PIEDMONT:
Clara Kochendorfer
PINOLE VALLEY:
Brianna Hazelwood, Stephanie Alva
PITTSBURG:
Nayeli Carbajal
REDWOOD:
Hannah Halford
RICHMOND:
Kenya Cabral
SAINT MARY'S:
Emma Homertgen
SAN LEANDRO:
Katherine Magana
SAN RAFAEL:
Taylor Lancaster
SAN RAMON VALLEY:
Bella Polizzi
TAMALPAIS:
Callie Clifford
TENNYSON:
Ibania Rivera
TERRA LINDA:
Frances Applegarth
UNIVERSITY:
McRaei Fried
URBAN:
Lola McAllister
WASHINGTON:
Poonam Ranu
YGNACIO VALLEY:
Kalina Campos, Karla Santamaria
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