CCS Senior of the Year
CAMRYN BORG, LEIGH
With only a handful of upperclassmen on the field for Leigh at any time, the Longhorns needed a steady senior presence in order to reach their potential during the 2020 season. UC Davis-bound senior Camryn Borg provided just that, and helped carry Leigh all the way to a regional final in the process.
Borg, referred to as a tenacious defender, filled multiple roles for Leigh due to injuries and youth. The entire back line at Leigh was filled with sophomores, and the Longhorns also employed a freshman keeper. Yet, opponents managed just 22 goals in 23 matches against Leigh, as Borg filled the role of a defensive midfielder with brilliance, and also spent about a third of the season at the center-back as the young Longhorns grew up around her.
“Camryn never takes a day off and leads by example,” said third-year Leigh coach Nick Hatzke. “A lot of committed seniors can go on cruise control, but she was the opposite. She’s super tough and hates to come off the field.”
Borg’s toughness provided the backbone for a young team which did not earn a victory until its fourth match of the season, but showed potential with a 2-0 win over Presentation just before the holiday break. When the Longhorns returned to action on Jan. 7, they suffered a defeat to eventual CCS Division 1 champion Mountain View, but that would be the final loss for Leigh in the regular season. Borg’s ability to keep pressure off a young back line proved to be instrumental down the stretch, as Leigh blanked its final three opponents in league play to wrap up the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton title.
“She always works so hard and our team followed suit with her as our captain,” Hatzke added. “She is so strong and physically ready to play the college game. But she also has the mentality, IQ and vision to stand out at the next level.”
With its regular season success, the Longhorns were placed in the Open Division of the CCS playoffs, where they defeated PAL-Bay champion Carlmont in the quarterfinals. Though they fell to eventual champion Mitty in the semifinals, Leigh’s season was extended by its first trip to the CIF NorCal playoffs. After receiving the eight seed in the Division 2 bracket, the Longhorns defied the odds by making three straight road treks during the regional round, and Borg got to shine at both ends of the field.
In the quarterfinals, Leigh forced a shootout with NCS Division 2 champion Tamalpais, the top seed in the NorCal bracket. After turning away the Hawks’ advances all game, Borg found the back of the net with her penalty kick, which helped the Longhorns advance by a single goal in the shootout. History repeated itself in the semifinals, when Leigh headed up to Shingle Springs and downed Ponderosa in a shootout, with Borg again converting on her penalty kick. The overall performances in the post-season were consistent with her effort all year, a season which resulted in her receiving Senior of the Year honors in the Mt. Hamilton Division.
For those efforts this season, we are also pleased to recognize Camryn Borg as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Senior of the Year.
Other players considered for this award include Menlo’s Carly Retterer, Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Simone Barragan-Shaw, Mitty’s Svea Neunfinger, Homestead’s Fabiola Zamora, Los Gatos’ Kelli Keady and Aptos’ Brynn Mitchell.
|
