By Rob Potter
SULLIVAN COUNTY — March 14, 2008 — Following the conclusion of the 2007 high school soccer season, the Democrat contacted the coaches at the local schools which had a varsity girls’ soccer team.
Those coaches were asked to nominate players from their own teams as well as players from other local teams for the Democrat All-Star Team.
And the 2007 Democrat girls’ soccer all stars are…
• Valentina Babich, Livingston Manor, Senior, Forward
Babich was a team captain for the Lady Wildcats, who won the Section IX Class D championship.
She scored 17 goals and had 11 assists last autumn.
• Kasse Brock, Roscoe, Senior, Goalkeeper
Brock made 219 saves last season, an average of 12.8 per match. She also scored a goal for the Lady Blue Devils.
• Marissa Diescher, Livingston Manor, Freshman, Forward
Diescher scored a team-high 20 goals last autumn.
She had two goals and an assist in the Lady Wildcats’ 5-2 victory against Chapel Field in the Section IX Class D title match at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton.
• Sarah Lander, Sullivan West, Senior, Forward
Lander scored a team-best 20 goals, had six assists and was named the Lady Bulldogs’ Most Valuable Player for the season.
• Skylar Musa, Tri-Valley, Sophomore, Striker/Midfielder/Defender
Musa scored 10 goals and recorded four assists last autumn.
“Skylar has great soccer skills,” T-V Coach Mary Feusner said. “She is a tough player who can play different positions on the field.”
• Kristen Niemann, Sullivan West, Senior, Goalkeeper
“She made many great saves during the season,” SW Coach Mike Ellmauer said of Niemann, who recorded four shutouts.
While Niemann was the Lady Bulldogs’ starting goalie for most of their matches, she occasionally played in the midfield and scored two goals.
• Jakki Pugh, Tri-Valley, Freshman, Striker
Pugh scored 22 goals and registered six assists for the Lady Bears last autumn.
“Often on a corner kick situation, she would take the corner kick and then score a goal after it,” Feusner said.
• Rebecca Scherer, Liberty, Junior, Striker
Scherer led the Lady Indians with 32 goals last autumn.
She was second on the team with 13 assists.
• Mary Schmieder, The Family School, Senior, Forward
Schmieder paced the Lady Falcons’ offense with 11 goals and 11 assists.
• Jasmine Walizadeh, Liberty, Junior, Midfielder/Forward
Walizadeh scored 13 goals during the season and led the Lady Indians with 20 assists.
• Christina Watts, Eldred, Sophomore, Forward
Watts was the Lady Yellowjackets’ top scorer last season with nine goals.
She also led the team with four assists.