Women’s Soccer boasts four first team All-Region members
HERKIMER, NY – The Herkimer Generals women’s soccer team had four first team All-Region selections in 2015 from the 14 total members chosen in the first team.
The four players chosen were: Teigha Ward (Ilion, NY), Michaela Bianca (Guilderland, NY), Grace Johnson (Tully, NY) and Nicole Doolen (Ilion, NY). Of the four, three had some solid offensive numbers this past fall. Ward, who played primarily at forward, was second regionally in goals (27), assists (19) and points (69). Helping Ward make the Generals’ offensive attack one of the best in the region was midfielders Bianca and Johnson. Both shared time at the position, watching the sophomore Bianca tally 14 goals, 14 assists and 42 points in 20 games played; and Johnson accumulate 10 goals, five assists and 25 points in 15 games as a freshman. Bianca was ninth in goals, third in assists and seventh in points and Johnson was 11th in goals, 23rd in assists and 13th in points regionally.
The final member, as mentioned previously, was Doolen. The sophomore was selected for her ability to help the team shutout their opponents on the defensive side of the field. Despite recording five goals and eight assists in 20 games – the eight assists was eighth best regionally – Doolen helped the defense record 17 shutouts, allowing six goals all season compared to the Generals 73. It helped Herkimer to their first ever back-to-back Region III Championship.
“It’s a great honor to have four first team members, and certainly unexpected,” said Head Women’s Soccer Coach Ryan Brooks-Newton. “These four helped the program win consecutive Region III Championships, which had never been done before. It speaks to their hard work and dedication, and how far we’ve come in a short amount of time.”
-Giorgio Varlaro