Girls Soccer: NJ.com 2021 Post Season Honors for NJIC players

by | Dec 9, 2021

3rd Team All-State / All-Groups

Briana Andreoli, Hawthorne, Sr.

Position: Forward

2021 stats: 36 goals, 12 assists

2021 breakdown: Andreoli was special this season and made a huge statement when she scored three goals in a 3-2 regular season win over eventual Group 3 champion Wayne Valley. The senior also came through in the state playoffs, including a score in the sectional final that nearly lifted Hawthorne to its first ever sectional title win. Andreoli scored her 100th career goal during the season and finished with 113 scores overall. Her speed and power made Andreoli a threat to score every single time she stepped on the field for the Bears.

Group 1 All-State

1st Team

F-Briana Andreoli, Hawthorne, Sr.

F-Ava Incorvaia, Waldwick, So.

M-Ruby Conroy, Hawthorne, Sr.

M-Gia Mandile, Emerson Boro, Sr.

2nd Team

F-Sydney Hansen, Hawthorne, So.

F-Abby Incorvaia, Waldwick, Fr.

D-Jillian Luftman, Glen Rock, Sr.

D-Emily Abbott, Waldwick, Sr.

3rd Team

F-Ella Madden, Park Ridge, Sr.

F-Paige McGuire, Hasbrouck Heights, Sr.

F-Lia Cruz, North Arlington, So.

Group 2 All-State

3rd Team

M-Olivia Smith, Rutherford, Sr.

NJIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Briana Andreoli, Hawthorne, Sr.

Andreoli is the type of player every program dreams of having.

The senior finished her career with 113 goals and scored 36 times in 2021. Three of those goals came in a big upset win, 3-2, over a Wayne Valley team that went on to win a Group 3 title.

Andreoli’s speed made her dangerous every time she stepped foot on the field. The senior also used her strength and power to beat defenses.

Andreoli scored in the North 1, Group 1 final and put her team in a good position to win that game. Hawthorne came up short in the end, but Andreoli left it all on the field. Overall, the senior put together an unbelievable season.

“Briana is a pure scorer,” said Hawthorne coach Gus Schell. “Those are hard to come by. She has a great instinct for the game and is able to anticipate what is going to happen next. Add to that her quickness, which is second to none, and you have a dangerous player up top. Since her freshman year, she has been called upon to score goals. That is quite a burden to carry, but she has exceeded expectations. Another quality that makes her special is that the moment is not too big for her. She scores in the big games. Important league games, state playoffs, overtime in playoffs; she has scored in all those games.”

 

COACH OF THE YEAR: Julia Cuddy, Waldwick

Cuddy took over and helped Waldwick have one of its best seasons ever.

Waldwick won the Patriot Division and proved it was one of the top teams in the state this fall. The Warriors finished the year with a 19-2 record and made it to the sectional semis. Abby and Ava Incorvaia were unreal on offense.

Ava led the team with 23 goals and 12 assists in her second season with the program. Abby came in as a rookie and made an instant impact with 19 goals and 12 assists.

The Bergen County squad was also led by a strong senior class. Emily Abbott, Julie Baker, Melanie Buschgans, Grace Carrero, McKenna Gianetti, Korie Mangler, Sophia Meller, Emma Timochko and Emily Toolen were part of that class. Those veterans stepped up this season and made Waldwick tough to beat.

This team’s first loss came in double overtime against Ridgewood. The second came in a 4-3 thriller against three-time defending sectional champ Mountain Lakes – a squad that went on to play in the Group 1 final a week later.

 

TEAM OF THE YEAR: Hawthorne

Hawthorne won its first 13 games of the season and came so close to winning the program’s first sectional title. The Bears came up just short in penalty kicks in the championship game.

Andreoli led the offense, but senior Ruby Conroy was also key with 20 goals and 12 assists.

Conroy controlled the middle of the field and helped make this team great on her best days. Sabrina DiFilippo and Sydney Hansen each had 13 assists this fall. Hanson also had 14 goals.

“I told Ruby that for us to be great, she needs to be great,” Schell said after a 2-0 win over Glen Rock in the middle of the season. “Bri is Bri, but Ruby has to be involved. She makes plays and distributes the ball, so if she isn’t involved in the game, it becomes a longer game for us. She’s a great player and she’s a big part of what we do.”

The Hawthorne defense played well all year and posted 13 shutouts.

 

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sofia Sujak, Dwight-Englewood, Jr.

Sujak was an all-conference player two years ago. Then, she had to sit out last season when Dwight-Englewood shut things down.

The junior came back this fall and played at an all-conference level again. Sujak led a defense that had 12 shutouts and helped Dwight-Englewood finish 16-4. The junior also came through with a couple of goals and an assist for the Bergen County squad.

Dwight-Englewood finished 12-2 in divisional play along with Secaucus and Lyndhurst. Lillian Moncion led the offense with 24 goals this season.

 

Group 1 Team rankings

1-Shore (13-5-4)

2-Mountain Lakes (19-4-2)

3-Hawthorne (18-2-1)

4-Waldwick (19-2)

5-Glen Rock (16-4-1)

6-Schalick (16-5-1)

7-Whippany Park (15-6)

8-New Providence (14-5-2)

9-Point Pleasant Beach (12-7-1)

10-Park Ridge (15-6)

 

 

Final 2021 Conference Rankings

1-Hawthorne (18-2-1)

2-Waldwick (19-2)

3-Glen Rock (16-4-1)

4-Saddle River Day (12-6)

5-Park Ridge (15-6)

6-Emerson Boro (12-7)

7-North Arlington (16-4-1)

8-Dwight-Englewood (16-4)

9-Secaucus (14-4)

10-Lyndhurst (12-7-1