In the biggest moment of Marblehead’s girls soccer season, Sydney Ball showed why the Northeastern Conference’s coaches voted her this year’s league Player of the Year.
With her team trailing by a goal with under three minutes to play in a first round state tournament game, Ball moved up from defense to midfield and delivered the game-tying goal. The Magicians eventually won in overtime and the versatility Ball, who is committed to play at Temple University, showed off illustrates just how much she can do on the pitch and how much she means to the once-beaten Magicians.
In an incredible sign of respect to both the NEC and Ball, she was also chosen at Eastern Mass. Girls Soccer Coaches Association Division 2 Player of the Year and an All-New England selection.
Joining Ball as an All-New England choice was Masconomet junior Maggie Blosser, a Maryland commit who was also chosen first-team All-Northeastern Conference. The Chieftains won the NEC Dunn title and saw senior midfielders Cate Shaffer and Violet Malinowski also chosen All-Conference.
From Marblehead, junior defender Ainsley McDonald and sophomore Lucy McDonald were also voted first-team All NEC.
Danvers’ dynamite central defender Addi McCarty earned a spot on the All-NEC squad. Senior DeAnna Figueiredo, who was among the league’s leaders in assists with 16 and had over 20 total points, also earned an All-Conference nod.
Freshman Jaydin Simpson of Beverly, who led the league in both goals and total points, was another first-teamer along with Panthers goalkeeper Clara Kostro, who had ten shutouts.
The leading scorer for the NEC Lynch champions from Swampscott, Greta Siefken, was voted All-NEC. Salem, which had its best season in the NEC standings in six years, saw sophomore defender Madyson Eichel chosen as a first-teamer as well.
Jennette Leonard, who guided Salem to its first state tournament berth in the power ranking era, was voted NEC Coach of the Year. The league sportsmanship award went to Masconomet.
Those selected as league all-stars, listed by team, were:
Beverly: Genevieve Bilotti, Jr., Mid; Sasha Miller, Jr., D.
Danvers: Lila Doucette, Sr., F/Mid;, Rylee Sullivan, Fr., F.
Gloucester: Hope Castelucci, Sr., D; Jessica Harvey, Sr., GK;.
Marblehead: Liv Carlson, Sr., F; Callie Gilmore, Jr., F.
Masconomet: Brooke Hagerty, Jr., Mid; Sophie Nelson, Jr., Mid; Ava Wexler, Jr., Mid.
Peabody: Olivia Ball, So., GK.
Salem: Dever Cornnell, So., D; Jackie Fritz, So. F.
Saugus: Shalyn Swewll, Sr., Mid; Shhay Sewell, Sr., Mid.
Swampscott: Eve Byrne, Jr., GK; Jane Raymond, Jr., Mid.; Cecilia Tripp, Jr., D.
Winthrop: Angela Coscia, Jr., Mid.