The Willow Glen Resident

Wagner walks off with top soccer honors

By Dick Sparrer

Aly Wagner didn't win a place on the all-league girls' soccer team in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. She'd made the team the year before, and she was also a member of the Parade All-American team.

Yet she didn't make all-league.

But don't fault the coaches of the Mt. Hamilton Division for slighting Wagner. It's just that a knee injury forced her to miss most of the 1997-98 soccer season.

She was able to return, though--just in time to help the the Panthers win the Central Coast Section Division II championship.

So when it came time to name the all-CCS team last weekend, it was no surprise to see Wagner's name at the top of the list.

Wagner was named the CCS's most valuable player, capping an outstanding high school career at Presentation. The senior midfielder, who will play soccer at Santa Clara University next year, headed a cast of five Panthers on the all-CCS team.

Danielle Slaton and Krista Boling, who joined Wagner as Parade All-Americans, were named to the first team along with senior goalkeeper Shaelyn Fernandes and senior forward Breanna Boling.

Presentation boss Mani Hernandez was selected CCS coach of the year.

The CCS honors came after the Panthers had dominated the all-league list in the Mt. Hamilton Division.

Slaton, a senior midfielder, was named the co-most valuable player along with Staci Duncan of Mitty.

B. Boling was tabbed the league's most valuable forward, and her twin sister, K. Boling, was selected the most valuable defender. Fernandes earned a place as co-most valuable goalkeeper in the division.

Megan Gurney, Stephanie Neustadter, Adrienne Rizzo and Erica Timiraos were Panthers named to the all-league first team.

Winning all-league second-team berths were Julie Stamps, Jacy Giles, Kelly Swietzer and Rachel Neustadter, and claiming spots on the honorable mention list were Annie Griffith, Lyda Velez and Sarah Bryson.

Willow Glen freshman Colleen Wozny, the most valuable player in the West Valley Division of the BVAL, earned a place on the all-CCS honorable mention list along with senior Meghan Compton, the division's best defensive player.

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