Radnor High School | Archive | December, 2019

Congratulations to the players in the Central League who were named to the All Delco teams.

First Team

Maggie Forbes, Strath Haven

Brooke Snopkowski, Haverford: Though she missed a few games due to injury, the junior center back impressed opponents this fall. Stepping into the void left when both starters, including All-Delco Rebekah Cunningham, graduated from last year’s District 1 Class 4A quarterfinalist squad, Snopkowski made herself an irreplaceable piece. The Fords struggled to an eight-win season mainly because of a lack of offense (just 15 goals in 18 games). But with Snopkowski’s help they kept six clean sheets, and five of their eight wins were by 1-0 margins. That stinginess made Snopkowski a clear choice as the Fords’ MVP and an All-Central selection.

Alissa Kinney, Springfield: The senior defender helped the Cougars make the District 1 playoffs for the first time in 11 years and get an opening-round win over Interboro. Kinney teamed with goalie Shannon Cutcliff to help Springfield keep eight clean sheets and allow just 1.15 goals per game (23 goals in 20 games) in a 12-win season. Those results included a 0-0 draw with Strath Haven in the regular season and a 2-1 win over Cardinal O’Hara, two teams that made the state tournament. Kinney was one of the top vote-getters in All-Central balloting to land on the first team. She joins 2014 honoree Taylor Cutcliff as the only two Springfield girls soccer All-Delcos in the last 20 years.

Dahlia Kuzemka, Strath Haven: In her first varsity season after a knee injury, the sophomore not only stepped into a huge defensive role but proved to be one of the best dead-ball specialists around. Kuzemka accounted for five goals and 15 assists, most off set pieces. On the back end, she could play as an outside back or in the center of a three-man backline. The Panthers allowed 24 goals in 21 games; before two lopsided playoff results, that number had been 15 in 19, including a stretch of one total goal conceded in nine games to end the regular season and start districts. Haven kept 11 clean sheets. Kuzemka had a knack for clutch attack contributions, scoring twice in the District 1 Class 3A quarterfinals and setting up both of Forbes’ goals in the semis to get Haven into states for the first time in seven years. Kuzemka converted a penalty in the states loss to Archbishop Ryan.

Shayna Polsky, Penncrest: The junior was Penncrest’s most versatile piece on a young squad. When the Lions needed a goal, Polsky shifted up into central midfield. When they needed to protect a lead, Polsky fell into a backline that started two freshmen most of the year. She produced plenty of offense for a nine-win team that finished 19th in the District 1 Class 4A rankings, supplying 12 goals and 10 assists. She had a goal and two helpers in a win over Marple Newtown, scored twice against Interboro and had the game-tying goal in league draws with Radnor and Ridley.

Julia Mullaney, Penncrest: If left to her own devices in midfield, the Penncrest senior would be content to patrol near the backline, break up passes and get stuck into tackles. But Mullaney proved she can do much more than just the defensive work, finishing third on the team with six goals to go with five assists in helping the Lions qualify for the District 1 Class 4A tournament. Three of her goals were game-winners, including in 1-0 nonleague victories over West Chester East and Lower Moreland. She opened the scoring in a league win over Garnet Valley and set up the winner against Haverford.

Carlie Shiller, Garnet Valley: The junior was the Jaguars’ leading scorer, helping them qualify for the District 1 Class 4A playoffs. The midfielder/forward was an All-Central pick in her third year as a starter, tallying nine goals and four assists. Three of the markers were game-winners, including a 2-0 contest with Harriton in which she both goals, a 1-0 decision over Methacton that proved vital to the Jaguars’ postseason fate and two goals in a 3-2 victory over Radnor, the winner with 11 minutes to play. Shiller also scored twice against Upper Darby.

Second Team

Shannon Cutcliff, Sr. GK, Springfield
Emily Diautolo, So. D, Radnor
Caroline Amen, Sr. D, Garnet Valley
Katie Mason, Jr. D, Ridley
Ellie Malek, Jr. M, Strath Haven
Kara Mullaney, Jr. M, Penncrest
Alyssa Long, Sr. F, Springfield
Gabby Liberio, Sr. F, Upper Darby

Honorable Mention

Garnet Valley: Kathryn Toohey, Alyssa Wert, Mia Zebley
Haverford: Alyssa Hayes, Devon Snell, Paige Snell, Abby Wideman
Marple Newtown: Anna Gries, Asenka Kristikumar, Eleni Zografakis
Penncrest: Gina Facciolo, Kenna Kaut, Taryn Tagtmeir
Radnor: Olivia Kelley, Lu McKenzie
Ridley: Shannen Hinchey, Sydney Verlinghieri
Springfield: Aidan Gallagher, Erin Gormley
Strath Haven: Lily Ostiguy, Grace Samaha, Claire Wolgast, Gianna Zweier
Upper Darby: Haley Campbell

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NETHER PROVIDENCE — Maggie Forbes knows that track runs in her family. That’s hardly a secret.

The CliffsNotes version: Maddie Forbes was a track All-Delco. So was Grace Forbes, times three, plus a two-time Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year. In her only season of cross country, Grace was the Girls Runner of the Year. Both now run at Rice University.

But Maggie also knows that soccer is pretty popular around the Forbes household. Maddie, a speedy winger, was a starter for Strath Haven in her day. It was a difficult decision for Grace to drop soccer after three years and focus on cross country last fall.

Maggie has followed her older sisters in their soccer/track time-sharing. But the junior is the only one to prioritize soccer in that arrangement. While her older sisters certainly had an affinity for the sport, the demands of the track eventually won out.

Maggie, however, is bucking that trend.

“I definitely like soccer,” she said. “It’s hard for me to rank them. I like them both for different reasons. I think I really like the team aspect of soccer and it’s not just the individual. Track can be a team sport, too, but it’s not the same. You play countless games with your teammates and you just get really close with soccer. I value that a lot.”

It doesn’t take long watching Forbes in the middle of the pitch to feel like it’s where she belongs. With her long, loping strides that focus into quick, adroit movements on the ball and her long red hair trailing her movements across the field, Forbes has a blend of size, speed and technical ability perfectly adapted for the demands of the midfield engine room. Whether she’s tracking down an opponent with the ball or turning to connect combination passes, it’s not hard to see why soccer has won out in the contention for her considerable athletic gifts.

The Strath Haven program is certainly better off for it.

With Forbes in the middle of everything, Strath Haven won 14 games this season, making its first PIAA tournament since 2012. For that level of achievement, Forbes is the 2019 Daily Times Player of the Year.Forbes qualified as a veteran leader for the Panthers this season. On a team where only two seniors started regularly, the power was undoubtedly housed in the junior class. Forbes’ level of play even from a young age dictated that she would ascend to a leadership role sooner rather than later.

For someone naturally soft-spoken, Forbes’ developing talent and experience helped her assume that full leadership task.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to be a great teammate but also being able to tell others what to do or support them, and helping them make the right decision was also a good thing to be able to do,” she said. “Having a voice as an upperclassman, when you’re an underclassman, you feel a little less. You can’t sort of tell the upperclassmen what to do. But now it was nice to be able to say like, ‘hey come slide in this way’ or something like that.”

It helps that Forbes seemed to have chemistry that looked natural with most of her mates. She’s been at Nether Providence Soccer Club for years (now at 1776 United FC), but only senior goalie Claire Wolgast is a teammate there. The connections she’s formed in midfield were more organic but looked like those dating back years.

She and junior midfielder Ellie Malek form a daunting pair in central midfield, one so strong that it compelled coach Gino Miraglia to drag Malek back from a run at forward. That connection extended to classmate Gianna Zweier, whose absence in the postseason due to injury was evident.

Then there’s the money connection between Forbes and Kuzemka, which yielded many of Forbes’ 13 goals. It’s how Forbes deposited both of the tallies in the District 1 Class 3A semifinal against Nazareth, the win that sent Haven to its first state tournament since 2012.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Maggie Forbes, following in the athletic footsteps of her older sisters, has evolved into a leader of Strath Haven’s girls soccer team, and has been selected as the Daily Times Player of the Year. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

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