Forward
Casey Umstead, Upper Perkiomen
Umstead was a scoring machine throughout her junior season. And when her teammates struggled to find the cage, she took over. In Upper Perkiomen's season-ending loss to Selinsgrove in the state tournament, Umstead scored twice in the second half to keep the Indians in contention before they ultimately fell. She finished with 40 goals, tops in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Forward
Gabby Major, Spring-Ford
Despite her team's disappointing loss to underdog Conestoga in the second round of the District 1 Class AAA tournament, the junior had a breakout season. En route to Spring-Ford's first Pioneer Athletic Conference title since 2001, Major scored four goals in a 5-1 victory over Phoenixville. She and her cousin, junior Alyssa Chillano, fed off each other throughout the season, as Spring-Ford outscored opponents, 94-29. Major accounted for nearly a third of her team's goals with 31, and had 11 assists.
Forward
Marissa Cicione, Cardinal O'Hara
A junior, Cicione matched Notre Dame's Moira Putsch by scoring 45 goals this season. When the Lions needed someone to score, Cicione was a leading candidate to step up. She was instrumental in O'Hara's 19-3 season, which ended in a first-round, state-tournament loss to Wissahickon, by scoring in all but four games - and often piling up multiple goals.
Midfielder
Jackie Hibbs, Wissahickon
Hibbs' name didn't always show up on the stat sheet or in the box score, but with scoring threats Emily Gallagher and Stacie Rocco on the Trojans the senior didn't always have to put the ball in the cage. But when Hibbs did score, she did it at the right times - such as in a 2-1 victory over Owen J. Roberts in the second round of the District 1 Class AAA tournament. Hibbs also was integral on the defensive end, anchoring the effort with Angela Virtu.
Midfielder
Olivia Bolles, Villa Maria Academy
The senior captain, headed to the University of Connecticut next year to play field hockey, was a true leader for a young Villa Maria squad this season. After losing several key players to graduation, the Hurricanes weren't sure how far they would go. Bolles took them all the way to the PIAA Class AA state final, where they lost, 1-0, to Crestwood. In that game, Bolles was all over the field and finished her high school career with one of her best games.
Midfielder
Jess Borbee, Strath Haven
The senior, who will play field hockey and lacrosse next year for Division III William Smith, was just the type of midfielder Strath Haven needed her to be. Borbee could play with the aggressiveness of a front-line forward, or hang back to distribute passes to the Panthers offense.
Midfielder
Katie Kelly, Archbishop Carroll
Headed to the University of Virginia next year with her twin sister, Megan, Katie Kelly was the rock of an Archbishop Carroll squad that upset Cardinal O'Hara for the Catholic League championship this season. She scored the only goal in that game, but more than that, she was a vocal leader both on and off the field.
Defender
Giuliana Antignani, Garnet Valley
Antignani, who recently committed to play at Kent State with Jaguars teammate Julia Schoonover, anchored a solid defense for Garnet Valley, which never allowed more than three goals and surrendered three only twice this season. Nicknamed "Giulz," the senior was vital in goalie Hayley Valerio's improvement.
Defender
Maura Zarkoski, Villa Maria Academy
Zarkoski and fellow senior cocaptain Olivia Bolles kept Villa Maria's district-title streak alive (four in four years for the Hurricanes seniors). Zarkoski's strength came in making everyone around her better, especially defenders and midfielders such as Alena McGonigle, Lindsay Moore, and Amelia Iacobucci. Zarkoski's reliability at back was also welcome for first-year starting goalkeeper Erika Miller, who allowed only 16 goals during the 25-game season.
Goalkeeper
Christina Black, Mount St. Joseph
Black had 10 shutouts this season en route to a state-tournament appearance, and she still has another year for improvement. The junior had some games in which she stopped a large number of shots on goal, including a 16-save performance against West Chester Henderson in the consolation round of the District 1 Class AAA tournament.
Contact Megan Soisson at msoisson@philly.com.
