Pictured: Soccer isn’t Lily Kenney’s first sport, but the caliber of her performance as Cromwell’s keeper this fall was worthy of Player of the Year honors. (Photo by Paul Augeri)
By Paul Augeri
middlesexcountysports@gmail.com
It’s unusual for Player of the Year voting in the Shoreline Conference – boys or girls — to swing in a goalkeeper’s favor, but this year’s outcome speaks to the value junior Lily Kenney had for Cromwell.
“Lily is what college football would call recruits that don’t have a formal position – an athlete,” Panthers coach Marcelo Caetano said. “With Lily, she is an athlete who plays the position. What she has been able to do with limited formal training is outstanding. Winning Player of the Year as a goalie is an even bigger feat, and she managed to do that.”
Several years ago, keeper Allie Augur of North Branford was voted Shoreline Player of the Year two consecutive seasons. Augur went on to play at Boston College and transferred to Georgetown, where she had 22 starts this fall and led the Hoyas to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
“Augur was a once-in-a-lifetime keeper,” Caetano said. “I believe Lily, had she had the training, would be at her level or higher. She really doesn’t have a ceiling.”
Soccer is not Kenney’s first sport. She was one of the state’s top softball pitchers as a sophomore and already has given a verbal commitment to play for Adelphi University, an NCAA Division II program on Long Island.
“Lily is our heart and soul and she is our biggest component to our success,” said Caetano, who was voted Shoreline Coach of the Year after the Panthers’ 10-0-6 regular season. “I always say that when on the field the goalie is our leader, and she proves it each and every day.
“I am blessed to have the players I have and have had, but Lily is just different. A top-notch player who is humble and has a team-first mentality is rare. I can go on and on about her, but I am just excited to have one more year as her coach.”
The Panthers lost just twice – 1-0 to Portland in the conference tournament and 1-0 to Sacred Heart Academy in the CIAC Class M quarterfinal round. With Kenney in net, the Panthers surrendered only five goals in 20 matches.
Kenney was joined on the Shoreline’s First Team by senior teammates Amira Abdelghany and Isabella Barber and junior Leila LeBlanc. Three players from Shoreline champion Morgan also headlined the First Team: seniors Taylor Maher and Natalia Comiskey and junior Caeley Ayer. Maher will go on to play at Franklin Pierce.
Chris Donahue of Portland was named assistant coach of the year.
Shoreline coaches cast their votes at the conclusion of the regular season.
First Team
LILY KENNEY, Jr. Goalkeeper, Cromwell
KATIE FARR, Jr., Coginchaug
SAM PAUL, Sr., Coginchaug
AMIRA ABDELGHANY, Sr., Cromwell
ISABELLA BARBER, Sr., Cromwell
LEILA LeBLANC, Jr., Cromwell
YUMI IMAI, Sr., Haddam-Killingworth
ALEXIS FENTON, Jr., Old Lyme
LYLA POWERS, Jr., Old Lyme
CAELEY AYER, Jr., Morgan
NATALIA COMISKEY, Sr., Morgan
TAYLOR MAHER, Sr., Morgan
LILY CODY, Sr., Old Saybrook
MIA QUESNEL, Jr., Portland
KENDRA SCHOEPS, Sr., Portland
Second Team
ALLY WOODWARD, Jr., Coginchaug
CAMERYN HICKEY, Soph., Cromwell
LIV LUSITANI, Jr., Cromwell
SYDNEY BLYLER, Sr., East Hampton
ASHLEY DelloIacono, Jr., Hale-Ray
LEAH CHESTER, Jr., Haddam-Killingworth
MADDIE McCULLOCH, Jr., Old Lyme
EMILY SMITH, Jr., Morgan
KATELYN MARTIN, Jr., Morgan
AVA CANDELORA, Jr. Goalkeeper, North Branford
ALLIE LaMOTTE, Jr., Old Saybrook
GUILIANA DISCENZA, Sr., Portland
ELIZABETH ALLEN, Jr. Goalkeeper, Valley Regional
SOPHIA SURBER, Sr., Valley Regional
SADIE SUSI, Sr., Westbrook
Honorable Mention
SOPHIE FARR, Fr., Coginchaug
ALYSSA WOODWARD, Sr., Coginchaug
KATIE BARBER, Sr., Cromwell
ERIN SOKOLOWSKI, Sr., Cromwell
MADELINE CRUMB, Jr., East Hampton
BRIANNE MILLER, Jr., East Hampton
STEPHANIE MAURO, Sr., Old Lyme
OLIVIA KELLY, Fr., Old Lyme
JULIA TANNER, Sr., Morgan
JESSICA FLANAGAN, Sr., Morgan
ANGELINA COMISKEY, Sr., Morgan
GLENDA ZHIMINAICELA, Sr., Morgan
ELLA HAGELSTON, Sr., Old Saybrook
ABBY COLELLA, Jr., Old Saybrook
KATE BRADY, Jr., Old Saybrook
KENDALL PRINCE, Sr., Portland
CAMRYN DiMAURO, Soph., Portland
ALLISON SCOTT, Sr., Portland
OLIVIA BALDWIN, Jr., Valley Regional
ELIZABETH CLOMP, Sr., Valley Regional
CAROLINE HUTCHINSON, Sr., Valley Regional
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