By David Steinbacher
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 12/9/04)

The fall soccer season concluded with the naming of the WCAC All-Conference teams. Forty-one diocesan student athletes were among those honored, including Bishop O’Connell High School senior Mick Imgram, who was named "Player of the Year." O'Connell head coach Alberto Starace was awarded "Coach of the Year." He is assisted by veteran Tim Lucas.

The post-season awards keep coming for Imgram. This week she was named first-team All-Met and player of the year by the Washington Post.

In the girl’s division, the first all-conference team includes O’Connell’s Mick Imgram (senior striker), L.B. Puglisi (senior striker), Kerry Philbin (senior midfielder), Ariel Baniowski (senior keeper) and Liz Carroll (sophomore striker).

"It was a real special year for all of us (finishing 20-0 and winning the WCAC title), especially for the 10 seniors. We’re all really going to miss coach Starace," said Baniowski.

The second girl’s team includes O’Connell’s Jeanne Neal (senior defender) and Kika Toulouse (sophomore midfielder), Bishop Ireton High School’s Tammy Alcade (senior striker) and Danielle Axenfeld (sophomore defender), and Paul VI Catholic High School’s Meghan Oliver (senior midfielder).

"We had an awesome season (advancing to the WCAC semi-finals). Defensively, we all communicated well, and we had great teamwork this year," said Axenfeld.

The third girl’s team includes O’Connell’s Greer Drummond (freshman midfielder) and Brandi LaCoe (freshman defender); Ireton’s Krissy Vornadore (junior midfielder) and Jackie Bader (junior keeper); and Paul VI’s Maggie Bridges (senior defender), Laura Culver (senior midfielder) and Kelly Semko (junior midfielder).

"This was somewhat of a rebuilding year. The highlight was knocking off St. John (College High School) 3-2 earlier in the season. We return 15 underclassmen for next season," said Semko.

Student athletes who received honorable mention included O’Connell’s Cassidy Burton, Aly Pont and Brooke Chang; Ireton’s Jill LeBlanc, Caitlin Love and Mo Finn; and Paul VI’s Kelley Hardgrove, Kelly Grant and Allie Armellino.

For the boy’s division, the first all-conference team includes O’Connell’s Ryan Frick (senior defender) and Ireton’s Justin Smith (senior striker).

The second boy’s team includes O’Connell’s Steve Renner (junior midfielder) and Tom St. George (junior midfielder), and Ireton’s Tim Hall (senior striker) and Mike Brideau (junior defender).

The third boy’s team includes O’Connell’s Patrick Fortkort (sophomore striker), Ireton’s Darius Vakili (senior striker) and Paul VI’s Mike Armellino (senior defender).

"We really improved our record from one year ago. We advanced all the way to the WCAC semi-finals. We only graduate 2-3 seniors. We’ll be good next season," said Fortkort.

"We probably played our best game of the season in our WCAC quarterfinal loss to Gonzaga (College High School). I plan on playing either college soccer or football next season," said Armellino, who was also the Panther’s football placekicker. He had to juggle his time wisely. In one soccer game at St. Mary’s Ryken High School he left at halftime to drive back to Fairfax to handle the kicking duties in the Panthers homecoming football game versus O’Connell.

Student athletes who received honorable mention included O’Connell’s Bryan Benedict, Mike Fitchko and Patrick Manion; and Ireton’s Kevin Dubs, Josh Goldman and Allen Sese.

"We beat (Archbishop) Carroll (High School) to advance to the WCAC semi-finals. We worked well as a team this season. The coaching staff helped bring us together," said Dubs.