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The Daily Record/Sunday News presents the 2012 YAIAA Division II girls' soccer all-stars:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shyanne Kimbrough, West York, Jr., S: Kimbrough's second straight nomination as player of the year came with two fewer goals but two more assists during a junior season in which she provided 22 goals and eight assists.
Kimbrough's effort helped the Bulldogs (12-5-1, 8-1-1) share the Division II champion with York Suburban. It was West York's third straight division title.
That title might not have happened if it weren't for efforts such as an early April matchup at Susquehannock, when Kimbrough's goal with 1:17 left in regulation salvaged a draw.
Kimbrough also earned all-state honors, one of three players from the YAIAA to achieve the feat.
ALL-STARS
Bri Carr, York Suburban, Jr., OB: The Trojans' outside back led the team with 11 assists. Carr used her speed to her advantage this season, helping Suburban (13-5-2, 8-1-1) win a share of the Division II championship.
Amanda Cheak, West York, So., S: The striker provided a strong one-two punch with Shyanne Kimbrough on the Bulldogs' attack. She scored 16 goals
Lauren Gay, West York, Sr., MF: Gay might be better with a field hockey stick -- as an all-star in that sport, which she will play next season at Eastern University -- but her improvement on the pitch was evident after earning honorable mention All-YAIAA honors last season. Coach Brett Maxwell called her the "unsung hero" on the Bulldogs because she "does everything that doesn't show up on the stat sheet." As for those stats, she played a role in at least six scores with two goals and four assists this season.
Maxine Herman, Dover, So., MF: Herman provided 15 goals and 12 assists as an outside and central midfielder for the Eagles (9-7, 4-6). Her season highlights included her performance at the New Oxford Invitational in late April. Herman scored the go-ahead and insurance goals in a 3-1 championship game win against Harrisburg Christian. She also had two scores in a semifinal win against Conestoga Christian.
Mikala Kin, York Suburban, Jr., MF/S: Kin, a midfielder and striker, was an all-state selection along with West York's Shyanne Kimbrough and New Oxford goalkeeper Gabby Reichart. Her three-goal performance in a 4-3 YAIAA tournament semifinal loss at Susquehannock nearly brought the Trojans back from a 4-1 deficit. She also scored in Suburban's 2-0 win against West York to win a share of the Division II title with the Bulldogs. Kin led the Trojans with 20 goals and, being a junior, should return along with Kimbrough to spark another competitive season when the sport switches to the fall.
Brooke May, Dover, So., MF: A sophomore like fellow first-teamer Maxine Herman, May played primarily as a central midfielder. Her versatility, however, called for her to play multiple spots, coach Bret Altimore said. May finished with 12 goals and nine assists.
Logan Neiman, Northeastern: The Bobcats (5-9, 3-7) played in a division that provided three of the four YAIAA tournament semifinalists, and Neiman helped them to key inter-division wins, including a three-goal performance in their 4-0 shutout of Division III frontrunner Fairfield.
Bre Schlemmer, West York, Sr., MF: Schlemmer's nomination to the All-YAIAA marked the fourth time she has received the honor. Coach Brett Maxwell called the senior midfielder the "point guard" of the team. Her statistics reflect it, as she provided 12 goals and 10 assists for the Division II co-champions. She scored twice to help the Bulldogs clinch a share of the title against Susquehannock -- a game in which player of the year Shyanne Kimbrough played only 20 minutes in the first half because of a sore back. Schlemmer will play at Lebanon Valley College next season.
Jordan Shoff, York Suburban, Fr., MF: Only a freshman, Shoff scored eight goals and provided "tremendous energy" to the lineup, coach Tom Shugars said. An example came in the Suburban's 2-1, double-overtime victory vs. Red Lion in the first round of the YAIAA tournament, when Shoff's header served as the winner.
Cayla Stifler, Susquehannock, Sr., GK: The school's valedictorian, Stifler graduated as the only four-year player in Susquehannock's program. Also the captain, she "really got her voice going," coach Nick Shiffgens said. It was needed, too, on a team with only three seniors.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tom Shugars, York Suburban: Shugars and the Trojans made sure West York's third straight YAIAA Division II title had to be shared. Shugars, who won coach-of-the-year honors in 2010, guided the Trojans to a five-win rebound from the 8-9, 5-5 campaign that had them in a three-way tie for third during the 2011 season.
Suburban's season this came with its share of hard-luck losses, such as its District 3 first-round exit to a .500 team in Fleetwood and a YAIAA tournament semifinal setback vs. Susquehannock, but Shugars has the firepower in place to continue what his team accomplished this season.
After all, when Shugars and the Trojans needed a win against West York on senior night to share the Division title, they got a shutout.
-- Matt Goul
HONORABLE MENTION
Dover: Abby Patterson, Emily Firestone; Kennard-Dale: Tabitha Hushon, Kate Williams; Northeastern: Elizabeth Bentz, Payton Hauck; Susquehannock: Brooke McGee, Kristen Filsinger, Cassidy Mummert; West York: Samara Chisolm; York Suburban: Becca Meyer, Katelyn Duncan, Alexis Ketterman.
