Published: 11:59 PM, Thu Jun 10, 2010
All-region girls' soccer: Douglas, Abbey take top honors
The lobby of the basketball gymnasium at Fayetteville Academy is filled with pictures and trophies of athletes come and gone.
There are also some plaques, honoring the school's hall of famers lined up near the top of the inside wall.
Gloria Douglas has one, and it's filled with a lengthy list of her accomplishments - ranging from all-conference, all-region and all-state selections for girls' soccer all the way to her 2009 Observer Player of the Year Award.
Maybe they can flip it over and engrave "2010 Observer Player of the Year" on the back.
Douglas scored 45 goals and handed out 15 assists for Andrew McCarthy's Warriors in a senior year that began with a call-up to the U.S. National U-18 team back in March.
"It was a rush," she said. "I just couldn't believe it. Just to represent your country and those games - just to be a part of that was amazing."
The next shirt she'll wear will feature the colors of the University of Virginia.
"It's kind of a rush, knowing that my high school season is done," she said. "I'm excited. I actually leave pretty early, so everything's hitting me pretty hard."
While Douglas takes her powerful, well-rounded game to Charlottesville, McCarthy has to look ahead to life without the two-time region player of the year.
"Obviously, she'll be missed as a player," he said. "But she'll be missed even more as a teammate. I said at the banquet when we put her in the hall of fame that, if there was every any drama, she stopped it instantly. If they was ever any humor or having a good time, she was in the center of it, and if there was ever a time when someone needed a shoulder to cry on, she was there.
"I think that describes her perfectly."
Coach of the Year
In keeping with the repeat winner's theme, Pinecrest's Todd Abbey is the Observer's Coach of the Year for the second season in a row.
Abbey led the Patriots to a 19-4-1 record in 2010 and an appearance in the fourth round of the 4-A state playoffs, where they lost in overtime at Wilmington Hoggard.
Last year, Abbey had to hit the ground running with very little prep time to coach the girls' team.
This season, things went a bit more smoothly.
"It was a bit easier," he said.
"It helps when you only lose one senior. We knew what we were looking for in tryouts and it was easier for me to recognize what we needed to do."
As any good coach will do, Abbey deflected credit for his success to his players.
"They were great," he said of this year's team. "They were a very passionate group. Great personalities, liked to have fun, but they knew when it was serious and time to work."
Girls soccer all-area team
Player of the Year: Gloria Douglas, Fayetteville Academy
Coach of the Year: Todd Abbey, Pinecrest
First team
Gloria Douglas, Fayetteville Academy, Forward
Had 45 goals and 15 assists for the Eagles in her senior season. ... The University of Virginia signee and women's U-18 national team call-up was an all-state selection by both the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association and the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association.
Damilia Brooks, Forward, Lumberton
Had 30 goals and five assists for the Pirates. ... An all-conference and all-region selection.
Taylor Cavazos, Forward, Terry Sanford
Scored 33 goals and had 17 assists as a sophomore. ... Mid-South Conference Player of the Year and an all-region selection.
Cassandra Serje, Forward, South View
Had 28 goals and 16 assists to finish among the county leaders in both categories. ... An all-conference and all-region pick.
Alyssa McCray, Forward, Seventy-First
Burst on the scene as a freshman, scoring 29 goals to go along with five assists en route to becoming an all-conference selection.
Theresa O'Sullivan, Forward/Midfielder, Terry Sanford
Tallied 18 goals and added 21 assists in her sophomore season. ... An all-conference and all-region selection.
Joi Chrishon, Midfielder, Fayetteville Academy
Tallied 17 goals and 16 assists in her senior season. ... The Pfeiffer signee was also an all-conference, all-region and all-state selection.
Kate Hieronymus, Midfielder, Pinecrest
A two-year all-conference and all-region performer for the Pats.
Lindsay Trigoboff, Midfielder, Cape Fear
Scored 13 goals and had seven assists. ... An all-conference and all-region choice.
Lauren Freiler, Midfielder, Cape Fear
Had 11 goals and 11 assists from the central midfield. ... An all-conference and all-region selection.
Heather Kashner, Defender, South View
Senior captain had five goals and two assists while anchoring the back line for the Tigers. ... An all-conference and all-region choice.
Rebecca Dupre, Defender, Pinecrest
Led a stingy defense for the Patriots. ... Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, all-region and all-state choice.
Jessie Pearson, Defender, Cape Fear
Top-notch defender who also added two goals for the Colts. ... An all-conference and all-region choice.
Corinna Maxwell, Defender, Jack Britt
Scored four goals and added an assist despite playing at sweeper for much of the season. ... An all-conference and all-region selection.
Sarah Dejak, Keeper, Pinecrest
Junior keeper kept 16 clean sheets for the Patriots. ... Southeastern Conference co-Keeper of the Year and an all-region selection.
Second team
Rachel Ramey, Forward, Jack Britt: Scored 8 goals to go along with two assists for the Bucs. ... An all-conference and all-region pick.
Courtney Deblois, Forward, Terry Sanford: Had 13 goals and seven assists for the Bulldogs. ... An all-conference and all-region choice.
Josie Yang, Forward, Scotland County: Had 29 goals as a senior. ... An all-conference and all-region pick.
Madison Greiner, Forward, Gray's Creek: Had 11 goals and 6 assists. ... An all-conference choice.
Taari Coleman, Forward, Gray's Creek: Had 13 goals and eight assists for the Bears this season en route to making the all-conference team.
Cassie Callahan, Forward, Cape Fear: Had 20 goals and five assists for the Colts in her junior season. ... An all-conference and all-region pick.
Marotti Meyers, Midfielder, Pinecrest: Among the leading scorers for the Pats. ... An all-conference and all-region choice.
Nancy Kirk, Midfielder, Jack Britt: Had six goals and five assists as a freshman for the Bucs. ... An all-conference and all-region choice.
Melani Cusi, Midfielder, Terry Sanford: Had eight goals and 13 assists. ... An all-conference and all-region selection.
Kati Farmer, Defender, Pine Forest: Anchored the Trojans' defense. ... An all-league and all-region pick.
Savannah Bunning, Defender, Gray's Creek: Had four goals and an assist while leading the Bears' back line. ... An all-league and all-region pick.
Taylor Bates, Defender, Hoke County: Led the defense for the Bucks as a junior. ... An all-conference and all-region choice.
Megan Rock, Defender, Pinecrest: A steady player in the back for the Patriots. ... An all-conference and all-region selection.
Karly Gustafson, Keeper, Terry Sanford: Had a 94 percent save percentage and 14 shutouts as a freshman. ... An all-conference and all-region pick.
Bailey Mathias, Keeper, Jack Britt: Team captain had an 89 percent save percentage. ... An all-conference and all-region selection.