Morris County girls soccer coaches recognize best players at annual lunch

EAST HANOVER — Jon McBurney was surprised when he was introduced as the Morris County Girls Soccer Coaches' Association Coach of the Year. But he shouldn't have been.

McBurney led Pequannock to a 20-2 record and the first sectional title in program history. The Golden Panthers scored 103 goals, while only allowing 10 – despite using a goalkeeper who had never played in the net before.

"Some of the best learning experiences as a coach are from mistakes I've made, and from what you do on the sidelines. I steal a lot from the coaches in this room," said McBurney, who was also recognized as the Morris County baseball Coach of the Year in the spring, after Pequannock won the Group 1 title.

The Coaches' Association recognized the county's first- and second-team players, dubbed the Top 40, at its annual luncheon on Tuesday. They also acknowledged the third team and honorable mention.

Chatham midfielder Riley Cross was named Player of the Year. Cross, who transferred home from Oak Knoll for her junior season, had 13 goals and 13 assists as the Cougars (20-2) won the NJAC-American, Morris County Tournament and NJSIAA Group 3 championship.

Cross had a goal and an assist and was named the MCT MVP. She dedicated Tuesday's trophy to "all the players in Morris County who gave their best on the field."

The association also recognized these teams and individuals:

∎ Chatham and Mountain Lakes both won NJSIAA Group titles. They, along with Pequannock and Hanover Park, were sectional champs.

∎ Pequannock, Madison, Chatham and Randolph were also recognized as NJAC division winners.

∎ Stephanie Vendola, the Parsippany Hills coach since 2017 and MCGSCA treasurer, was honored as she steps down to have her first child. A Morris Catholic alumna, Vendola helped the Vikings earn 65 victories, reach three sectional titles and win Group 2 in 2019.

"It's harder now to be a coach than it's ever been, and it's more important to have good coaches than ever," Montclair State women's soccer coach Pat Naughter said in his keynote speech. "We create the environment where they make lifelong friends."

More: Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference girls soccer coaches' postseason honors

First team

Riley Cross, Chatham junior M; Abigail Droner, Chatham junior F; Amanda Thornton, Chatham sophomore F; Gia D'Alessio, Hanover Park junior G; Sienna Petro, Hanover Park senior M; Katerina Loncar, Jefferson senior F; Alessia Cerulo, Kinnelon junior M; Kate Reigle, Madison sophomore D; Lia Manuel, Mendham senior F; Scarlett Brookes, Morris Knolls senior F; Maya Dobrijevic, Morris Tech senior F; Daisy Duda, Mountain Lakes junior M; Amanda Dean, Parsippany junior F; Addie Van Lenten, Pequannock senior D; Shayla Osmanski, Pequannock senior M; Carlie Wysocki, Randolph sophomore M; Jojo DeNegri, Randolph junior F; Rayna Soto, Randolph senior D; Juliana Osterman, Roxbury senior F; Maddie Anderson, Roxbury sophomore D

Second team

McKenna Hogan, Chatham junior D; Emma Regan, Chatham senior D; Alex Donoghue, Chatham sophomore M; Leigha Matter, Chatham senior M; Courtney Irwin, Hanover Park senior F; Ellison Errington, Madison senor F; Kaitlyn Forand, Morris Knolls junior D; Charlee Perna, Morris Knolls junior M; Marin Fisher, Morristown junior F; Stella Orellana, Mount Olive senior F; Abigail Hawes, Mountain Lakes junior F; Kaia San Martin, Parsippany Hills senior M; Alex Ortega, Pequannock senior F; Rylie Van Wingerden, Randolph junior M; Lulu Wnger, Randolph freshman D; Olivia Martin, Villa Walsh senior F; Jillian Nestor, West Morris senior D; Lily Gjelsvik, West Morris senior M; Hayden Scotti, West Morris senior G; Molly Mack, Whippany Park junior M

Third team

Anastasia Showler-Little, Boonton; Abbi Klopchin, Butler; Michelle Fallas Cabrera, Dover; Georgia Oberman, Jefferson; Gabby Mariani, Madison; Adeline Perkins, Mendham; Gisela LoGrasso, Montville; Stephany Marmolejo Murillo, Morris Hills; Mikayla Doyle, Morris Knolls; Lydia Uhlman, Morris Tech; Jess Byrne, Morristown Beard, Sophia Orellana, Mount Olive; Jaslyn Vargas, Parsippany; Aislyn Rivera, Roxbury; Grace Gehm, St. Elizabeth; Colleen Walsh, Villa Walsh; Sofia Sardeira, West Morris

Honorable mention

Boonton: Addison Shollenberger, Megan Campos; Butler: Madison Meyers, Callie Rapoport; Chatham: Mia Semioli, Lauren Tracey; Dover: Neylin Lemus Diaz, Sofia Zuluaga; Hanover Park: Samantha Cicerone, Sadie O'Donnell; Jefferson: Alanna Bishop, Emily Poulas; Kinnelon: Olivia Poradka, Julia Baker; Madison: Anna Gominiak, Ashley Driscoll; Mendham: Emma Kuncharia, Stellina Strange; Montville: Hanna DeAngelis, Eva Brynczka; Morris Hills: Madelyn Epstein, Faith Bode; Morris Tech: Isabella Tahiri, Hannah Bugarin; Morristown Beard: Gianna Azevedo, Kelsey Limbert; Mount Olive: Jordan Notaro, Kaitlyn Colleran; Parsippany: Bhumika Chavan, Marisa Christ; Parsippany Hills: Alexa Widdowson, Audra Crane; Pequannock: Rachel Cunningham; Randolph: Amiyah Soto; Roxbury: Ara Ameri, Megan Schmidt; St. Elizabeth: Gracelyn Spina, Kayla Pizzi; Villa Walsh: Holly Smitreski, Margaret Boler; West Morris: Georgia Hostler, Allison Tuleya; Whippany Park: Ella DiCostanzo, Abigail Feeley

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ girls soccer: Morris County coaches luncheon, postseason honors