Kalbaugh, Gigliotti headline the Journal's 2023 girls soccer All-Stars
With the fall sports season behind us, the Journal has selected its girls soccer all-star team, recognizing the top performers in the local area.
Arlington and Our Lady of Lourdes each had dominant seasons and won their respective section championships. As such, both teams are represented well here.
Offensive Player of the Year
Julia Gigliotti
School: Our Lady of Lourdes
Grade: Junior
Position: Midfield
Gigliotti managed to exceed her eye-popping production from a year ago, and did so despite the level of difficulty being increased. The team graduated superstar Grace Morra, the Journal's Player of the Year last season, and a realignment moved Lourdes up to Class A.
No matter. Gigliotti's speed, ball skills and instincts allowed her to dominate, still. The all-state selection had 34 goals and 10 assists, leading the Warriors to a second straight Section 9 championship.
Defensive Player of the Year
Kayla Kalbaugh
School: Arlington
Grade: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
Kalbaugh at first grabbed attention with her acrobatic saves — leaping, lunging and diving to make highlight reel stops — but it was her consistency and guile that made her a perennial standout. The Iona commit played in several big games, as Arlington routinely reached at least the regional rounds, and she was masterful under pressure.
"Her dedication and knowledge contributes to her ability to be an outstanding leader on and off the field," coach Kelley Hunt said Kalbaugh, who was named Conference 1-A Player of the Year and was an all-state selection. "Kayla's strong presence in the back helps to guide the defense."
Kalbaugh allowed only 0.28 goals per game and recorded 17 shutouts, including a 1-0 nail-biter to win the Section 1 Class AAA title.
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Another: Lourdes tops Beacon to win second straight Section 9 title
First team
Emily Duro
School: Roy C. Ketcham
Grade: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
With her instincts and agility, Duro consistently made difficult saves and helped lift a burgeoning squad. The Utica commit made 133 saves, earning all-Section 1 honors.
Olivia Farnham
Team: Webutuck/Millbrook
Grade: Senior
Position: Defender
The Hartwick commit excelled at center back, anchoring the defense and representing a lethal scoring threat in transition. The four-time Journal All-Star shined while helping a rebuilding team reach the Section 9 Class B quarterfinals.
Cassie Gallagher
School: Our Lady of Lourdes
Grade: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
The Fairleigh Dickinson commit made several spectacular saves, halting fast breaks and even stopping point-blank shots en route to notching 11 shutouts. The two-time Journal All-Star helped Lourdes reach the Class A regional final.
Samantha Guckian
School: Arlington
Grade: Junior
Position: Defender
Her speed and on-ball defense helped her anchor a unit that didn't allow a goal until a month into the season. Guckian earned all-Section 1 and all-state honors.
Elizabeth Hieter
Team: Pine Plains
Grade: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
She often withstood heavy pressure but thrived in leading the upstart Bombers to the Section 9 Class C final. Hieter made 206 saves, setting a program record, and earned all-section honors.
Kaleigh Horos
School: John Jay-East Fishkill
Grade: Junior
Position: Midfield, defense
Her move from defense to center midfield helped the Patriots overcome an early-season rut and eventually reach the Section 1 Class AAA quarterfinals. Horos anchored the defense and was a crafty offensive facilitator, earning all-section honors.
Ava Jordan
School: John Jay-East Fishkill
Grade: Junior
Position: Forward
A dual threat with the ball, capable of creating for teammates or finishing in traffic, Jordan had 14 goals and six assists and is a two-time Journal All-Star.
Peyton Kangas
School: Roy C. Ketcham
Grade: Junior
Position: Midfield, forward
Despite drawing constant attention from defenses, the two-time Journal All-Star continued to flourish as a skilled scorer, racking up 17 goals and five assists while leading Ketcham to the Section 1 Class AAA playoffs.
Devyn Kelly
School: Beacon
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfield
The two-time Journal All-Star again shined on both ends, helping lead a solid defense and orchestrate a high-powered offense. Kelly also scored the winner in the Section 9 Class A semifinals, sending Beacon to its first final since 1988.
Kara Kilpert
School: Spackenkill
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfield
The Wagner commit proved to be an unstoppable force throughout her tenure, and she capped a sterling high school career with another brilliant season, leading the Spartans to the Section 9 Class B final. Kilpert had 25 goals and 16 assists, earning all-section and all-state honors.
Reilly Landisi
School: Beacon
Grade: Junior
Position: Forward
Her quickness and knack for finding openings in the defense is complemented by her excellent shot placement, making her a prolific scorer. Landisi had 24 goals, earning all-Section 9 and all-state recognition.
Blythe McQuade
School: Spackenkill
Grade: Junior
Position: Forward, midfield
An athletic offensive dynamo, she is a shot-creator who excels with the ball at her feet. The Section 9 all-star had 15 goals and eight assists, helping lead Spackenkill to its best season in recent years.
Ani Safaryan
School: Red Hook
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfield
Despite playing through a hamstring injury, she generated a third of the Raiders' offense. The four-time Journal All-Star had nine goals and three assists, leading Red Hook to the Section 9 Class A semifinals. Safaryan was an all-state selection and is a member of the Armenian Under-19 national team.
Ava Santarpia
School: Arlington
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfield
The SUNY Cortland commit has been a key member of three section championship teams. With excellent footwork and a relentless style, the center midfielder contributed to a dominant defense, and she initiated the offense. The all-section pick had four goals and six assists, and was lethal on corner kicks.
Leah Schamberg
School: New Paltz
Grade: Junior
Position: Midfield
Huguenots coach Keith Walker praised Schamberg's tenacity and ability to read the field, which enabled her to consistently intercept passes and win loose balls. The two-time All-Star helped rebuilding New Paltz reach the Section 9 Class A semifinals.
Second team
Tessa Blackburn, Pine Plains, F, Sr.
Ryleigh Calimano, Lourdes, M, Jr.
Chelsea DerBoghossian, Beacon, M/F, Sr.
Kaitlyn Dwyer, Arlington, F, Jr.
Erin Drickel, Roosevelt, D, Sr.
Madison Heitman, Arlington, M, Jr.
Kayla Johannessen, Lourdes, D, Sr.
Grace Kennedy, John Jay, M, Sr.
Lilly Kozera, Webutuck/Millbrook, F, Fr.
Jill Lindner, John Jay, M, Sr.
Bailey O'Gorman, Spackenkill, G, Sr.
Asta Reedtz, Rhinebeck, F, Jr.
Tatum Roidl, Dover, M, Jr.
Annika Walsh, New Paltz, G, Jr.
Honorable mention
Arlington: Sofia Espinosa, M, Jr.; Kaitlyn Nervegna, D, Sr.; Riley Pettigrew, F, Jr.
Beacon: Olivia Del Castillo, M, Sr.; Sara Gonzalez, D, Sr.; Noelle Haase, M, Jr.; Rory Ladue, M, Jr.
Dover: Fallon Mudgett, F, So.
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Celeste Gorres, M, So.
Haldane: Ruby Poses, G, Sr.
John Jay: Gabby Capra, F, Jr.; Isabella Rosanio, D, Sr.; Megan Fedish, D, Sr.; Oliva Cauthers, G, Jr.
Marlboro: Molly Daly, G, Jr.
New Paltz: Riley Burdick, F, Sr.; Melanie Kniffen, M, Sr.; Kalle Masseo, F/M, Sr.; Maki Pine, F, So.
Our Lady of Lourdes: Rachel Canfield, F, D; Julianna Farmer, M, Jr.; Val Perez, M, Fr.
Pine Plains: Nevaeh Rennie, F, 8th
Poughkeepsie: Mahogany Jean-Charles, G, Jr.
Red Hook: Isabella Faraldi, G, So.
Rhinebeck: Olivia Pulver, D, Sr.; Delilah Tumulo, M, Sr.
Roy C. Ketcham: Rachel Butler, D, So.; Allison Kaminski, M, So.
Spackenkill: Cadence Koehler, M/F, Fr.; Maia Viggiano, F, Jr.
Webutuck/Millbrook: Abby McEnroe, F/M, So.; Grainne Williams, G, Sr.
Coach of the Year
Kelley Hunt
School: Arlington
After missing last season while on maternity leave, Hunt returned and guided the Admirals to a seventh title in eight seasons. Arlington lost several key players to injury and often eked out close victories, but made its way to the Class AAA regional final.
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie girls soccer: Gigliotti, Kalbaugh lead Journal All-Stars
