All-Brooklyn 2014: Brooklyn’s College Soccer Players of the Year

December 31, 2014 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Cansu Usta is on pace to break the NCAA record for career goals after she scored 36 in just 16 games as a freshman for St. Joseph's College this season. Photo courtesy of St. Joseph’s College

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In order to recognize some of the best college soccer players in Brooklyn right now, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle announces its All-Brooklyn team. Players from both the men’s and women’s teams from Division I and Division III schools located in Kings County were eligible.

All-Brooklyn MVP — Cansu Usta, St. Joseph’s, forward, freshman

It isn’t common for a Division III school to get national recognition, but that’s what Usta brought to St. Joseph’s this year as the freshman found her way to the pages of Sports Illustrated and Newsweek. She led the nation, both men’s and women’s soccer, with 36 goals and 79 points.

All-Brooklyn Rookie of the Year — Isabelle Lalami, Brooklyn College, forward, freshman

Lalami, a native of Sweden, did not start the season with Brooklyn College and only eventually joined as a walk-on. However, the freshman made an immediate impact as she led the team with 10 goals and 25 points. She was a major factor in helping the Bulldogs to win back-to-back CUNY Athletic Conference titles.

All-Brooklyn Coach of the Year — Tom Giovatto, St. Francis

St. Francis won its first Northeast Conference (NEC) title in 15 years last season, but it didn’t look like it had much of a shot at a repeat after it lost its two top scorers and started the year off 0-4-1. However, Giovatto turned the team into a defensive monster that shutout 10 teams this season and successfully defended its NEC championship.

FIRST TEAM

Bergelie Louis, Brooklyn College, forward, senior

Co-captain and the only senior on a very young team, Louis led the Bulldogs to back-to-back titles behind eight goals and four assists including the game-winning goal in the CUNYAC final.

Brice Merwine, LIU Brooklyn, forward, senior

With 12 goals this season, Merwine was one of the most prolific goal scorers in the NCAA. He had three game-winners as LIU Brooklyn made it back to the NEC playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

Vincent Bezecourt, St. Francis, midfielder, junior

The French native joined St. Francis as a junior this season and helped them with three goals and six assists.

Andres Pertuz, Brooklyn College, midfielder, junior

Pertuz transferred to Brooklyn College from Texas College this year and made a huge impact in getting the Bulldogs to the CUNYAC final behind four goals and four assists in 13 starts.

Moriba Dumbia, ASA College, midfielder, sophomore

Dumbia, an Ivory Coast native, led ASA College with nine goals and 22 points in just four starts this season.

Pamela Chernyakhovsky, St. Joseph’s, midfielder, junior

Nobody benefitted from Usta’s dominance more than Chernyakhovsky, whose 14 assists not only led the Bears, but was fourth in NCAA Division III. She also had an impressive 16 goals of her own.

Andy Cormack, St. Francis, defender, senior

Cormack missed part of the season this year, but he was on the field when it counted the most and, for the second year in a row, scored the game-winning goal for St. Francis in the NEC finals.

Riccardo Milano, St. Francis, defender, senior

Milano, a native of Venezuela, was part of a defense that helped the Terriers go 9-1-3 in its final 13 games and only allowed four goals in that stretch.

Jasmine Fermin, Brooklyn College, defender, sophomore

Brooklyn College’s top defender anchored a back line that shut down opponents 10 times throughout the season including twice in the CUNYAC playoffs.

Bencion Barrios, St. Joseph’s, defender, junior

Barrios played a big part in St. Joseph’s College, posting its best record in program history in his first season at the school. He had five goals and led the team with seven assists.

Jack Binks, St. Francis, goalkeeper, junior

Binks was strongly considered for All-Brooklyn MVP. The English native had 10 shutouts and ranked 16th in the nation with a 0.66 goals against average.

SECOND TEAM

John Makaya, St. Francis, forward, junior

Shannon Fahy, St. Joseph’s, forward, junior

Sayla Flores, Brooklyn College, midfielder, junior

Lais Araujo, ASA College, midfielder, sophomore

Madison Gomez, LIU Brooklyn, midfielder, sophomore

Tanner Sica, LIU Brooklyn, midfielder, junior

Kevin Bresnan, Brooklyn College, defender, sophomore

Lucy Gunton-Jones, LIU Brooklyn, defender, junior

Daniela Semilia, St. Joseph’s, defender, senior

Brittany Galske, LIU Brooklyn, defender, freshman

Dominique Jackson, ASA College, goalkeeper, freshman