CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Friday, November 1, 2019
Four members of the Vikings women's soccer program were named to the 2019 Mountain Valley All-Conference team as announced by the conference and voted on by the league's coaches. Headlining the Vikings selections is the 2019 Mountain Valley Conference Player of the Year Grace Cusack (Lansingburgh/Lansingburgh).
Joining Cusack are sophomore midfielder Brooke Clough (Latham/Shaker) and freshman defenders Kaitlin McGuiness (Greenville/Greenville) and Grace Doyle (Chatham/Chatham).
Cusack garnered the most points and becomes the second straight Viking to be named the conference player of the year (Sydnee Metzold – 2018). She led the Vikings with 21 goals, which is 11th most in a single season in program history. A highlight from the 2019 season was Cusack's five goal performance in the Vikings 8-5 comeback win over North Country on October 6. The comeback win jumpstarted the Vikings current six game win streak and unbeaten record in October.
Clough had a recording setting season in her sophomore campaign as she broke the Vikings 29-year old single season assists record, which was previously held by Stacy Call in 1990. Clough recently set the new mark with her 21st assist in the Vikings 5-0 win over Genesee in the NJCAA Region 3 semifinal round on October 31. Clough has been one of the best offensive facilitators in the nation as her 21 assists is best in the NJCAA. Brooke has recorded at least four points in a game four times and has tallied points in each of the last seven games this season, dating back to the Vikings overtime loss at Broome on September 29.
McGuiness has had high praise from Coach Pokines all season long as one of the Vikings reliable defenders. McGuiness recorded one goal in the Vikings shutout win at Jamestown, but her ability to defend some of the nation's best scorers has given her the well-deserved All-Conference recognition.
Joining McGuiness is fellow defender Grace Doyle. Doyle handled the center back position for the majority of the season. The defensive combination of Doyle and McGuiness helped the Vikings record eight shutout victories, including the last three games in which the Vikings outscored their opponents 17-0.
The individual success is a byproduct of the Vikings ability to play as a team. Hudson Valley credited their ability to play well as a team all season long as a main factor in their success this season. The Vikings advanced to the NJCAA Region 3 District A Championship game, hosted by Herkimer, and will play top-seed Mohawk Valley on Sunday, November 3 at 3 p.m.
