for soccer It was a fabulous season for the varsity girls' soccer team at Churchville-Chili High School this year, but perhaps the most surprising aspect of the season to those not part of the day-to-day activities, is the awards that have fallen on Junior Joanna Patalano at season's end. The team advanced to Class A sectional finals, losing to top-ranked Mercy, and so it was expected that some players on the team would end up with end-of-season kudos. It was Patalano, a three year starter on varsity, who was named to the All Greater Rochester Girls Soccer team recently. Patalano has also been named team MVP and Best Defensive Player, and Division 2 Player of the Year and First Team All County. Those familiar with area girls basketball are accustomed to reading about Patalano's successes as a point guard and scorer for the Churchville-Chili Girls' Basketball team, Class A Section V champions last year. She is expected to continue as a major play maker and ball handler for the Saints this season. But her skills in soccer have perhaps been less widely known. Patalano is also the centerfielder on the softball team and maintains a 95 average scholastically. For this soccer season, Patalano scored seven goals and had two assists on offense. But her defensive stats are even more impressive. In the beginning of the season, Joanna was asked to step in as goalkeeper, a position she had never played before. Churchville-Chili's starting goalie was recovering from a previous injury. As goalkeeper, Joanna played eight games, earning six shut-outs; allowing only four goals (three at a Pittsford-Sutherland game where Churchville lost 3-0). "Joanna is unbelievable," Coach Nancy Thornton says. "She plays 80 minutes a game and is always giving her all for the team. She is a real team player." |
