Leading off today: The leading scorer in the history of international soccer will headline the first induction class for the New York State Girls Soccer Hall of Fame.
Former Our Lady of Mercy star Abby Wambach and 17 others will be enshrined Sept. 9, 2017 at the Mudville sports complex in Herkimer, the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports announced. Wambach retired from the U.S. Women's National Team last year with 184 goals -- more than any man or woman ever -- in full internationals from 2003-15.
This is the second girls high school hall of fame endeavor for NYSSCOGS. The organization inducted its sixth class of softball honorees last spring.
The full list of soccer players and coaches to be honored in September:
- Bob Bigelow (coach, Rockville Centre South Side H.S.)
- Hannah Cerrone (Roy C. Ketcham)
- Judi Croutier (coach, Rockville Centre South Side)
- Christina DiMartino (Massapequa)
- Betsy Drambour (Shenendehowa)
- Crystal Dunn (Rockville Centre South Side)
- Craig Gilbert (coach, Tamarac)
- Betsy Johnson (Eldred)
- Ali Long (Northport)
- Gary Page (coach, Rochester Aquinas)
- Emily Pickering (Massapequa)
- Ann Riva (coach, Westhill)
- Nicole Roberts (Tamarac)
- Helen Sandford (coach, Oneonta)
- Abby Wambach (Rochester Mercy)
- Sue Weber (Islip)
- Christie Welsh (Massapequa)
- Sara Whalen (Harborfields)
Selections were made by a statewide panel of writers, editors and coaches. Bigelow and Page are being honored posthumously, NYSSCOGS said in its announcement.
The hall of fame festivities will be part a full weekend of soccer. Organizers have sent out invitations for a tournament including a projected 18 high school squads as well as some age-group teams.
Elmira wrap-up: Tournament MVP Elijah Buchanan had 23 points, nine rebounds and four steals to lift the PSAL's Mount St. Michael past Baltimore (Md.) Mount Carmel 59-55 for the National Division title at the Josh Palmer Fund Elmira Holiday Inn Classic.
Michael Green added 12 points for the Mountaineers.
Binghamton Seton Catholic's boys and girls won their respective divisions of the tournament. The girls downed North Rockland 64-50, and the boys defended their title with a 56-43 victory over Elmira Notre Dame.
More boys basketball: Westhill avenged an overtime loss from 11 days earlier by defeating Jamesville-DeWitt 64-48 in the championship game of the Bottar Leone Holiday Classic on Friday.
The Warriors, ranked ninth in Class B by the New York State Sportswriters Association, were led by Kameren Jackson's 17 points. J-D is ranked 12th in Class A this week.
• Previously winless Union-Endicott rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Norwich 62-61 in non-league action as Tyler Maerkl scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter.
U-E coach Matt Morley missed the game while battling the flu. JV coach Jordan Buck ran the team in his place.
