Calhoun soccer star takes L.I., N.Y. honors

Calhoun High School senior Kayla Cappuzzo is the best female high school soccer player in New York for 2013, according to the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports.

Cappuzzo has also picked up numerous other honors this season, from being named the All-Long Island Player of the Year and the Nassau County Conference IAA Player of the Year, to receiving the Mike Clarke Award and Sue Link Memorial Scholarship, earning All-County honors and winning a spot at the U-18 U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s Florida training camp. Only 20 girls from around the country attend the camp.

“It’s an honor to receive all of these awards,” Cappuzzo said. “I can’t take full credit for everything. I’m thankfully part of a good team and have a good coach. If it wasn’t for my teammates, I wouldn’t be pushed to my limits.”

In an email home to parents, Calhoun Principal David Seinfeld wrote, “Those who know Kayla know how special she is, both as a student-athlete and as a person. I know you join me in congratulating her.”

A captain of the Calhoun girls’ soccer team for the last two years and a starting midfielder since she was a freshman, Cappuzzo finished her high school soccer career with 25 goals and 35 assists. As a junior last year, she committed to playing NCAA Division I soccer at Boston’s Northeastern University on a full scholarship. She plans to study physical therapy.

The Calhoun girls’ soccer team, coached by Lori Biscardi, ended the season with a 9-6-3 overall record, was second-seeded in the playoffs and made it to the Nassau County finals for the third year in a row. In addition to Cappuzzo, Nora Charidah and Taylor Sipos were named All-County honorees, making Calhoun the only team in Nassau with three All-County players. Charidah and Sipos both were also named All-State. Jessica Foley was named All-Class, Danielle Losquadro All-Conference, and valedictorian Katherine Kustas was honored as a scholar-athlete.