Lady Bears Soccer Trio Named to HVWAC All-Conference Team
BROOKLYN, NY – Recognizing their outstanding performance leading the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's soccer team to a conference title in the program's inaugural season, freshmen forwards Pamela Chernyakhovsky (Brooklyn, NY/Leon M. Goldstein), Daniella Valencia (Corona, NY/Bayside HS) and junior defender Daniela Semilia (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) were named to the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) All-Conference team.
The trio was recognized in ceremonies concluding the Lady Bears 2-0 victory over Berkeley in the HVWAC championship game on Sunday.
Chernyakhovsky was the offensive catalyst for the Lady Bears with most of the team's goals originating from her. The freshman currently ranks second on the team in points (23), goals (10) and assists (3). She was lethal off direct kicks accounting for most of her goals. Chernyakhovsky adds to a number of awards received this season, named AD3I Rookie of the Year and AD3I First-Team All-Independent last week and was also a two-time HVWAC Rookie of the Week honoree.
Valencia was part of the offensive trio that included Chernyakhovsky and Cynthia Gambino (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) that helped lead the Lady Bears to the conference title. The freshman had three goals on the season including one in the championship game against Berkeley. Valencia ranked 32nd in the NCAA in assists per game (0.5) and led the team with five on the season. The freshman was named HVWAC Rookie of the Week October 23rd and was named to the AD3I All-Independent Second Team.
Semilia was the leader of a defense that produced seven shutouts on the season. The junior started all 12 games for the Lady Bears and logged the most minutes. She recorded her first collegiate goal in St. Joseph's win against Medgar Evers. One of six women to play on last year's men's team, Semilia made one of the key defensive plays in the HVWAC championship that helped preserve the shutout win for the Lady Bears.
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2012 HVWAC All-Conference Team
| Pamela Chernyakhovsky | St. Joseph's | Fr. | F | Brooklyn, NY |
| Yishka Chin | Medgar Evers | Sr. | GK | Montego Bay, Jamaica |
| Sarah Cope * | Albany Pharmacy | So. | S | Broadalbin, NY |
| Anna Folkesson | Berkeley | Fr. | F | Helsinborg, Sweden |
| Kerry Ann Haughton | Berkeley | Fr. | GK | Queens, NY |
| Meira Lerner * | Yeshiva | Sr. | M | Sharon, MA |
| Skippy Ripepi * | Albany Pharmacy | Jr. | M | Amsterdam, NY |
| Yael Roberts * | Yeshiva | Jr. | M | Potomac, MD |
| Daniela Semilia | St. Joseph's | Jr. | D | Brooklyn, NY |
| Alexis Thayer | Albany Pharmacy | Sr. | D | Ithaca, NY |
| Daniella Valencia | St. Joseph's | Fr. | F | Corona, NY |
| Alexandra Weston | Albany Pharmacy | So. | GK | Chaumont, NY |
* Denotes 2011 All-Conference Team selection