The name “Stony Brook” has become synonymous with winning in the realm of Long Island girls soccer. Over the past four seasons the girls have added ten championship plaques to the rapidly shrinking space in the Swanson Gymnasium trophy cases and have firmly established themselves as the premiere power in Class C. The girls enjoyed a fantastic regular season in which they finished 10-2 in League VIII (12-3 overall). Some of the highlights included:

• Michelle Hennessy #5 on Long Island in points with 30
• Outscoring their opponents 51-19
• Seven shutouts (three in a row)
• Outscoring teams 16-0 over a two-game span
• Winning five games in a row, outscoring their opponents 22-2
• Winning nine out of ten games in one span
• Finishing ranked #8 in New York State

The girls may have been disappointed they could not replicate their State Championship run from a year before, but those of us who had the privilege of watching them this season were proud of how they persevered through a bevy of injuries to win an incredible fourth consecutive County Championship.

The credit for the team’s accomplishments over the last few seasons has to go to the most exceptional senior class in Stony Brook girls’ soccer history. This core raised the bar of Stony Brook soccer higher than it’s ever been. We will miss them, but a young group of players will try and carry the torch. For the seniors moving on, what they leave behind are a plethora of amazing memories for which we are so grateful:

There is no feeling of security quite like seeing Danielle Pappas standing in our goal. For the last six seasons, she has owned the space between the posts for the varsity soccer squad and has been our last line of defense in countless crucial moments. The three-time All-State keeper proved time and again why she was one of the elite small school netminders in New York, keeping Stony Brook in a number big games with a diving stop or a miracle save that appeared out of reach. There will be a large void in net next season.

Donna Liotine missed a month with a quad injury, but when she finally returned to the field, the difference was felt immediately. She scored the game-winner vs. Port Jeff in her first game back and from there our offense really began to click. In a 10-0 win against Mercy, she recorded 4 goals and had a total of 7 after only three games. Donna’s ability to lord over the center of the field on offense and defense is what made us so devastating for the last two years. Her speed, power, and finesse made her one of the most potent scoring threats on Long Island. Her equalizing strike in last year’s State Championship will live on as one of the most important plays in Stony Brook Athletics history.

Michelle Hennessy just knows how to score and through the years she has been our savior on a number of occasions. She scored the game-winner in both last year’s State Title game and this year’s County Final and is never better than when the game is on the line. Her deft touch, her ability to make great defenders look foolish, and her golden strike made her one of the most deadly threats in Stony Brook history.

Kierran Petersen played with the kind of passion every coach loves. No one was more euphoric in victory or more deflated in defeat than Kierran, and she gave her all every time she stepped on the field for the last five years. She was the perfect amalgam of offense and defense, able to slide tackle the ball away from a great forward or strike a ball into the upper shelf of the net.

Brianna Stiklickas sacrifices her body like no one else. Her heart and toughness are her trademarks and are what made her the best defender in Class C. What many do not realize about her; however, is she has one of the best shots on the team, but because she was invaluable on defense her place has been in the backfield. The final third of the field is her domain, and forwards need to be wary upon entering.

Christine Brathwaite is the consummate teammate. She is an encouragement to others and will play any role that is asked of her. That role this season was a wing defender and her hard work and hustle made our defense one of the best in League VIII.

Brannon Burke return to the field after a year’s hiatus to fortify our defense. She added another dimension to our team as her toughness and physicality made opposing girls think twice about challenging a ball. Above all, Brannon is a winner and will sacrifice her body and her personal accolades for the good of the team.

Emily Andersen has been on the field for some of the biggest moments over the past few years. She played her role on the team well and was an important voice of encouragement every step of the way.

Sarah Sullivan gave her all whenever she was called upon. She played the finest game of her career against Mercy this season, scoring twice to lead the team to a 3-0 win. Sarah is the type of player who will continue to make her run until she puts one away.

Emily Shultz is wherever the ball is. She finds a way to get into the mix and her hustle will be missed.

Postseason Honors

Danielle Pappas	All-County, All-County Academic
Donna Liotine	All-County
Michelle Hennessy	All-County
Kierran Petersen	All-Conference, All-County Academic
Brianna Stiklickas	All-Conference
Brannon Burke	All-League
Emily Anderson	All-County Academic
Christine Brathwaite	All-County Academic