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Published: November 20, 2009 10:59 pm

HS SOCCER: Taylor, Figler are POYs

JEANNIE TAYLOR

n SCHOOL: Grand Island

n GRADE: Junior

n POSITION: Sweeper

n STATS: Led a defense that had 10 shutouts and allowed only eight goals

n SCOOP: First team all-Niagara Frontier League… team MVP… led Vikings to NFL championship… helped GI to a share of the Class A title before losing in penalty kicks… member of the U17 State Cup championship squad.

n COACH’S QUOTE: “Jeannie is a defender that sees the field very well and is a great leader that moves players into position to take advantage of their talents. Her speed and comfort level makes her hard to beat in the back. She has also developed into a player that will join the play offensively when appropriate. This is a nice honor for her without the numbers. Her defensive abilities cannot be measured in numbers. She also works her butt off all year long.”

— Dave Bowman


JEREMY FIGLER

n SCHOOL: Grand Island

n GRADE: Senior

n POSITION: Goalkeeper

n STATS: 14 shutouts, 0.57 GAA for the season; 21 career shutouts

n SCOOP: First team all-Niagara Frontier League… led Vikings to first NFL championship since 1986… helped GI win its first sectional title since 2003… despite allowing three goals, he had his best performance in the Vikings’ Far West Regional loss to V-Pittsford-Mendon.

n COACH’S QUOTE: “Each year he has gotten progressively better. He has worked very hard in the offseason to get stronger and sharpen up his all-around skills. His range between the pipes is outstanding. Enough hasn’t been said about his leadership skills on and off the field. He’s very vocal in net and regulates his teammates in front of him. What’s very noticeable about Jeremy is that he really loves and enjoys playing the game. That attitude spread throughout the team and had a lot to do with our success.”

— Pete Kuehne