Dryden's Leighann Bennett earns IAC MVP honors

( Ithaca Journal )

ITHACA — Senior Leighann Bennett of the Dryden High School girls soccer team was named Most Valuable Player of the Interscholastic Athletic Conference girls soccer Large North division when conference all-star teams were announced Monday.
Bennett, who committed to play at Binghamton University, led the Lions to a 15-2 record this season and its first IAC title since 2005. Bennett scored her 100th career goal in her final game, a 3-1 loss at Seton Catholic Central in the Section 4 Class B semifinals. The senior was joined by three teammates on the all-Large North division first team, including sister Taylor Bennett, a freshman striker, classmate and fellow midfielder Hannah Wildenstein and freshman defender Amy DeGaetano.
Whitney Point (11-2-1) had five players on the roster, including sophomore forward Katelynn Warner, junior midfielder Emma Maslin, senior defenders Megan Taggart and Brittany Fuller and senior goalkeeper Erin Hamm.
Lansing sophomore twins Shea and Maura McCartney were named all-stars at the forward and midfield positions, respectively, while juniors Blythe Gurche (forward) and Janelle Stewart (defender) were the Trumansburg representatives and senior defender Mandy DeLand the lone Union Springs player on the list.

Small North Division

Marathon led the way with six Small North Division first team all-stars, including senior midfielder EllenaHoll, named the division’s MVP. Fellow Olympians on the team include freshman forward AllysanO’Shea, senior midfielder AbbriannaTorbitt, senior defenders Danielle Peebles and Drew Barber and junior back Allyson Loope. Groton seniors Sideny Reeves, Brenna Hahne and Ruthanne Forehand also received first-team recognition, as did the freshman and sophomore sister duo of Emily Kopp and Jessie Kopp of Southern Cayuga. Chiefs teammate Laura Shielders is the first-team goalkeeper.