The Post high-school staff takes a look at the top performers in football, boys soccer, girls soccer and girls volleyball from the week of Oct. 31.
FOOTBALL
Justin Combs, Iona Prep
The senior All-American stepped in for injured quarterback Mario Biaggi and led the Gaels back to the CHSFL Class AAA semifinals. Combs, son of rapper Diddy, ran for two scores and threw for another in a 24-20 win over Chaminade, while collecting 120 yards for total offense.
Alvin Cornelius, Tottenville
The Syracuse-bound senior is a wide receiver by trade, but he did damage everywhere else in Tottenville’s 44-19 rout of Queens powerhouse Campus Magnet on Saturday night. Cornelius picked off two Kahlik Greenwood passes, he scored on a 12-yard rush and also threw a 21-yard scoring strike to Pat Murphy, his first-ever TD pass.
Matt McDaniels, Kellenberg
The senior quarterback was a monster in the Firebirds’ CHSFL Class AA quarterfinal win over Cardinal Hayes. McDaniels had 31 carries for 317 yards as part of 481 yards of total offense. His third touchdown was a 9-yard run with 1:09 in the game to seal the win.
Austin Taps, Archbishop Stepinac
The senior made an impact on each side of the ball. Taps collected two sacks, but was a game-changer on the offensive side at tight end. He hooked up with quarterback Daniel Hoffer five times for 92 yard and touchdowns of 45 and 25 yards in a 28-13 win over Holy Cross in the CHSFL Class AAA quarterfinals.
Kendall (Speedy) Thomas, Thomas Jefferson
All the highly touted junior did Sunday against Grand Street Campus was catch three balls for 183 yards, all of them for touchdowns, and also score once on the ground. It was also a must-win – Jefferson is in the playoffs despite going just 3-6.
BOYS SOCCER
Jason Gonzalez, St. Francis Prep
Sporting pink gloves and an undershirt that read “I love you mom and dad,” Gonzalez scored the lone goal in the 50th minute in St. Francis Prep’s CHSAA Class AA intersectional championship win over Fordham Prep. It was a brilliant solo effort to score for Gonzalez and the Terriers have their first title since 2006.
Weller Hlinomaz, Collegiate
A speedy and skilled junior striker, Hlinomaz missed the season’s first month with a groin injury. More importantly, he finished the year with a bang. He had two assists in Collegiate’s 4-0 NYSAISAA championship game victory over Rye Country Day School and also scored twice in the 4-3, semifinal win over rival Horace Mann.
Joshua Lawrence, John Adams
The senior striker has led John Adams, the 20th seed, to the PSAL Class A quarterfinals. He posted a hat trick in a 4-1 upset of No. 13 Sheepshead Bay and added a goal in last Thursday’s 3-2 shocker of fourth-seeded Curtis. In two playoff matches, the speedster has four goals – two less than he amassed all of the regular season.
GIRLS SOCCER
Kristen Drogsler, Christ the King
The sophomore is in just her second year in net and she’s already developed into one of the city’s most dynamic keepers. Drogsler secured the Royals first-ever CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens title by making eight saves, including three in the final 3:50 of the second overtime for a 2-1 win.
Geraldine Huisa, Long Island City
The junior midfielder is a big reason why the Bulldogs reached their first-ever PSAL Class A quarterfinals. She combined for three goals and four assists in two playoff wins. Huisa tallied both goals in a second-round victory over Susan Wagner.
Gianna Smith, St. Joseph Hill
The senior striker was the centerpiece of a deadly Hill attack in the postseason. She tallied three goals and two assists over two playoff games to lead the Hilltoppers to their second CHSAA Archdiocesan in the last three years. Smith scored the first goal in wins over Notre Dame and St. Joseph by the Sea.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Kelly Flynn, St. Francis Prep
It was her first match back after sitting out a week with a mild concussion and a few minutes in, Flynn was on the ground with a turned ankle. The junior middle returned, though, and had 18 kills and five blocks to lead St. Francis Prep to a five-set win over Archbishop Molloy in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I championship match.
Arianna Francis, Fieldston
The junior outside hitter followed up an incredible 27-kill performance against Chapin in the semifinals with a 13-kill, five-ace match in a NYSAISAA final victory over Brearley. Fieldston had not won a state title since 2002 and Francis’ improvement from last year was one of the biggest reasons why.
Gaby Frid, Hunter College HS
Hunter has been waiting to break through into the PSAL’s elite for a few years now and it might have happened Sunday. Frid was named to the all-tournament team as the Headhunters took home the crown at Kennedy, defeating Bronx Science in the final.
