After the announcement of the newly formed NYSSCOGS/NYS Girls High School Soccer of Fame and its inaugural class, hosting the 1st ever induction ceremony and hosting a HS Tournament including 28 of the top teams in the state, everyone involved is preparing for another amazing class, ceremony, and tournament (which now includes over 60 teams).
Our 7th Inductee Class! Quick! Think of a number between one and 10. Now let's see if we can guess which number you thought of. Was it seven? We're willing to bet that many of you did indeed think of the number seven, and not just because of the topic of this Wonderful Inductee Class. Researchers have found that, when asked to think of a number between one and 10, a significant number of people will think of the number seven. Similar results occur when a large group of people are asked what their favorite number is. The number seven is usually the overwhelming favorite. Why is that? In many cultures around the world, seven is considered a lucky number. Some people believe it is, but this belief may simply stem from the positive things often associated with the number. The number seven enjoys a long history of positive associations across many different cultures. There are seven days in a week. How many colors are there in a rainbow? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet — that's right…seven! There are seven continents and there were seven wonders of the ancient world. How many deadly sins are there? You guessed it: seven! Some researchers have found that human memory works best when remembering up to — but not more than — seven items.
Although in life everyone needs a little luck here and there for this amazing group it was it was all about the dedication, sacrifice, talent and love for the game that has them inducted into the 2023 class. Such dedicated inductees include two coaches with over 30 years coaching high school who won more than 300 games each. A recent 2022 NWSL Championship Title winner in Phallon Tullis-Joyce who started every game in goal for the OL Reign and was a finalist for NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year! Several inductees who played professional overseas and here in the States including our top women's professional league, the NWSL. This year's class includes 9-year NWSL veteran and NWSL co-defender of the year and 2017 NWSL Championship Title award winner with Portland Thorns in Emily Menges. Once again, the magic of NYS Girls HS Soccer is exemplified in the 2023 Hall of Fame inductees.
We are extremely excited once again to celebrate our amazing New York State High School Girls Soccer Hall of Fame inductees and former student-athlete GREATS.
Our 7th Inductee Class! Quick! Think of a number between one and 10. Now let's see if we can guess which number you thought of. Was it seven? We're willing to bet that many of you did indeed think of the number seven, and not just because of the topic of this Wonderful Inductee Class. Researchers have found that, when asked to think of a number between one and 10, a significant number of people will think of the number seven. Similar results occur when a large group of people are asked what their favorite number is. The number seven is usually the overwhelming favorite. Why is that? In many cultures around the world, seven is considered a lucky number. Some people believe it is, but this belief may simply stem from the positive things often associated with the number. The number seven enjoys a long history of positive associations across many different cultures. There are seven days in a week. How many colors are there in a rainbow? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet — that's right…seven! There are seven continents and there were seven wonders of the ancient world. How many deadly sins are there? You guessed it: seven! Some researchers have found that human memory works best when remembering up to — but not more than — seven items.
Although in life everyone needs a little luck here and there for this amazing group it was it was all about the dedication, sacrifice, talent and love for the game that has them inducted into the 2023 class. Such dedicated inductees include two coaches with over 30 years coaching high school who won more than 300 games each. A recent 2022 NWSL Championship Title winner in Phallon Tullis-Joyce who started every game in goal for the OL Reign and was a finalist for NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year! Several inductees who played professional overseas and here in the States including our top women's professional league, the NWSL. This year's class includes 9-year NWSL veteran and NWSL co-defender of the year and 2017 NWSL Championship Title award winner with Portland Thorns in Emily Menges. Once again, the magic of NYS Girls HS Soccer is exemplified in the 2023 Hall of Fame inductees.
We are extremely excited once again to celebrate our amazing New York State High School Girls Soccer Hall of Fame inductees and former student-athlete GREATS.
Induction Day September 9, 2023
Below is our 6th class, 2022 inductees. Note: the number before the name is the Section (area) that the player, coach, contributor comes from. BLUE = Former (spent time with) USWNT or Members RED = Current USWNT Members or GREEN = Other National Team
Section - Inductee (maiden names for the women)
PSAL - Carleen Rago (New Dorp HS, Class of 1992, Class A, forward), All-State 3 times, 4-year starter, 2 New York City titles, 1 NYC runner-up. College - Endicott College).
1 - Tracey Naughton (North Rockland HS, Class A, midfield, Class of 1997) - All-State 2nd team as frosh, 2nd team as soph, 4th team as jr., 3rd team as sr. - College - Hofstra.
2 - Kristina Maksuti (Bethlehem HS, Class AA, forward, Class of 2011) - three times All-State 2nd team, 1st team as a sr. College - Fordham. Plays professionally. Maksuti has been capped for the Albania national team, appearing for the team during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying cycle. Plays as a Forward for SV Meppen of the Frauen-Bundesliga and for the Albania women's national team. In 2019 she won the Golden Boot with FF Lugano in the Swiss NLA with 18 goals.
2 - Brooke Knowlton (Niskayuna HS, Class of 2007, midfielder, Class AA), All-State 2nd team twice, 1st team as a sr., four years on varsity. College - Boston College: First Boston College player to earn All-ACC Tournament Honors, NEWISA first-team, Top 10 All-Time point leader-Goals, Points, Games Played and Game Winning Goals for the BC Eagles.
3 - Erin Stewart (West Genesee HS, Class A, forward, Class of 1994) All-State four times, 5 years on varsity. College - Mercyhurst.
4 - Megan McKeown (Ithaca HS, Class of 1999, forward, Class A), All-State 2nd team, 3rd and 4th. - College - Penn State.
4 - Megan Bellingham (Binghamton Seton, Class of 2007, forward, Class C) - All-State four times (1st twice, 2nd and 4th). Team won one state C title and 3 sectional titles. College - Syracuse. Played pro 2 years.
5 - Charlotte Williams (Brighton HS, Class of 2015, forward, Class A) - All-State four times - 2nd team, 1st team, 2nd team, 4th team. College - Penn State.
5 - Coach Judy Bliven (Genesee Valley HS, Class D, 33 years coached, 391-80-31 career record), 1 state coach of the Year, 1 state D title, 3 final fours, 7 section titles.
8 - Emily Menges (Garden City HS, Class of 2010, midfielder, Class A) - All-State 1st team twice. College - Georgetown. 9-year NWSL player currently playing for Portaland Thorns. Named 2017 NWSL Co-Defender of the Year and a NWSL Championship Title Winner.
8 - Christina Klaum (Rockville Centre South Side HS, Class of 2014, forward/midfielder, Class A) - All-State 1st team three times, once as POTY, one state title. College - Providence - starting 75 out of 76 for the Friars. Selected to the U.S. Soccer U-19 National Team Training Camp in 2015.
11 - Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Longwood HS, Class AA, goalie, Class of 2014), All-State 3rd team and 5th team, 5-years on varsity. College - Univ. Miami standout between the pipes. A 2022 NWSL National Title Champion with the OL REIGN and 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of Year Finalist with the most clean sheets and saves this season having come back to the states via France’s Stade de Reims team of the French 1st Division 2019-2022.
11 - Katie O'Connor (Ward Melville HS, Class of 2015, midfield, Class AA), 2014 All-American, 2x All-Region, All-State 3 times, 1 section title, twice finalist. College - Duquense: all-time leader in goals, game winning goals, second all-time points and shots for Duquense.
11 - Coach/Contributor Scott Wallace (Harborfields HS, Class A, 1991-Present, career record 304-189-50) - 1 state coach of the year, 1x NFHS Regional Coach of the Year, 5 section titles, 1 final four, contributed as Section. 11 rep (also SCGSCA President 1999-2009) for NYYSCOGS with 7 years for state rankings and All-State.
Below is our 6th class, 2022 inductees. Note: the number before the name is the Section (area) that the player, coach, contributor comes from. BLUE = Former (spent time with) USWNT or Members RED = Current USWNT Members or GREEN = Other National Team
Section - Inductee (maiden names for the women)
PSAL - Carleen Rago (New Dorp HS, Class of 1992, Class A, forward), All-State 3 times, 4-year starter, 2 New York City titles, 1 NYC runner-up. College - Endicott College).
1 - Tracey Naughton (North Rockland HS, Class A, midfield, Class of 1997) - All-State 2nd team as frosh, 2nd team as soph, 4th team as jr., 3rd team as sr. - College - Hofstra.
2 - Kristina Maksuti (Bethlehem HS, Class AA, forward, Class of 2011) - three times All-State 2nd team, 1st team as a sr. College - Fordham. Plays professionally. Maksuti has been capped for the Albania national team, appearing for the team during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying cycle. Plays as a Forward for SV Meppen of the Frauen-Bundesliga and for the Albania women's national team. In 2019 she won the Golden Boot with FF Lugano in the Swiss NLA with 18 goals.
2 - Brooke Knowlton (Niskayuna HS, Class of 2007, midfielder, Class AA), All-State 2nd team twice, 1st team as a sr., four years on varsity. College - Boston College: First Boston College player to earn All-ACC Tournament Honors, NEWISA first-team, Top 10 All-Time point leader-Goals, Points, Games Played and Game Winning Goals for the BC Eagles.
3 - Erin Stewart (West Genesee HS, Class A, forward, Class of 1994) All-State four times, 5 years on varsity. College - Mercyhurst.
4 - Megan McKeown (Ithaca HS, Class of 1999, forward, Class A), All-State 2nd team, 3rd and 4th. - College - Penn State.
4 - Megan Bellingham (Binghamton Seton, Class of 2007, forward, Class C) - All-State four times (1st twice, 2nd and 4th). Team won one state C title and 3 sectional titles. College - Syracuse. Played pro 2 years.
5 - Charlotte Williams (Brighton HS, Class of 2015, forward, Class A) - All-State four times - 2nd team, 1st team, 2nd team, 4th team. College - Penn State.
5 - Coach Judy Bliven (Genesee Valley HS, Class D, 33 years coached, 391-80-31 career record), 1 state coach of the Year, 1 state D title, 3 final fours, 7 section titles.
8 - Emily Menges (Garden City HS, Class of 2010, midfielder, Class A) - All-State 1st team twice. College - Georgetown. 9-year NWSL player currently playing for Portaland Thorns. Named 2017 NWSL Co-Defender of the Year and a NWSL Championship Title Winner.
8 - Christina Klaum (Rockville Centre South Side HS, Class of 2014, forward/midfielder, Class A) - All-State 1st team three times, once as POTY, one state title. College - Providence - starting 75 out of 76 for the Friars. Selected to the U.S. Soccer U-19 National Team Training Camp in 2015.
11 - Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Longwood HS, Class AA, goalie, Class of 2014), All-State 3rd team and 5th team, 5-years on varsity. College - Univ. Miami standout between the pipes. A 2022 NWSL National Title Champion with the OL REIGN and 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of Year Finalist with the most clean sheets and saves this season having come back to the states via France’s Stade de Reims team of the French 1st Division 2019-2022.
11 - Katie O'Connor (Ward Melville HS, Class of 2015, midfield, Class AA), 2014 All-American, 2x All-Region, All-State 3 times, 1 section title, twice finalist. College - Duquense: all-time leader in goals, game winning goals, second all-time points and shots for Duquense.
11 - Coach/Contributor Scott Wallace (Harborfields HS, Class A, 1991-Present, career record 304-189-50) - 1 state coach of the year, 1x NFHS Regional Coach of the Year, 5 section titles, 1 final four, contributed as Section. 11 rep (also SCGSCA President 1999-2009) for NYYSCOGS with 7 years for state rankings and All-State.
