Daily Pilot Girls’ Soccer Dream Team: Brielle Benedict’s smarts helped Newport Harbor excel on pitch
Brielle Benedict’s intelligence on the pitch is possibly only matched by her intellegence in the classroom.
She is one of 14 valedictorians in her senior class at Newport Harbor High, and has a 4.6 cumulative grade-point average. Benedict plans to study architectural engineering at the University of Texas.
Benedict clearly understands the importance of having a good foundation.
She provided that this year for the Sailors girls’ soccer team. She scored 11 goals, which was second-best on the team, and led Newport Harbor with 10 assists.
Her smooth play helped the Sailors win their third Wave League title in four years and advance to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
For her efforts, Benedict is the 2021-22 Daily Pilot Dream Team Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year.
Sailors coach Justin Schroeder called Benedict, who shared league MVP honors with junior teammate Antonella Russo, the team’s “Swiss army knife.” She was able to play anywhere needed, whether that was midfield or forward.
“She’s great with the ball and she has a motor that doesn’t quit,” Schroeder said. “For as much as she did offensively for us, she probably did just as much defensively, even from the forward position. She definitely contributed on both ends.”
Benedict played in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy as a freshman and sophomore, leaving her unable to lace up her cleats for high school. But she made the most out of her two seasons with the Sailors after the Academy was shut down.
“It was a blessing in disguise,” Benedict said. “I wouldn’t have played high school if it didn’t get shut down, and I like high school a lot more than club. It kind of made me realize that I didn’t want to play club anymore, actually. I quit club after this season ended.
“I wish I had played my freshman and sophomore year. Playing for your school is more motivating.”
With Benedict, who shared team captain duties with Gigi Davila, the Sailors had a soft-spoken leader who did things the right way. She said she was proud of her team’s accomplishments this year.
Though Newport Harbor’s 14-10-4 record may not look overly impressive, as Benedict pointed out, the team was in every game. Not one of the 10 losses was by more than one goal, including the 3-2 setback at Villa Park in the Division 1 quarterfinals that could end up as Benedict’s last competitive match. A round earlier, the Sailors had upset Capistrano Valley by the same score.
“In the beginning of the season, you could tell we weren’t all meshed together,” Benedict said. “Something clicked right before league started, and we started playing together better and working for each other.”
Benedict undoubtedly played a big role in that cohesion. Schroeder will miss having her on the squad next year, as Newport Harbor moves up to the Surf League.
“She was a great leader,” he said. “She was a kid who said ‘Thank you’ after every practice, shook your hand or gave you a little fist-bump. That was kind of crazy to us.”
Here’s a look at the Dream Team Coach of the Year and the first-team and second-team selections:
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jason Boyce
Costa Mesa
In his fourth year in charge of the Mustangs girls’ program, Boyce has turned Costa Mesa into the class of the Orange Coast League. Boyce, a Corona del Mar High graduate and former Major League Soccer and United Soccer League player, has created that expectation for the Mustangs. This year’s effort saw Costa Mesa (11-11-3) clinch its fourth straight league title, and the Mustangs did not concede a goal in league until their final league match, having already clinched the crown. The Mustangs advanced to the second round of the Division 4 playoffs, losing a late lead there. A challenge is on the horizon, as traditional powerhouse St. Margaret’s is joining the league next year, but Boyce has the program clearly excelling after years of tough fortune.
FIRST TEAM
Alex Wood
FW | Edison | Sr.
Wood seemed like a goal-scoring machine at times for the Chargers. Playing in her first full year of high school soccer after breaking a bone in her foot as a junior, she led Edison with 18 goals, nine of those coming against Sunset Conference opponents. Wood scored in all three matches against rival Huntington Beach, including a tiebreaker match for second place in the Surf League. Wood, the Surf League Offensive Player of the Year, is bound for Wake Forest.
Laine Briggs
FW | Newport Harbor | Jr.
Briggs, a libero in girls’ volleyball, had an extended season after helping the Sailors advance to the CIF Southern California Regional Division II title match. When she finally got on the pitch, the Wave League Offensive Player of the Year went on a scoring tear, including the deciding goal in a Battle of the Bay win at CdM. Briggs ended up with a team-best 12 goals for Newport, and her nine assists were second on the team.
Tiffany Rodriguez
FW | Los Amigos| Sr.
Rodriguez was one of two four-year varsity players for the Lobos who contributed to the 2019 CIF Division 5 title team as a freshman. She literally played all over the field except goalkeeper during her time in the program, but this year coaches Cassidy Abad and Rafael Marquez put her mostly up top. She responded with 23 goals, earning Garden Grove League Offensive Player of the Year honors. Rodriguez helped the Lobos (12-6) finish second in league and advance to the Division 6 playoffs, where they fell 1-0 to Sage Hill in a hard-fought wildcard match.
Isis Salazar
FW | Ocean View | Soph.
Salazar played running back for the Seahawks football team, but shined brightest on the pitch for coach Marcos Canseco’s side. Despite constantly being double-teamed — and despite missing three league matches due to the coronavirus — she managed to score 24 goals for Ocean View (9-8-4), earning Golden West League Offensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight year. Salazar helped the Seahawks finish third in league and advance to the Division 3 playoffs.
Kyra Kirsch
MF | Costa Mesa | Jr.
Kirsch earned Orange Coast League MVP honors for the Mustangs, excelling in the defensive center midfield spot. She could also play up front, scoring goals for Costa Mesa, and was a huge part of the team’s success. Kirsch, the daughter of CdM assistant girls’ soccer coach Mark Kirsch, should be primed for a big senior season.
Jane Paulsen
MF | Corona del Mar | Sr.
Paulsen, also a tennis standout for CdM, proved to be arguably the most valuable player for the Sea Kings on the pitch as well. She was versatile but played most of her time in the midfield, ending up with a team-best nine goals and three assists. She was also valuable for Coach Bryan Middleton’s squad on free kicks and headers on set pieces, helping the Sea Kings (13-8-2) go 11-0 in their preseason and advance to the second round of the Division 2 playoffs.
Antonella Russo
MF | Newport Harbor | Jr.
Russo put together a good postseason run, scoring two goals and one assist in the Division 1 playoffs to aid the Sailors’ quarterfinal run. But she was consistent, and earned co-Wave League MVP honors in the process. Overall for the season, Russo tallied seven goals and eight assists, and she will be one of the more explosive players returning to the pitch next year as a senior.
Leila Bahnsen
MF | Pacifica Christian Orange County | Sr.
Bahnsen, who has been a key piece for the Tritons throughout her time in the program, put together a very nice senior season. She tallied an area-best 26 goals and eight assists for Pacifica Christian, including a school single-game record five goals against Pacifica Christian Santa Monica. A two-year team captain, she was a first-team All-San Joaquin League selection.
Jacey Martinez
DEF | Huntington Beach | Jr.
Oilers coach Raul Ruiz said that Martinez, who earned Surf League Defensive Player of the Year accolades, read the game really well and organized the back line. Typically playing as a holding midfielder, she could also support the attack. Martinez helped Huntington Beach finish tied for second in league and advance to the Division 1 playoffs, where the Oilers (14-7-4) played top-seeded eventual finalist Corona Santiago tough before suffering a 1-0 loss.
Madison Klasey
DEF | Edison| Sr.
Klasey was one of two center backs for the Chargers’ defense, which was impressive all season long with 11 shutouts. The tall Klasey was tough to crack and durable, as the team captain missed just one match all season. She earned first-team All-Surf League honors and is bound for Concordia University.
Stella Gaffney
DEF | Newport Harbor | Jr.
Gaffney was the only returner on the back line for the Sailors this season, after losing pieces like center backs Jenna McConaughey and Samara Golan to graduation. Gaffney was a big reason why Newport Harbor seemingly didn’t miss a beat, recording seven shutouts. Her play was rewarded as she earned Wave League Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
Laurynn Ziller
GK | Fountain Valley | Sr.
Ziller enjoyed a stellar senior season for the Barons (6-14-3) as their last line of defense. She was a first-team All-Wave League selection who coach Scott Goldman said will be tough to replace. She helped keep Fountain Valley competitive, with five tough losses by a score of 1-0. Ziller is bound for UC Irvine.
SECOND TEAM
Position, Name, School, Year
FW Jaiden Anderson, Huntington Beach, Soph.
FW Nikki Scott, Edison, Sr.
FW Marlene Ruiz, Ocean View, Sr.
FW Abby Kirby, Marina, Sr.
MF Lauren Graham, Sage Hill, Sr.
MF Baylor Lund, Laguna Beach, Jr.
MF Sadie Hoch, Newport Harbor, Fr.
MF Elly Goan, Estancia, Jr.
MF Grace Ingalls, Edison, Sr.
DEF Isabella Almaraz, Corona del Mar, Jr.
DEF Hannah Pettys, Huntington Beach, Jr.
DEF Daisy Carrillo, Costa Mesa, Sr.
GK Allyssa Plotkin, Edison, Sr.
::
Support our sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.
For more sports stories, visit latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/sports or follow us on Twitter @DailyPilotSport.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.
