In order to be selected to the All-Kokoy XI, I had to have observed a player at least twice during the season to see a consistent pattern of standout play. This selection was not based on any statistics, but solely on what I observed at the matches I attended. The only exception I make is with Baylor, whom I did get to see twice in the 2012 campaign, once in their Big 12 tournament defeat of Texas Tech. The other match however was when the Bears, ranked 18th in the nation at the time, came to Houston Baptist in a torrential thunderstorm that turned the pitch into the swampland that east Texas used to be before the industrial era. Visibility was extremely limited from the little shelter of my umbrella and then the fogged up windshield of my car, where I sat through an abbreviated second half. Though the match went into the record books as a 5-nil drowning of HBU by Baylor, it could hardly have counted as a soccer match, the pitch flooded to ankle depth. The ball, needless to say, was impossible to maneuver effectively, and Baylor's physical strength outmuscled HBU, who could not play their typical finesse style of articulate passing and speed in transition. In any case, I could barely see who was who on the field through the downpour, often having to shield myself from the swirling tempest with my flimsy umbrella.
So, my apologies to nationally-ranked Baylor, who captured the Big 12 cup last season and made it all the way to the NCAA Division I tournament quarter-finals where they were eliminated by eventual champions North Carolina, but because of my selection criteria, the All-Kokoy squad consists of only players from inside the Sam Houston Beltway - with the exception of East Carolina keeper Christiane Cordero, which should come as no surprise to anyone who has read my January 14 blog entry. Indeed, if you have read all of my blog entries, then you can probably predict -
The 2012 All-Kokoy XI
Goalkeeper - Christiane Cordero, East Carolina University
Right Back - Arielle Rodriguez, Houston Baptist University
Center Back - Florence Onyera, Texas Southern University
Center Back - Kaci Bush, University of Houston
Left Back - Jasmine Isokpunwu, Rice University
Stopper - Danielle Muñoz, University of Houston
Right Midfield - Kylie Cook, University of Houston
Center Midfield - Quinny Truong, Rice University
Left Midfield - Gabriela Iribarne, Rice University
Forward - Natalie Hager, Houston Baptist University
Forward - Marlyn Campa, Texas Southern University
The only player I've seen take over a game from the goalkeeper position, Christiane was a shoo-in for the All-Kokoy XI selection. Gloves down the best I saw all season long. (A side note on Christiane - she wrote me a note on Facebook announcing her retirement from the game. A red-shirt junior last year, Christiane opted to forego her final year of NCAA eligibility and begin her journalism career after graduation last May. Although it's sad we won't be seeing her in a Philippine National Team uniform, we wish her well. Christiane's performance last October in Houston will long be remembered as a classic. It was an honor and privilege for me to have been there to witness it.)
With Florence and Kaci in the center, Arielle and Jasmine on the flanks, and Danielle "the disruptor" (see my blog dated Nov 27, 2012) at stopper, this is a dream defensive backfield that would be the smartest assembled on any pitch. This unit's speed of transition would pose problems against any team in the country.
With such an effective center midfielder in Quinny, I would still want to keep Kylie's intelligence and hustle on the field. Sliding her to the right would give that side of the park a dominant presence and a big far-post target for Gabi's crosses from the left.
Though Marlyn earned her spot on the A-KXI with her work as a center-midfielder, I would want to turn her loose in the attacking third. Not only would freeing Marlyn from those center-midfield responsibilities and pushing her forward bring her killer instincts closer to goal, but having her creative temperament in a deep offensive position would wreak havoc inside opposing boxes - especially with the quick-response Natalie connecting on the other end of her briliiant passes. The Natalie-Marlyn partnership on top is a match made in football heaven.
I present to you the 2012 All-Kokoy XI selection.
(All photos by Kokoy Severino)
Kokoy Severino has been coaching junior high school soccer in the public school system of the Greater Houston area for 19 years. He holds a National Youth Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, two coaching certifications from the United States Soccer Federation, and a Master in Educational Leadership degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. His research focuses on the relationship between interscholastic competitive soccer and the academic success of at-risk students. He returns regularly to his native country of the Philippines and conducts soccer training sessions for economically disadvantaged youths.
"This blog is to document the intensity, the depth, the passion, the strategic and tactical nuances, the stars, the spectacular play that I witness in the women's teams at the college level. And in doing so, it is my hope that others might be inspired to discover for themselves the beautiful game brought by the women." (Kokoy, from blog entry dated Nov 4, 2012)
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