Cleveland Girls Soccer Head Coach Emily Ngan was honored with PIL Coach of the Year, and senior Ella Burke received PIL Player of the Year. These awards capped off an impressive 2017 season for the girls soccer program.

“When I learned I had won the Coach of the Year award I was humbled and honored,” Ngan said. “Although my name is on the award, it was an entire group effort from my coaching staff on varsity as well as JV. Credit to them for believing in the culture and system I wanted to establish in our program.”

Players believe Ngan is more than deserving of the recognition. “She not only pulled the team together, but she pulled the program together. She consistently made players feel good to be a part of the team and feel happy with their play,” junior Samantha Lyon said.

In addition to being selected by the PIL to be player of the year, Burke was selected by her teammates to be the recipient of the Royal C award.

“I am so honored to have won these awards,” Burke said. “This has been the best last year I could’ve hoped for and I am really proud of how the team came together and the success we had.”

“She has earned a lot of respect from our players and especially from myself,” said Ngan. “She defines what it means to be a student athlete at Cleveland High School on and off the field.”

The Warriors had three players make the PIL First Team All-City: Seniors Ella Burke, Julia Downing, and Lauryn Ruegg. Two players were selected to the PIL Second Team All-City, junior Audrey Olenski and freshman Devon Burke. Sophomore Jordyn Hoff and junior Eliza Herring were given All-City Honorable Mentions.