After scoring 14 goals and dishing out three assists during the 2010 season, Palmyra-Macedon forward Leah May took on more of a playmaking role in 2011. The junior finished with eight goals and 14 assists, and was Pal-Mac’s unmistakable leader in being named the Daily Messenger’s 2011 Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
A lot of those assists went to teammate Samantha Gagliano, who finished the year with 18 goals.
“We tried to get the ball to each other as much as possible and we worked well together,” May said.
May helped lead the Red Raiders to the Section 5 Class B semifinals, where Hornell defeated Pal-Mac, 2-1. The junior said the run to the semifinals was memorable. May scored in overtime in a 1-0 win over Newark in the first round and setup Gagliano for the winner in overtime
in a 2-1 win over rival Midlakes in the quarterfinals.
“I’ll remember Midlakes because we beat them twice this season and they were both close games and Newark was exciting because we were able to go to the next round and it was a close game,” May said.
After having such a strong season, she was named the Finger Lakes East Player of the Year and made second team all-state for Class B.
The junior credited her coach Mike Karns with helping get through the ups and downs of the last four soccer seasons.
“In eighth grade, I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and coming back was really difficult,” May said. “He helped me get to 100 percent.
“There’s always something I can improve on and he helps me out.”
Karns is thrilled to have May on his roster for one more year.
“The thing that Leah excels at is her work ethic in practice and in games,” the coach said. “She worked hard every single practice. Never took a day off. Never took a play off. She always
worked hard to make herself and her teammates better. She was always first or second in every sprint. She did every drill at game speed.”
The daughter of Keith and Patti May also plays varsity basketball and lacrosse for Pal-Mac.
May wants to go to college for physical therapy.
After scoring 14 goals and dishing out three assists during the 2010 season, Palmyra-Macedon forward Leah May took on more of a playmaking role in 2011. The junior finished with eight goals and 14 assists, and was Pal-Mac’s unmistakable leader in being named the Daily Messenger’s 2011 Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
A lot of those assists went to teammate Samantha Gagliano, who finished the year with 18 goals.
“We tried to get the ball to each other as much as possible and we worked well together,” May said.
May helped lead the Red Raiders to the Section 5 Class B semifinals, where Hornell defeated Pal-Mac, 2-1. The junior said the run to the semifinals was memorable. May scored in overtime in a 1-0 win over Newark in the first round and setup Gagliano for the winner in overtime
in a 2-1 win over rival Midlakes in the quarterfinals.
“I’ll remember Midlakes because we beat them twice this season and they were both close games and Newark was exciting because we were able to go to the next round and it was a close game,” May said.
After having such a strong season, she was named the Finger Lakes East Player of the Year and made second team all-state for Class B.
The junior credited her coach Mike Karns with helping get through the ups and downs of the last four soccer seasons.
“In eighth grade, I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and coming back was really difficult,” May said. “He helped me get to 100 percent.
“There’s always something I can improve on and he helps me out.”
Karns is thrilled to have May on his roster for one more year.
“The thing that Leah excels at is her work ethic in practice and in games,” the coach said. “She worked hard every single practice. Never took a day off. Never took a play off. She always
worked hard to make herself and her teammates better. She was always first or second in every sprint. She did every drill at game speed.”
The daughter of Keith and Patti May also plays varsity basketball and lacrosse for Pal-Mac.
May wants to go to college for physical therapy.
