Fresno Bee girls soccer All-Stars: Braedyn Kincade position switch leads to top honors

Anthony Galaviz
Updated ·4 min read

Clovis North High senior Braedyn Kincade showed leadership and an extra gear this year, both pivotal to the Broncos’ success.

And when it mattered the most, Kincade came through, scoring in every match in the Central Section playoffs including the championship-clinching goal in the 60th minute for a 2-1 victory over Liberty-Bakersfield.

“I just wanted to develop my skills and do the best I could for my team and pull out a championship, and we did,” she said.

Kincade is The Fresno Bee Player of the Year.

“She’s well-deserving of this award,” Broncos coach Nick Pappanduros said. “What she did all year for this team, being the leader that she is. We had six new starters. She brought those players up and got them to know what Clovis North soccer is all about: winning championships. She led the way all year. Just her play at the end of the season was phenomenal.”

Kincade was moved out of center halfback to center-forward midseason and responded with 13 goals and 12 assists in a “short time span.”

“Boy, did she shine,” Pappanduros said.

Clovis North players celebrate a goal by No. 16 Braedyn Kincade in the second oveterime period of a CIF Central Section Division I girls soccer semifinal on Feb. 21, 2023. Clovis North won, 2-1, in overtime to advance to the championship match.
Clovis North players celebrate a goal by No. 16 Braedyn Kincade in the second oveterime period of a CIF Central Section Division I girls soccer semifinal on Feb. 21, 2023. Clovis North won, 2-1, in overtime to advance to the championship match.

Reflecting back on the championship season, the Cal State Northridge-bound Kincade is giving credit all the way to her teammates.

“Every single one of them,” she said. “Whether they’re playing on the field or not, encouraging everything and the best around me to do my best. All of them. To be able to be recognized for this award is, really means a lot.”

Coach of the Year: Nick Pappanduros, Clovis North

Pappanduros always gives credit to his players and his assistants.

It started at Edison in 1999 and continued this season at Clovis North.

“Always nice to be recognized,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without these girls who believed in the program and the system that we do. My main goal for these girls is to become one as a team, one as a family, and they absolutely did.”

Clovis North girls soccer head coach Nick Pappanduros is the Bee’s girls soccer Coach of the Year, photographed Wednesday, March 29, 2023 in Fresno.
Clovis North girls soccer head coach Nick Pappanduros is the Bee’s girls soccer Coach of the Year, photographed Wednesday, March 29, 2023 in Fresno.

Pappanduros has compiled a career record of 403-136-81, second-most wins in section history, historian Bob Barnett said.

He has guided his teams to seven league championships, five section championships and one runner-up.

Large School Player of the Year: Daisy Torres, Buchanan

The senior forward led the Bears with 19 goals and 15 assists as Buchanan shared the Tri-River Athletic Conference championship with Clovis North.

Torres scored in virtually in every game this season, netting four goals against Central in January.

Medium School Player of the Year: Emma Burnes, Mission Oak

Burnes scored 20 goals with 11 assists in leading the Hawks to a West Yosemite League title.

She was named WYL MVP.

Small School Player of the Year: Kegan Brunnemann, Fresno Christian

Brunnemann had 46 goals and 22 assists as the Eagles went 22-2-2 and 13-0 in the Northwest Sequoia League.

She was MVP of the NWSL.

Bee All-Stars

Gizelle Aguirre, Jr., Forward, Caruthers

Kimberly Angeles, Sr., Forward, Porterville

Aliah Avila, Sr., Middle Forward, Madera South

Rebekah Beasley, Jr., Forward, Mission Oak

Bailey Bracha, Sr., Forward, Buchanan

Diane Castillo, Sr., Goalkeeper, Mt. Whitney

Jazmine Castaneda, Jr., Forward, Hanford West

Avery Chaney, Jr., Forward, Buchanan

Brooke Cox, Sr., Striker/Middle Forward, Clovis West

Isabella Duran, Sr., Forward, Lindsay

Stephanie Garcia, Sr., Defender, Selma

Marissa Garza, Jr., Forward, Buchanan

Bailee Goforth, Jr., Forward, Lemoore

Alanys Medina-Gonzalez, Sr., Forward, Torres

Abbie Herren, Soph., Fresno Christian

Katie Hofer, Jr., Striker/Forward, Immanuel

Shae Kuntz, Jr., Forward, Clovis North

Damaris Lopez, Sr., Forward, Fowler

Stephany Martinez, Jr., Forward, Chowchilla

Rosa Marron, Sr., Forward, Granite Hills

Destiny Masadamas, Sr., Corcoran

Natalie McDonnell, Sr., Forward, Redwood

Kinsey McIntosh, Jr., Forward/Defender, Liberty-Madera Ranchos

Alanys Medina, Sr., Middle Forward, Torres

Katie Morris, Sr., Forward, Clovis North

Abigail Ochoa, Sr., Forward, Washington Union

Izamar Ramirez, Jr., Forward/Halfback, Sunnyside

Lynea Rivera, Sr., Defender, El Diamante

Nicolle Ruiz, Soph., Forward, Torres

Olivia Saenz, Sr., Goalkeeper, Redwood

Lauren Starr, Fr., Forward/Defender, Tulare Western

Lexi Sweatt, Sr., Forward, Clovis North

Layla Torres, Jr., Forward, Chowchilla

Emily Vaca, Jr., Defender, Madera South

Olivia Vasquez, Sr., Forward, Exeter

Molli Villanueva, Sr., Forward, Yosemite

Alyssa White, Sr., Forward, Clovis East

Allison Wood, Jr., Forward, Immanuel

Presley Woods, Sr., Defender, Kingsburg