Prep girls soccer: SJN's Fernandez signs with Flagler

NAPLES — Generally, it’s football players which garner the headlines on National Signing Day.

On Wednesday, at a ceremony in front of teammates, friends, family and coaches, St. John Neumann midfielder Cassie Fernandez signed a national letter of intent to play soccer this fall for Flagler College in St. Augustine.

However, if Fernandez, who scored 46 goals in the last two season, had her druthers, it would be the gridiron rather than the soccer pitch upon which she would have preferred to display her talents.

As a child, Fernandez played Pop Warner flag football. As she got to the age where kids trade the bandana for a helmet and shoulder pads, her father, Henry, pulled her from the sport, much to Cassie’s disappointment.

The younger Fernandez reluctantly found youth soccer and Gulf Coast coach Don Ma. The rest, as they say, is history.

After the ceremony on Wednesday, Fernandez thanked her parents, Henry and Denise, coaches and classmates. The senior made a particular point though to dedicate the day to Ma, who died of a brain aneurysm in 2005.

“If not for (Ma), I would have never played soccer,” said Fernandez, also a state qualifier in track last year.”

Fernandez credits Ma with encouraging her to stick with soccer, telling her she had talent.

Fernandez’s talent was in full display in last year’s Class 2A-District 11 title game against Community School.

Tied 1-1 with the match going into penalty kicks, Fernandez, who played center midfielder in the match, scored a penalty shot to put the Celtics ahead.

She then went into the unfamiliar position as goal keeper and stopped three CSN shots to help give the Celtics the title.

“That showed Cassie can play any position,” Neumann coach Ray Grzywinski said.

Grzywinski went on to compliment Fernandez, who served as the Celtics captain this season, as a leader and unselfish player.

“Cassie’s just a fabulous player,” he said. “She could have had a lot more goals but she chose to set up teammates instead.”

At Division II Flagler, which plays in the Peach Belt Conference, Fernandez will join Gulf Coast grads Justine Long and Kaeta Chocquette on the Saints’ roster.

“Flagler is a perfect fit for me,” Fernandez said. “It’s in state and it’s a small school. Plus I love the St. Augustine area and all the history it has.”