GIRLS SOCCER: Take a look at SOSA’s All-Area team

Derrick Webb, Staff Writer

One regional finalist, three district champions, a handful of sectional title winners and a number of instant classic games … needless to say, this past girls soccer season was as successful as they come.

Southern Ohio Sports Authority was right there every step of the way, covering individual milestones, improbable feats and wins that changed history.

After a fun-filled year, take a look at our All-Area team, which consists of 30 area players who were at their best throughout the fall season.

Kiera Archer | Junior | Forward | Chillicothe

As soon as Archer stepped onto the pitch, she was a difference maker. Since her freshman year, she’s been terrorizing opponents with elite speed and an unmatched yearning to beat the keeper. This fall, Archer tallied 22 goals, a team-high, and six assists for the eight-win Cavaliers. She’ll enter her final year with 61 scores and 19 helpers, looking to add to those numbers.

Reghan Bee | Junior | Midfielder | Unioto

Some players are just born leaders. That’s Bee in a nutshell. The junior helped the Shermans win yet another Scioto Valley Conference championship and advance to a district semifinal. Very few others can do what Bee can do with the ball at her feet. She can beat most defenders one-on-one, has a unique ability to find open teammates and is always a threat to score.

Harlee Brand | Senior | Keeper | North Adams

Anytime. Anywhere. That’s when and where Brand will beat you. The senior goalkeeper again did everything but stand on her head this fall, leading the Devils to a 12-7 mark. She pitched five shutouts, totaled 79 saves and was the key cog in the team’s defense that found its identity late in the year. Brand earned all-league honors, an all-district nod and was a first-team All-Ohioan.

Sydney Carpenter | Sophomore | Forward | Jackson

You can’t ask for much better of a year than the one Carpenter enjoyed as a sophomore. Her 27 goals was a team-high and they came alongside 10 assists. She scored two or more times in eight games, was the offense’s unquestioned driving force and helped the Ironladies win their first-ever FAC championship — the program’s first league title, in general, since 2016. 

Lexi Conkel | Junior | Forward | Minford

When the ball is at Conkel’s feet, great things tend to happen. The SOC co-Player of the Year scored a league-high 37 goals this season while leading her Falcons to an 11-6-2 mark. Over the past three years, Conkel has paced Minford to 38 wins while posting 105 goals and 18 assists. Next season? She’ll be all in as the Falcons put a district crown in the crosshairs.

Aidyn Danison | Sophomore | Forward | Unioto

Danison has never been shy to shoot. Ever. And more often than not, it pays off. The sophomore, as a whole, passed the eye-test as the Shermans’ top scoring option all year long. When Unioto needed a goal in the worst of ways, Danison usually provided the fireworks. She was the SVC POY, a first-team all-district selection and there’s plenty left in the tank next year.

Faith Donley | Senior | Forward | Fairfield

Every single night, Donley brought her A-game. She was a leader and she was a one-woman wrecking crew at times. What her and her teammates accomplished will always be remembered as a “first” at Fairfield. Donley found the back of the net 34 times and added 15 assists, earning herself second-team All-Ohio honors. Her career concludes with 68 scores and 31 helpers.

Braelyn Brennan | Sophomore | Midfielder | Jackson

Lightning in a bottle. That’s what Brennan represents. She has the ability to beat any opponent with the ball at her feet alongside a knack for finding the back of the net. Her 12 scores and four assists helped Jackson finish with 16 wins and a 9-0-1 mark in FAC play. But without Brennan’s capability to help control the midfield, the Ironadies’ season may have told a different story.

Maya Free | Junior | Keeper | Unioto

For the past seven years, Free has been around the varsity game. As a middle school student, she was her sister Sydney’s ball girl. But now, the student has become the master. Free has started since her freshman season and she’s done nothing but continue her family’s successful legacy in goal. She led the Shermans to 10 wins this season and pitched eight shutouts.

Abby Guffey | Senior | Defender | Zane Trace

If there’s been one constant for Zane Trace’s program over the past four years, it’s Guffey. The defender plays with a purpose, but also with an elegance, helping the Pioneers in any way she can. This past season, she played in almost every position and held her own while doing so. Guffey was a first-team all-SVC honoree and earned a first-team all-district honor. 

Jasmyn Jones | Junior | Forward | South Point

In just three years, Jones is ever-so-close to becoming South Point’s all-time leading scorer — boy or girl. Jones netted a team-high 32 goals this past fall and dished out five assists for good measure. Her efforts led the Pointers to a 7-8-2 mark and set a foundation for future success. She was the OVC POY and a first-team all-district honoree. She’s sitting on 78 career goals.

Kenlie Jones | Senior | Midfielder | North Adams

It doesn’t matter the sport, Jones is inherently good at it. The senior simply wins, no matter how it gets done. This fall, when the Devils needed a lift, Jones was often the one who provided it. She scored 29 goals and passed out 13 assists, leading North Adams back to the district tournament. In four years, she tallied 71 goals and 39 assists, leading NA to a 52-22-2 mark.

Maddison Kotcamp | Senior | Defender | Wheelersburg

Since the program’s inception, Wheelersburg has relied on superb defensive game plans to win championships. Nothing changed this season as the Pirates captured conference and sectional crowns while allowing just 25 goals in 19 matches — 1.32 per game. Kotcamp was at the center of that success, taking on a leadership role in the defensive side. They’ll miss her tremendously.

Maycee Martindill | Sophomore | Keeper | Fairfield Union

When legendary keeper Bella Neal left Fairfield Union’s program a year ago, it left a huge void. Martindill stepped into that void and the Falcons didn’t miss a single beat. The sophomore tallied 54 saves and posted 11 shutouts. During 21 matches, she allowed 11 goals — or 0.58 per night. That equaled yet another district crown and Martindill has two years left on the docket.

Jade Massey | Senior | Forward | Lynchburg-Clay

When you have a year like Massey did — or a career like Massey has — success follows you everywhere. The senior led Lynchburg-Clay to a fifth consecutive district championship while scoring a career-high 41 goals alongside nine assists. Massey ends her four-year tear with 82 goals and 37 assists, and takes SHAC, SOSA and District Player of the Year honors with her.

Luca Matesic | Senior | Forward | McClain

Simply put, Matesic is worth the price of admission. For four consecutive years, she’s proven that fact to be true, bringing the juice on a nightly basis. She led the Tigers in scoring and to a 9-5-3 mark this past season. As a team, the Tigers consistently got better as the season went along, going 6-1-2 in their final nine contests. Matesic was the reason why that happened. 

Ali Mathis | Senior | Midfielder | Chillicothe

Mathis could absolutely flourish at the next level and that fact was on display over the past four seasons every single night. While the Cavaliers, as a whole, experienced some growing pains this fall, they’ll be just fine in the near future. That’s because Mathis’ leadership will steer the ship. After a 14-goal, nine-assist year, she ends her storied career with 74 goals and 23 helpers.

Katie McMahon | Junior | Midfielder | Fairfield Union

McMahon went from role player to the leader of FU’s backline, and the Falcons never missed a beat. She was the elder statesman for a young group, and they followed her lead every step of the way — all the way to a regional final. Her tenacity, quickness and fearlessness was on full display every night. Opposing forwards have to deal with her for another year. Good luck. 

Bella Miller | Senior | Forward | Wheelersburg

Miller’s 27 goals this season were the fourth-best scoring output in program history. She also added eight assists for a team that finished 13-5-1 and won SOC and sectional championships. Miller had the clutch gene all year long — with no better example being her hat trick at Minford on Oct. 12. Her 68 career goals is the third-best mark on Wheelersburg’s all-time scoring list. 

Quinn Murphy | Junior | Forward | Athens

The combined record of Athens’ opponents this season was 184-133-19. Needless to say, the Bulldogs had a tough task to handle every night. But Murphy helped them do it, scoring 15 goals and leading the team to an 8-7-2 mark — four of those losses were one-goal affairs. With a good part of the Bulldogs’ roster returning next year, including Murphy, the future is bright.

Maggie Risner | Junior | Midfielder | Minford

On a team that had a ton of talent, Risner was one of the group’s leaders. She consistently controlled the midfield, winning balls out of the air and distributing them to open teammates. She also scored 10 times and passed out six assists for a team that advanced to a district championship game. Next year is Minford’s year. Risner is one of the central reasons why.

Emma Scott | Senior | Forward | Rock Hill

Scott was a firestarter all year and the 11-win Redwomen took advantage of that at every turn. While leading Rock Hill to an 8-0 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference, Scott scored a team-high 23 goals and passed out 16 assists, earning herself first-team all-OVC and all-district honors. In her four years, the Redwomen were 49-14-7 and Scott logged 42 scores and 36 assists.

Aubrey Slack | Junior | Midfielder | Lynchburg-Clay

Pound for pound, Slack is one of the toughest kids you’re going to find in Southern Ohio. She plays with passion, backs down from nobody, and takes no prisoners. The junior scored nine goals and passed out 10 assists for a team that finished 15-1-4 and reached a regional title game. Next season, the Mustangs are Slack’s team. Expect more of the same results.

Avery Teeters | Senior | Defender | Fairfield

Fairfield’s historical tournament run wouldn’t have taken place without Teeters anchoring the defense. The Lions, en route to a 15-4-1 mark and a regional semifinal appearance — the program’s first-ever — Teeters and the defense posted 13 shutouts. In its final seven games, Fairfield outscored its opponents by a 34-5 margin. Teeters was the leader of that movement.

Amelia Uhrig | Senior | Defender | Unioto

Every team needs an Amelia Uhrig but not every team has one. Unioto was lucky enough to play its entire schedule with Uhrig commanding their back line, which led to eight shutouts and 10 victories. The senior helped the Shermans win their fourth SVC title in as many tries. In four years, Uhrigh and her Tanks went 49-23-5 overall and 16-0 in the SVC. That’s no coincidence.

Lanie Lunsford | Senior | Defender | Lynchburg-Clay

To say Lynchburg-Clay’s defense was good would be disrespectful. The Mustangs’ defense was one of their best units in school history — and you’re talking about a team with a rich history. Lunsford, a captain, was the unit’s leader, helping to surrender just 13 goals — six in one game — in 20 contests. She was an all-SHAC, all-district and second-team All-Ohio selection.

Mattie Walburn | Senior | Keeper | Jackson

Over the past two seasons, there’s been no better keeper in Southern Ohio than Walburn. It’s really that simple. The senior lived up to her reputation in 2023, helping her Ironladies finish 16-2-2. In those 20 matches, Walburn tallied 125 saves — 6.3 per night — and pitched 11 shutouts. She earned FAC Player of the Year honors and a second-team All-Ohio selection.

Rachael Warthman | Junior | Forward | Fairfield Union

We’ve all known for quite some time just how special Warthman is. She’s never shied away from the net and she’s always shown the ability to take over a game. Nothing changed this fall. Warthman scored 16 goals and passed out 22 assists, leading the Falcons to a 17-2-2 mark. Warthman enters her senior year with 29 goals and 40 assists. She’ll certainly play add-on.

Faith Yancey | Senior | Forward | Circleville

In a program sense, Yancey leaves a legacy that’s hard to match. Her second-team All-Ohio nod was just the 15th all-state honor in Circleville’s history and she earned every bit of it. The senior led the Tigers to an 11-5-3 mark while leading the team in scoring … again. She ends her career tied for fifth on the program’s all-time scoring list and eighth in assists.

Kennedy Zink | Senior | Forward | Fairfield

The best story in the area this season was the postseason run that Fairfield pieced together. Zink was one of the main authors writing it. The senior scored 32 times and added nine assists to her stat sheet as the Lions went 15-4-1 and won their first-ever district title. Zink, who’s led Fairfield to 50 wins in the past four years, ends her career with 65 goals and 37 assists.

Honorable Mention Selections

Cailynn Bash, Unioto; Kyleigh Mercurio, Westfall; Ella Hochstetler, Wheelersburg; Amber Blevins, Wheelersburg; Mia Vastine, Wheelersburg; Lexie Pendleton, Minford; Ava Cronin, Minford; Brooklyn Hawes, Northwest; TJ Carpenter, Jackson; Sydney Fain, Jackson; Alex Erslan, Chillicothe; Ryleigh Scott, Hillsboro; Kobie Miles, Hillsboro; Olivia Van Fleet, Lynchburg-Clay; Emma Litzinger, Eastern; Emmalee Belmont, Eastern; Hunter Grooms, North Adams; Maddi Mitchell, Fairfield Union; Kyla Gasser, Fairfield Union; Siennah Bryant, Logan Elm; Payton Ford, Circleville; Allison Rogers, Rock Hill; Molly Dunlap, Fairland; Kayla Hammonds, Athens; Ella Chapman, Athens

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