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

Derrick Webb, Managing Editor

A regional finalist, three district champions, 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 35 area players who were at their best throughout the fall season.

Karah Allison | Senior | Midfielder | Alexander

While leading a team that could be argued as the program’s best-ever, Allison was extraordinary at every turn this fall. The Spartans’ captain scored 26 times and passed out 14 assists — both team-highs — and led her teammates to Alexander’s longest tournament run since 2018. Allison was a first-team all-league, all-district and All-Ohio selection, leaving behind huge shoes to fill.

Ava Artrip | Defender | Sophomore | Wheelersburg

If you had a chance to see Wheelersburg this season, there’s a good chance you’re well aware of how important Artrip was to the team’s defensive efforts. She’s a player you love to have as a teammate but hate to play against, constantly bringing her pesky, nagging style of play. In 18 games, the Pirates allowed just 20 goals. Artrip was at the center of that effort all year long.

Aubrey Barber | Striker | Junior | Fayetteville

Fayetteville was not to be messed with this season and Barber was one of the main reasons why. The SHAC-champion Rockets relied on Barber to provide a spark and she obliged on a nightly basis. Barber scored 18 goals and passed out nine assists, aiding an offense that scored 72 times. She earned all-conference and all-district honors, and will be even better in 2026.

Becca Bergstrom | Defender | Senior | McClain

Suffocating is how you’d describe McClain’s defense this past year and Bergstrom was the ring leader. She anchored a defense that surrendered just 22 goals in 20 games and pitched seven shutouts. Bergstrom and the back line’s efforts helped the Tigers win their first-ever league and district championships. She was a first-team all-FAC and first-team all-district honoree.

Abbie Brabham | Midfielder | Senior | Gallia Academy

In a season where Gallia Academy captured an OVC title, Brabham enjoyed an absolute breakout year. The OVC Offensive Player of the Year scored 23 goals — by far, a career-high — and led her Blue Angels to a 12-4-2 overall mark. She earned her first career All-Ohio honor, putting an exclamation point on one of the best individual seasons in school history.

Maddie Brookins | Junior | Midfielder | Alexander

Put simply, Brookins was the battery that kept Alexander’s engines up and running. The tough-nosed junior did everything that didn’t appear on the stat sheet for the Spartans, and then some, scoring three times and passing out a pair of assists. Her efforts led Alexander to a district title and a regional final appearance, and garnered first-team all-district accolades.

Lily Carlier | Striker | Senior | Fayetteville

With a team-leading 26 goals, Carlier was the focus of Fayetteville’s offensive attack. It led the Rockets to an undefeated season in league play — a tall task in itself — and a district semifinal appearance. Carlier was the SHAC’s Player of the Year, an all-district selection and absolutely should’ve been an All-Ohio honoree. She ends her career with 81 goals and 19 assists.

Sydney Carpenter | Midfielder | Senior | Jackson

Some players simply have a knack for beating the keeper. Carpenter absolutely has that trait. She ended a magnificent career by scoring 34 goals alongside five assists, leading the Ironladies to nine wins and a 7-2-1 mark in the league. The FAC Player of the Year added all-district and All-Ohio honors to her resume, finishing her career with 87 goals and 25 assists.

Ella Chapman | Defender | Senior | Athens

Chapman is a mainstay in area soccer circles and her four consecutive All-Ohio honors prove that. After being selected as a second-team All-Ohioan as a freshman and sophomore, Chapman tallied her second consecutive first-team honor with an impressive senior campaign. She was the unquestioned leader of the Bulldogs’ defense, who allowed just 1.3 goals per night.

Caitlyn Collins | Keeper | Senior | Lynchburg-Clay

In a year where Lynchburg-Clay experienced growing pains, Collins was a constant form of veteran leadership in between the pipes. The senior pitched four shutouts, helping the Mustangs win seven matches and finish 3-2-1 in SHAC play. Collins made 138 saves in goal, earning herself all-conference, all-district and All-Ohio honors. She leaves big shoes to fill.

Karleigh Cooper | Midfielder | Junior | Miami Trace

Throughout the best season in Miami Trace’s program history, Cooper was often the best player on the pitch. She quarterbacked an offense that scored 95 times, aided a defense that allowed just 20 goals and seemed to make the right decision every single  time the ball was at her feet. She scored 16 times and tallied a team-high 20 assists, upping her career totals to 36 and 44.

Makena Corbin | Midfielder | Junior | Eastern Brown

Beast. That’s what Corbin was on a nightly basis for a dangerous Eastern Brown program. She spent her junior season aiding the Warriors to eight wins and a district semifinal appearance. Corbin scored seven times and passed out 11 assists — a high mark in the SHAC — en route to all-league and all-district honors. She’ll be one of the elite talents in the district come next fall.

Aidyn Danison | Striker | Senior | Unioto

Danison is the latest great in a long line at Unioto. The three-time defending SVC Player of the Year scored 15 times and passed out five helpers this season, boosting her career totals to 63 and 13. During her four-year tenure, the program won 43 games and secured three league titles. She was a constant facilitator in the team’s offense and will be sorely missed in 2026.

Elyse Day | Midfielder | Junior | Miami Trace

To put it simply … Miami Trace wouldn’t have had the season that it did without Day facilitating things in the middle. The tough-nosed junior scored six times and passed out seven assists during a 13-win season, but it’s what she did that didn’t show up on the stat sheet that mattered most. Day will bring a plethora of leadership back next season as MT chases a district title.

Meredith Dietrick | Defender | Senior | Hillsboro

Hillsboro threw up eight goose eggs this season and without Dietrick, that wouldn’t have happened. For quite some time, Dietrick has lived up to her reputation as one of the area’s best defenders. She met that challenge at every turn this fall. She helped the Indians win 10 games and ended her career with all-FAC and all-district accolades. She’ll be incredibly hard to replace.

Molly Dunlap | Striker | Senior | Fairland

All things considered, it’s absolutely fair to say that Fairland had a successful season. The Dragons went from 8-8 in 2024 to 11-5-1 this past fall and finished second in the OVC with a 7-1-2 mark. A huge reason for that turnaround was Dunlap, who scored 20 times and passed out 14 assists. She ends her career as Fairland’s all-time leading scorer with 69 scores. 

Austin Frantz | Midfielder | Junior | Valley

Pound for pound, Frantz might be the toughest player on this list. Every single night, she held her own in the midfield, leading the Indians to 12 wins — including the program’s first-ever tournament victory. She scored 14 times and had a team-high 24 assists en route to earning all-district and All-Ohio honors. In just the past two seasons, she has 28 goals and 38 assists.

Kyla Gasser | Striker | Junior | Fairfield Union

Throughout her career as a Falcon, Gasser has known nothing but success. It’s a testament to the program, but it’s also a testament to her own ability to add to the program’s culture. This fall, she scored 22 times and handed out 29 assists, leading an offense that scored 102 times. She’ll enter her senior season with a total of 59 scores and 59 helpers, looking to play add-on.

Vivan Henninger | Striker | Junior | Fairfield

Henninger missed the end of her sophomore season due to injury. She made up for that, and then some, as a junior. Scoring 31 goals and dishing out seven assists, she helped her Lions win the school’s second district championship and make a Sweet 16 appearance. Heading into her senior season, 100 career goals is on the horizon. She owns 66 scores and 25 assists. 

Ella Hochstetler | Striker | Junior | Wheelersburg

As Hochstetler continues her career, her dominance becomes more prevalent. Once again this fall, she powered the Pirates’ high-powered offense, scoring a team-high 27 times and adding nine assists to her totals. It helped ‘Burg finish 14-4 overall with another SOC title in hand. Hochstetler will enter her senior season with 74 goals and 19 assists, ready for one last ride.

Ava Hooper | Midfielder | Senior | Fairfield

Put simply, Hooper was the engine that made the Lions’ offense run. Hooper’s individual totals showed her growth as a scorer, too. She scored a career-high 12 goals alongside six assists, totaling 30 and 25 during the past four seasons. To prove her impact, during her career, Fairfield was 54-21-3 overall and won two district championships — the program’s only two in its history.

Meri Jackson | Keeper | Junior | Fairfield

For the second time in school history, Fairfield brought a district championship trophy back to Leesburg. Jackson was imperative to that movement and held her ground in between the pipes all season long. The junior tallied 95 saves and a SHAC-leading eight shutouts while guiding a tough-nosed defense. Jackson was a first-team all-league and first-team all-district honoree.

Addison Lemon | Keeper | Junior | Minford

Lemon just continues to get better. The Falcons’ last line of defense tallied 93 saves this fall — 5.2 per match — upping her career total to 278. Her play helped Minford finish 8-7-3 in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. As she enters her senior season, Lemon will try and lead the Falcons back to, at least, the regional tournament. They’ve got a great shot to do so.

Ella McGraw | Midfielder | Sophomore | Wheelersburg

It seemed like each and every time the ball was at McGraw’s feet, something special happened. McGraw’s ability to find the back of the net led the Pirates to yet another league title as she scored 25 times and passed out a team-high 24 assists. The SOC POY and All-Ohioan will enter her junior season with 48 goals and 35 assists in her already impressive career.

Kyleigh Mercurio | Striker | Junior | Westfall

The Mustangs won all 13 games that Mercurio played in and that’s not a coincidence in the least bit. The junior was magnificent, scoring 37 times — five in one game and seven in another — before an injury derailed what looked like a season of destiny. Without Mercurio in the lineup, Westfall was 1-4 in their last five games. She’ll be healthy next fall, searching for retribution.

Maddi Mitchell | Striker | Junior | Fairfield Union

Fairfield Union certainly didn’t lack talent up top. Mitchell, alone, makes that statement true with a team-high 23 goals this fall alongside 14 assists. Those numbers aided the Falcons to another double-digit win season and a 7-1-1 mark in the MSL-Buckeye. In the past two seasons, Mitchell has scored 37 times while dishing out 21 helpers. Those numbers will swell next year.

Morgan Mitchell | Senior | Defender | Alexander

To say that Alexander’s defense was suffocating is the understatement of the year. Mitchell was the leader of the group, constantly thwarting opponents’ attacks. The senior led a defense that allowed 18 goals all season long — an average of 0.95 per night — and produced 13 shutouts. The team’s defense powered an Elite 8 run and set a program record for single-season wins. 

Kobie Miles | Striker | Senior | Hillsboro

For the third straight season, Miles led the Indians in scoring. Her 35 goals were a career-high as she also tallied seven assists. In her four years at Hillsboro, Miles found the back of the net on 74 occasions, truly cementing her status as one of the program’s all-time greats. She ended the season with all-conference and all-district honors, adding to her already-packed trophy case.

Nora Morrison | Striker | Junior | Miami Trace

When it’s all said and done, Morrison will be Miami Trace’s all-time leading scorer for years to come. Each season she’s been on the pitch, her scoring totals have significantly seen an incline. After tallying 13 and 22 goals during her first two years, she posted a team-high 33 scores in 2025. When you add in 23 career assists, you get an absolute offensive machine.

Addison Olaker | Striker | Senior | McClain

Over the past two seasons, Olaker has steadily improved her game. And, she certainly saved her best season for her last. With 15 goals and a team-high 12 assists, Olaker helped her Tigers win 15 games and capture a Gold Ball in the FAC. She stood out amongst a bevy of talent on McClain’s roster and consistently gave opponents fits. The Tigers will certainly miss her in 2026.

Paisley Pryor | Striker | Junior | McClain

When the road got rocky, McClain looked to Pryor to provide leadership. She answered every bell with flying colors. The junior spearheaded a historic season, one that saw the Tigers capture the program’s first-ever league and district titles. Along the way, Pryor tallied a team-high 28 goals alongside eight assists. She’ll enter her senior year looking for a repeat.

Marley Rhodes | Striker | Junior | Minford

Pure speed. That’s what Rhodes has been blessed with and she showed it off all year long. Her 12 goals this season were a career-high and led her team, helping Minford put away eight wins. As she enters her senior year, she’ll be heavily relied upon to be better than ever. The Falcons have the right pieces to make a deep run, and Rhodes will have a say in just how far they go.

Mia Rose | Striker | Sophomore | Valley

If you’re trying to run alongside Rose, you’re going to need a second gear to keep up. The sophomore constantly had the burners on up top, pacing the Indians’ offensive efforts. She scored a team-high 21 goals and helped Valley reach a district semifinal. With Rose back in the fold in 2026, the Indians will have a golden opportunity to chase a district championship trophy.

Taylor Smeck | Midfielder | Senior | Fairfield Union

The Falcons’ senior earned her right to wear the captain patch, leading the program to a 13-5-1 mark this fall. Smeck scored 11 times and posted eight times, earning a first-team all-MSL honor alongside an honorable mention all-district nod. Her speed often allowed her to blow past defenders before she facilitated the ball to her teammates. The Falcons will miss her next fall.

Sadie Tieman | Midfielder | Sophomore | Minford

The future is bright in Minford and Tieman is one of the reasons why. She spent her sophomore season scoring seven times and passing out a team-high 12 assists. One year removed from a Final 4 run, the Falcons were expected to take a step back. But they still pieced together an overall mark of 8-7-3 and were in every contest. Tieman will have them ready to rock next fall.

Honorable Mention Selections

Kaylee Hudnall, Alexander; Arbor Albano, Alexander; Brooklyn Metts, Alexander; Elliana Meyers, Unioto; Makenzie Mullens, Wheelersburg; Larah Henson, McClain; Bailey Parson, McClain; Mylie Lovett, McClain; Leah Lovett, McClain; Marian Mara, Miami Trace; Belle DeBruin, Miami Trace; Arianna Evans, Hillsboro; Kollier Fulton, Jackson; Braelyn Brennan, Jackson; Alex Erslan, Chillicothe; Landry Teeters, Fairfield; Aiva Brumley, Peebles; Lily Ferguson, Lynchburg-Clay; Lily Layne, Lynchburg-Clay; Gabby Lamb, Eastern Brown; Vivian Grimes, Eastern Brown; Peyton Hughes, Fairfield Union; Kinsley Berger, Amanda-Clearcreek; Bailey Russell, Fairland; Lily Helmstetler, Chesapeake

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