Meet the Battle Creek Enquirer 2021 All-Enquirer Girls Soccer Team
Meet the Battle Creek Enquirer 2022 All-Enquirer Girls Soccer Team. The team is made up of members of the city and area girls soccer teams and voted on by the city and area coaches and the Battle Creek Enquirer sports staff.
Maddy Bilbia
Gull Lake
A standout senior for a Gull Lake team that was ranked throughout the year and won district and regional titles on the way through the postseason, Maddy Bilbia had 15 goals and 13 assists on the regular season and has committed to play at Northern Michigan University.
Anna DeMeester
Coldwater
A captain and all-conference player for a Coldwater team that went 10-7 overall, playing in the competitive Interstate 8 Conference, Anna DeMeester was a leader on the defensive side for the Cardinals. DeMeester finished with two goals and three assists.
Mackenzie Ford
Gull Lake
A senior captain for a Gull Lake team that advanced to the Final Four, Mackenzie Ford was All-State a year ago and is a returning member of the All-Enquirer team. Ford had 23 goals in the regular season with 12 assists and has committed to play at Grand Valley State University.
Alex French
Gull Lake
One of the top defensive players in the region, Alex French was recruited at the Division 2 level, but will attend the University of Michigan to focus on academics. French is a returning member of the All-Enquirer team and was part of 11 shutouts in the regular season from her center back position.
Ashlynn Giannunzio
Marshall
Giving Marshall some youth to build on for the future, Ashlynn Giannunzio is rising sophomore prospect on defense who helped the Redhawks record 12 shutouts, only allowing eight goals on the regular season. She was selected to the all-conference team as well for the I-8 champion Redhawks.
Rikka Grauballe
Lakeview
A key part of Lakeview's transition game, Rikka Grauballe played midfielder for a Spartan team that took home an All-City title and went 7-9-1 overall, playing in the challenging Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference. She finished with four goals and 10 assists.
Ava Hernandez
Olivet
Ava Hernandez was a team captain and a key defender as a junior for an Olivet team that went 7-9-3 on the year. The defensive MVP, Hernandez had the ability to possess the ball and create opportunities for the Olivet offense, as the Eagles went 4-3-2 in league play. She finished with one goal and one assist, earning all-league honors.
Mimi Hibbard
St. Philip/Calhoun Christian
Part of the future for the St. Philip/Calhoun Christian co-op program, Mimi Hibbard had a big sophomore season as the team's primary keeper, allowing only seven goals on the year and logging 77 saves. Also taking the field, Hibbard added six goals for a squad that went 11-5-1 overall.
Lauren Higgs
Harper Creek
Taking a leadership role as a junior, Lauren Higgs was the backbone of the Harper Creek defense as the team's keeper. Higgs had three shutouts and came up with 70 saves and earned all-league honors in the Interstate 8 Conference.
Emily Lane
Pennfield
A four-year varsity player, Emily Lane was a leader on defense for Pennfield as the team came up with three shutouts on the season. Playing center back, Lane was a captain and added two goals and will continue her career at Kellogg Community College.
Masyn Marsh
Coldwater
A captain and all-conference player for a Coldwater team that went 10-7 overall, playing in the competitive Interstate 8 Conference, Masyn Marsh was a leader on the offensive side for the Cardinals. Marsh had a team-high 20 goals and added two assists from her forward position.
Ella McAllister
Marshall
A rising college prospect as a junior, Ella McAllister helped Marshall to an undefeated regular season as the Redhawks were ranked No.1 at the end of the year. McAllister had 16 goals and 12 assists, including six game-winning goals and four game-winning assists, earning all-conference honors.
Rachel Meyer
Harper Creek
Part of a young Harper Creek team that showed growth throughout the season, Rachel Meyer had a big sophomore campaign at her midfielder position, becoming a key leader on the defense. Meyer finished with a goal and an assist and earned all-league honors in the Interstate 8 Conference.
Aleah Minehart
Gull Lake
A senior captain that came up big throughout the season, Aleah Minehart scored the game-winning goal in the conference championship-clinching win over Portage Central. She had five goals and 15 assists on the season and has committed to play at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
Bri Noorg
Battle Creek Central
In only her second year playing soccer, Bri Noorg tackled the job of keeper for a young Battle Creek Central squad and excelled. Noorg is one of the best goalies to come through the program in years with a school-record 401 saves on the season, while also breaking the record for saves in a game with 32.
Jhanaj Quispe
Lakeview
A senior leader on a Lakeview team that won an All-City championship, Jhanaj Quispe helped the Spartans go 7-9-1 in the ultra-competitive Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference. Playing defense, Quispe still came up with six goals and had two assists, earning all-league honors.
Kendall Rahn
Pennfield
A rising prospect in the area as a freshman starter, Kendall Rahn led Pennfield in points despite playing the defensive back position for the Panthers. Rahn had five goals and six assists for a Panther team that went 6-12-1 in the challenging Interstate 8 Conference.
Sydney Ross
Lakeview
A player to watch for the future, Sydney Ross had a big junior season, including getting a hat trick in a district tournament win. Ross, playing forward for the All-City champion Spartans, finished with 11 goals and five assists for a team that went 7-9-1 and earned all-league honors.
Ella Seiler
Lakeview
A cornerstone of the Lakeview defense, Ella Seiler had a big junior season as the Spartans' keeper as she helped her squad to an All-City title and a 7-9-1 record overall, playing in the SMAC. Seiler finished with 88 saves in goal to earn all-league honors.
Emma Shugars
St. Philip/Calhoun Christian
A four-year varsity player and team captain, Emma Shugars led the St. Philip/Calhoun Christian co-op team with 18 goals in the regular season. A two-year captain, the senior helped the Cougars to a 11-5-1 record overall.
Alyssa Smith
Harper Creek
A rising prospect in the city, Alyssa Smith had a breakout freshman season as the team's leading scorer and most athletic player. Smith, playing forward, had a team-high 11 goals and added four and assists earned all-league honors in the Interstate 8 Conference.
Lilah Smith
Gull Lake
A rising prospect in the Gull Lake program, Lilah Smith had a breakout freshman season and was a star among a cast of top players for a state-ranked Blue Devil program. Smith finished with seven goals and four assists.
Evelynn Stenger
Olivet
The top offensive producer for an Olivet team that went 7-9-3 overall, Evelynn Stenger had a big sophomore season at her forward position. Stenger, showing the ability to win one-on-one battles and create a strong shot, finished with a team-high 11 goals and eight assists as she earned all-league honors and team offensive MVP.
Madelyn St. John
Marshall
A senior leader and a big part of an undefeated season for the No. 1-ranked Marshall Redhawks, Madelyn St. John was a team captain from her forward position and finished with 15 goals and eight assists, including four game-winning goals. She is a returning member of the All-Enquirer team and earned all-league honors and will play at Hope College.
Sophia Thawnghmung
Lakeview
Showing good speed and quickness, Sophia Thawnghmung was a part of Lakeview's scoring threat as a junior forward. She helped the Spartans to a city title and a 7-9-1 overall record as she had eight goals on the year.
Mallory Tucker
Marshall
A senior captain, Mallory Tucker was a leader on and off the field for a Marshall team that was undefeated on the regular season and in the top 10 in the state much of the year. Tucker, playing on defense, helped the Redhawks to an Interstate 8 Conference crown and added six goals and six assists.
Addie Waito
Marshall
As a sophomore, Addie Waito played a big role on a talented Marshall team that went 19-0 in the regular season with an Interstate 8 Conference championship. Waito, playing as a midfielder, had 11 goals and 11 assists, including three game-winning goals as she displayed impressive one-on-one skills.
Brooke Waito
Marshall
A senior captain for an undefeated Marshall team that finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in Division 2 in the state, Brooke Waito played big at her midfielder position with a team-high 13 assists. A top two-way player with good one-on-one skills, she showed improved passing abilities in 2022.
Maya Walters
Pennfield
A four-year varsity player, Maya Walters was the backbone of the Pennfield defense as the team's No. 1 keeper. Walters finished with three shutouts to go along with 152 saves for a Panther team that went 6-12-1 in the challenging Interstate 8 Conference.
HONORABLE MENTION
Taylor Havilar (Gull Lake), Taygan Corstange (Gull Lake), Stef DeLong (Marshall), Sydney Feasel (Marshall), Allie Ferrall (Pennfield), Reese Lessig (Pennfield), Jenna Vogel (Pennfield), Katie Behnke (Harper Creek), Jessie Cummins (Harper Creek), Kalyn Smith (Lakeview), Therese Campos (St. Philip/CC), Alex Kersten (St. Philip/CC), Haylee Hotchkiss (St. Philip/CC), Diane Hurtado (Battle Creek Central), Cara Miller (Coldwater), Taylor Robison (Coldwater)
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Meet the Battle Creek Enquirer 2021 All-Enquirer Girls Soccer Team
