Ohio's best: Top 22 high school girls soccer players
The state of Ohio continues to produce high-quality high school girls soccer players who will put their talents on display this fall.
As a preview to this season, the high school sports staff of the Gannett Corp.'s more than 60 Ohio newspapers and websites compiled a who's who of the Buckeye State's prep girls soccer players.
This is one of a four-part series that includes football, volleyball and boys soccer.
Ohio's best:Top 22 high school boys soccer players
Notre Dame soccer'New year, same goals': Notre Dame soccer team reloads for run at another state title
How they were ranked
">
USA TODAY Network Ohio staff members researched and compiled a list of its respective area's top players. The journalists voted on these players using a point system. First-place players received 22 points, second-place players got 21 and so on until the 22nd player wrapped it up with 1 point. Those points were tabulated to determine the top 22 players.
1. Peyton Kohls, Mount Notre Dame
">
The senior forward made first-team All-Ohio Division I leading the Cougars to their first state title in soccer. MND finished undefeated at 21-0-1. Kohls made the Girls Greater Catholic League first team, leading the group with 67 points on 27 goals and 13 assists. She was Ohio's Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year.
2. Sophia Kuerze, Oak Hills
">
The senior forward made first-team All-Ohio Division I and was the Greater Miami Conference Player of the Year. She was second in the league in scoring with 50 points on 21 goals and eight assists. She plays for Kings Hammer Academy and took part in the Elite Clubs National League soccer academy.
3. Tessa Knapp, Bay Village Bay
">
As a freshman last season, Knapp scored 40 goals and had 10 assists for a total of 90 points. She finished just four goals away from breaking Bay’s program record for single-season goals, which was set in 1994. The first-team All-Ohio selection also made the U15 national team.
4. Jaimason Brooker, Olentangy Liberty
">
A repeat Super 12 honoree, the senior had a hand in the same number of goals as the previous season but was more of a distributor this time around. The forward scored 12 goals and assisted on 17 after having 24 goals and five assists as a sophomore. Brooker earned United Soccer Coaches all-region honors in addition to being first-team all-state, Division I district Player of the Year and first-team all-Ohio Capital Conference-Central Division as the Patriots won their first district title since 2017 and first league title since 2015.
5. Lindsey Castillo, Watkins Memorial
">
The high-scoring Castillo followed up a 40-goal season with 29 and 16 assists in 2021 as she led the Warriors to an unbeaten regular season, including knocking off perennial power Granville to win the program’s first Licking County League-Buckeye Division championship in six seasons. The next step for Castillo, a senior who has committed to IUPUI, is leading the Warriors into contention for a Division I championship in the loaded Central District.
6. Samantha Erbach, Waynesville
">
The Xavier University commit plays for Ohio Elite Soccer Academy and led Waynesville to a 17-6 record and a state soccer title in Division III. She was the only underclassman to be named first-team All-Ohio and was the Southwestern Buckeye League's Player of the Year after leading the conference in goals (36) and points (84) while ranking second in assists (12).
7. Lillian Weller, Springfield Shawnee
">
The junior forward was a first-team All-Ohio selection last season in Division II. Weller was named the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division Player of the Year after leading the league in goals (33), assists (18) and points (84). Weller’s 33 goals and 84 points were both school records. She helped lead Shawnee to a 16-3 overall record and a division title.
8. (tie) Zoey Milton, Newark
">
Milton’s top-notch finishing ability has helped Newark put balls in the net during the program’s climb. Milton, a senior who has committed to Michigan, returned from a 2020 injury to score 21 goals for the Wildcats, who won the program’s first Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division championship.
8. (tie) Erica Cox, Lakota East
">
The senior forward was first-team All-Ohio Division I as well as Greater Miami Conference first team. In 11 games she had nine goals and two assists for the GMC co-champion Thunderhawks. She plays club ball for Cincinnati United Premier Gold and took part in the ECNL Ohio Elite Soccer Academy.
10. Audrey Oliver, Olentangy
">
Oliver, a senior, was third on the Braves in goals (12) and second in assists (12), contributing to an offense that scored 92 goals for the season. The midfielder was named to the United Soccer Coaches all-region team. She also was first-team all-state and all-district in Division I and OCC-Cardinal Player of the Year, leading the Braves to their second consecutive league title.
11. Presley Pennekamp, Oak Hills
">
The sophomore forward was one of two freshmen in the state to be named second-team All-Ohio in Division I last season while also earning first-team all-conference honors. She led the Greater Miami Conference in scoring (64 points), goals (24) and assists (16). She plays club ball with Ohio Elite ECNL.
12. Alyson Peckham, Toledo Notre Dame Academy
">
Peckham, a sophomore forward, was one of just two freshmen in Division I to be named All-Ohio last season, earning second-team honors. She helped lead Toledo Notre Dame to a district title and she was named the Three Rivers Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Prior to her prep career, Peckham was on the Pacesetter Soccer Club’s 2006 squad that won a national title in the summer of 2021.
13. Adelle Francis, Perrysburg
">
The senior forward made the United Soccer Coaches All-American team in 2021 and was All-Ohio Division I first team. She's committed to Michigan State University for soccer and plays club ball for Greater Toledo Futbol Club.
14. Allie Metcalf, New Albany
">
Metcalf, a junior midfielder, had 16 goals and 12 assists to help lead the Eagles to their first district and regional championships. Counted on before the season to be a primary contributor on offense, Metcalf was named first-team All-OCC-Ohio and all-district. New Albany went 17-3-2, losing to Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame 4-0 in a Division I state semifinal.
15. Olivia Sipsock, Medina
">
The senior forward made the United Soccer Coaches All-American team in 2021 and was All-Ohio Division I first team. The Eastern Michigan University recruit finished with 18 goals for the Greater Cleveland Conference champions.
16. Olivia Simpson, Reading
">
The senior midfielder was Second Team All-Ohio Division III and Cincinnati Hills League First Team. She led the CHL in scoring (59 points) and goals (20) and was second in assists (19).
17. Lexi White, Olentangy
">
White, a senior, scored 20 goals to lead an offense that had 92 as a team, helping the Braves to their second consecutive league championship. The forward received second-team all-state and all-district honors in Division I and first-team all-league honors as Olentangy went 17-2-2 overall and 5-0 in the OCC-Cardinal.
18. Ana Manning, Milford
">
The junior forward was Second Team All-Ohio Division I for the Eagles who were Eastern Cincinnati Conference co-champs with Loveland (14-1-4/7-0-2). Manning was the ECC Offensive Player of the Year leading in points (36) and goals (15).
19. Ella Hoover, Granville
">
Hoover split time between defender and midfielder as the Blue Aces went 12-4-3 and earned a Division II district runner-up finish. In addition to finishing with 12 goals and 14 assists, Hoover was named the Player of the Year in the LCL and earned first-team all-state and all-district honors.
20. (tie) Kyla Spencer, Ontario
">
The senior forward made the United Soccer Coaches All-American team in 2021. She scored 33 goals and handed out 13 assists during her junior season. She earned first-team All-Ohio, first-team all-district and first-team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference honors. She was the MOAC Player of the Year for the third time in her career and was named Division II District Player of the Year by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association. She is a three-time All-Ohioan and led the Warriors to a 15-3-3 record and a third straight MOAC title with a perfect 7-0 record. The Warriors outscored their MOAC foes 70-3 behind Spencer's leadership.
20. (tie) Julia Kure, Rocky River Magnificat
">
The senior forward was second-team All-Ohio in Division I last season. An all-area first-team selection, Kure was in the top three in the state in Division I for goals.
22. Ella Dinwiddie, Wadsworth
">
The senior midfielder was a second-team All-Ohio selection in Division I last season while playing for Medina Highland. She registered 10 goals and 10 assists and was the SL American Conference Player of the Year in 2020. She has transferred to Wadsworth and is committed to Marshall University.
Others receiving votes
">
Bella Antonio, North Ridgeville; Kaira English, Waterloo; Christie Fransen, Wooster; Ella Grode, Avon Lake; Gabby Lamparty, North Lima South Range; Lauren Mahoney, Akron Hoban; Rylee McCuen, Zanesville; Elana McGinnis, Chagrin Falls; Brooke Miltenberger, Monroe; Sophia Penegor, Dublin Jerome; Rachel Spencer, Columbus Watterson; Brenna Utrup, Twinsburg; Shae Vidovic, Brecksville-Broadview Heights; Cassie Wilde, Field; Emma Williams, Zanesville; Carolyne Young, New Albany.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio's best: Top 22 high school girls soccer players of 2022 season
