As we prepare for a new high school sports season, USA Today Network sportswriters in Ohio worked together over the past month to select preseason All-Ohio teams in football, boys’ and girls’ soccer and girls’ volleyball. We assembled a 25-member team for each sport.
Today we present the USA Today Network Preseason All-Ohio Girls Soccer Team, which consists of 11 forwards, nine midfielders, three defenders and two goalkeepers.
Forward
1. Sophia Sindelar, Rocky River
The senior, who was Ms. Soccer in 2023 and first-team Division II All-Ohio, scored 59 goals and had 19 assists last season. She is committed to Florida and is an All-American.
2. Hannah Pachan, Jesuit from Walsh
The senior was named the 2023 Division I Player of the Year after scoring 33 goals and 11 assists last year. She committed to Virginia Tech, was named to the All-Ohio first team and was a second-time All-American after leading Walsh Jesuit to its 11th state championship in the sport.
3. Presley Pennekamp, Cincinnati Oak Hills
The Xavier University product scored 46 goals with 10 assists as a junior last season, leading her team to a 15-4-2 record and the Greater Miami Conference championship. She was named to the All-America team by the United Soccer Coaches National Coaches Association and the All-Great Lakes Region team by the United Soccer Coaches of America, and was the district’s player of the year and first team All-Ohio. She was the Enquirer’s co-soccer player of the year. She plays for Ohio Elite ECNL.
4. Sydnee Maxwell, Rosecrans
She was twice selected to the All-Ohio first team and was named East District Division III Player of the Year. Now she returns to lead the Bishops in her final season. Last year she scored 35 goals and eight assists and has 89 goals and 26 assists for her career. She was also named NSSCA All-Region and has committed to DePaul University, where she earned a scholarship. She has also played for the Ohio Premier Elite Club National League team for the past five years and will play for them again before college.
5. Anna Cornejo, Cincinnati Madeira
The senior is the reigning Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year after leading the Amazons to the league championship and a record of 12-6-4 with 21 goals and 16 assists. She was selected to the All-Ohio and All-District first team and was a member of the United Soccer Coaches of America All-Great Lakes Region team. She plays for Ohio Elite ECNL ’07.
6. Whitney Scott, Dublin Coffman
The senior, who committed to Creighton, scored 28 goals and seven assists to help Coffman to a 15-3-1 record last year. She was on the All-District team and All-Ohio second team at Division I level.
7. Camille Francis, Perrysburg
The junior was named to the All-Ohio first team and was an All-American after scoring 20 goals and 10 assists last season.
8. Emma Ogdahl, Perrysburg
As a junior last season, she was named to the All-Ohio first team after scoring 25 goals and 11 assists.
9. Cameron Goddard, Johnstown
A top scorer with 47 goals last season, as a junior she led the Johnnies to their first 10-win season since 2014 and was named to the Division III All-Ohio second team.
10. Charli Murphy, West Holmes
She wasted no time lighting up the goals as a freshman last year, scoring 43 goals for the Division II semifinalist Knights. This year, she’ll be in the spotlight even more as her All-Ohioan teammate Allie McMillen graduates.
11. Alyssa Fox, River View
One of the area’s most versatile players, the senior scored 22 goals and was named to the All-Ohio second team and All-District first team last year. The MVL Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year’s scoring ability gives the Bears a chance every time they step on the field.
Other strikers who received votes
Kyla GasserFairfield Union; Grace MadisonHighland
Midfielder
1. Tessa Knapp, Bay
The senior, a Notre Dame freshman, was named to the Division II All-Ohio first team and was an All-American after collecting 58 goals and 16 assists in 2023.
2. Reagan Pentz, Walsh Jesuit
The senior, a Vanderbilt freshman, was named to the All-Ohio second team after totaling 12 goals and 10 assists last season.
3. Hattie Yugovich, Ontario
She was named All-Central Region, First-Team All-Ohio, Division II District Player of the Year, First-Team All-District, Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year and First-Team All-MOAC as a sophomore last season. She finished last season with 32 goals and 18 assists after scoring 38 goals and 25 assists as a freshman.
4. Tessa Brooks, Bloom Carroll
The senior standout had a stellar junior season, helping BC to a Mid-State League-Buckeye Division title and the school’s first district championship. She scored 20 goals and had 26 assists along the way and was named to the All-Ohio and All-Central District first team.
5. Riley Zamensky, John Glenn
The All-Ohio second-team player scored 32 goals and 12 assists to help the Muskies win the MVL and make the regional tournament as a junior last year. She is one of the region’s top scorers and has the vision to see the field and control the ball. She was also the MVL Midfielder of the Year.
6. Maddie Garber, Tri-Valley
The junior, who will be a three-year starter and two-year captain, is a dynamic player who can see and read the court well. The Division I East District Player of the Year is very strong on the ball and uses that to keep the ball and find open space and players on the court. The All-MVL first-team selection has led Tri-Valley in both goals and assists in her first two seasons, scoring 27 goals and 22 assists for 76 points.
7. Addi Pittman, Ontario
Last season, she was named to the All-Ohio second team as a sophomore and also earned All-District First Team and All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference First Team honors after scoring 23 goals and recording eight assists. She also tallied 28 goals and 16 assists as a freshman.
8. Miller Spreen, Cincinnati Mariemont
The junior standout was selected to the All-State second team in 2023 and is a member of the United Soccer Coaches of America All-Great Lakes Region team. She scored 14 goals and nine assists in 16 games for the Warriors last year as a sophomore. She plays for Cincinnati United Premier ’08.
9. Avery Williams, Licking Valley
She is an often overlooked player playing for the still maturing Panthers, but she is well known in soccer circles having played for nationally qualified Legend SC. The senior scored 20 goals as a junior and impacted the game at both ends of the field with her tireless drive from midfield.
Other midfielders who received votes
Ivy MillerGranville; Madelyn GenoveseStreetsboro; Erin Halliscomb wood; Delilah RaheField
defender
1. Bree Reder, Cincinnati Summit Country Day
She was a team captain this fall and led the SCD defensive line for the Silver Knights as a sophomore last season as they won the Ohio Division II state championship. Her 2023 accolades include being named an All-American, being selected to the All-Ohio and All-Region first team, being named Southwest Ohio Player of the Year, and earning league and district first-team honors.
2. Maren Degenhart, Upper Arlington
With the Butler commitment at the helm, the Golden Bears’ defense allowed just 13 goals and had 13 shutouts last fall. As a junior, she was first-team All-District and second-team All-Ohio in Division I last season as UA went 19-3-1 and reached a regional final.
3. Braelyn Even, Hamilton Badin
The center back, who plays for Cincinnati United Premier during the club season, was named to the United Soccer Coaches of America All-Great Lakes Region team. The junior has been selected for the Girls Academy Mid-America Conference Talent ID Showcase four years in a row.
goalkeeper
1. Gianna Mlynek, Cincinnati Anderson
The Xavier University product is one of the city’s top returning goalies after leading Anderson to a 12-4-3 record as a junior last season. She was selected to the district and league first team after allowing 1.1 goals per game. She was called up to coach with the Panama U17 national team in 2022.
2. Sydney Lauffer, Granville
The Blue Aces’ dominance across the court meant she was rarely tested as a sophomore last season, but when it mattered, she was up to the task, making 21 saves for the Blue Aces, who posted 10 shutouts and held 16 of 19 opponents to one goal or less.
