As we prepare for a new high school sports season, USA Today Network sportswriters in Ohio worked together last month to select preseason All-Ohio teams in football, boys soccer, girls soccer and girls volleyball. We assembled a team of 25 players 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, the 2023 Ms. Soccer and Division II All-Ohio first-team player, scored 59 goals and had 19 assists last season, is committed to Florida and is an All-American.
2. Hannah Pachan, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit
The senior was named the 2023 Division I Player of the Year after scoring 33 goals and 11 assists. 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.
3. Presley Pennekamp, Cincinnati Oak Hills
The Xavier product scored 46 goals with 10 assists as a junior, leading her team to a 15-4-2 record and the Greater Miami Conference championship. She was selected 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. She was also named the District Player of the Year, All-Ohio first team and the Cincinnati Enquirer Co-Player of the Year.
4. Sydnee Maxwell, Zanesville Rosecrans
Maxwell was twice selected to the All-Ohio first team and was named the 2023 East District Division III Player of the Year. She scored 35 goals and eight assists as a junior. She has 89 goals and 26 assists for her career and is committed to DePaul.
5. Anna Cornejo, Cincinnati Madeira
The senior is the reigning Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year after leading the Amazons to the league title and a record of 12-6-4 with 21 goals and 16 assists. She was selected to the first team All-Ohio and All-District and was a member of the United Soccer Coaches of America All-Great Lakes Region team.
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 47-goal scorer her senior year 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, Millersburg West Holmes
Murphy 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-Ohio teammate Allie McMillen graduates.
11. Alyssa Fox, View of the Warsaw River
The senior scored 22 goals and was named to the All-Ohio second team and All-District first team last year. The Muskingum Valley League Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year’s goal-scoring abilities give the Bears a chance every time they step on the field.
Other strikers who received votes
Kyla GasserFairfield Union; Grace MadisonMedina Highlands
Midfielder
1. Tessa Knapp, Bay Village 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, Cuyahoga Falls 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
Yugovich was named All-Central Region, All-Ohio First-Team, Division II District Player of the Year and Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore last season. She finished the season with 32 goals and 18 assists after scoring 38 goals and 25 assists as a freshman.
4. Tessa Brooks, Bloom Carroll
The standout senior had a stellar 2023 season, helping the Bulldogs to the MSL Buckeye title and their first district championship. She scored 20 goals and had 26 assists en route to earning All-Ohio First Team and All-Central District First Team honors.
5. Riley Zamensky, New Concord John Glenn
A second-team All-Ohio selection, she scored 32 goals and 12 assists as a junior to help the Muskies win the MVL and reach the regional tournament. She was also named the MVL Midfielder of the Year.
6. Maddie Garber, Dresden Tri-Valley
The junior, who will be a three-year starter, was the 2023 Division I East District Player of the Year. The first-team All-MVL selection led Tri-Valley in both goals and assists in her first two seasons, collecting 27 goals and 22 assists.
7. Addi Pittman, Ontario
Pittman was named to the All-Ohioan second team as a sophomore last season and was also named to the All-District and All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference first team after scoring 23 goals and 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-Ohio second team and is a member of the United Soccer Coaches of America All-Great Lakes Region team. He scored 14 goals and added nine assists in 16 games for the Warriors last year as a sophomore.
9. Avery Williams, Licking Valley
An often overlooked player playing for the still-maturing Panthers, Williams 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 HallisMantua Crestwood; Delilah RaheMogadore Field
defender
1. Bree Reder, Cincinnati Summit Country Day
Reder led the Silver Knights’ defense as a sophomore last season as they won the Division II state championship. Her 2023 accolades included being named an All-American, being named to the All-Ohio and All-Region first team, being named the 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 was named to the United Soccer Coaches of America All-Great Lakes Region team. The junior was selected to the Girls Academy Mid-America Conference Talent ID Showcase four years in a row.
goalkeeper
1. Gianna Mlynek, Cincinnati Anderson
The Xavier commit 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 named 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
Granville’s dominance across the court meant Lauffer 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.
