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Here are 20 top girls soccer players in Polk County to watch in 2023-24

roy fuoco, lakeland ledger
·4 min read

Girls soccer has kicked off this week, but some of the top players in the county from a year ago have graduated. Lakeland Christian, for example, graduated eight starters from its state championship team, including player of the year Destinee Carroll and midfielder Ori Gotauco who is now at Florida Southern.

McKeel's Ava King, Auburndale's Payton Battilla and Dylan Fernandez and Ridge Community's Noemi Casique are among the top players who are now playing college soccer.

However, the county still boasts a deep roster of top girls soccer player, including Division I commits KJ Straub and Lily Borders. Here are 20 top girls soccer players to watch in the 2023-24 seasons.

20 top players in girls soccer

KJ STRAUB, Lakeland Christian: A senior midfielder, Straub has been an impact player since moving up to varsity late in her seventh-grade season. She was county player of the year as a sophomore and a three-time, first-team, all-county player. She scored 10 goals with six assists last season and has committed to South Alabama.

Lakeland Christian junior KJ Straub plays the ball against St. Johns Country Day. The Vikings won, 2-1, in the Class 2A state championship game.
Lakeland Christian junior KJ Straub plays the ball against St. Johns Country Day. The Vikings won, 2-1, in the Class 2A state championship game.

LILY BORDERS, Lake Wales: A senior, Borders is a high-scoring forward who is hard to contain. She was a first-team, all-county selection last season and scored 32 goals with 24 assists. She has 62 goals with 55 assists for her career. Borders has committed to Auburn.

MCKENNA BATTILA, Auburndale: A multipart athlete was the girls tennis players of the year last spring as a freshman, Battilla is a high-scoring forward/midfielder. She scored 31 goals with 11 assists and was first team, all county.

Best player: LCS' Destinee Carroll emerged as game-changing defender for state champions

Best players: Meet The Ledger's 2022-23 All-County Girls Soccer Team

GEORGIANA STRAWBRIDGE, George Jenkins: A junior midfielder, Strawbridge is recovering from a broken leg sustained over the summer. She's been a key player for the Eagles in her first two years of high school and was second team, all county last year. She led Jenkins with 11 goals last year.

George Jenkins' Georgiana Strawbridge (12) makes a run up the field as Winter Haven's Hannah Roop attempts to clear the ball on Tuesday night in the championship match of the Class 6A, District 6 girls soccer tournament.
George Jenkins' Georgiana Strawbridge (12) makes a run up the field as Winter Haven's Hannah Roop attempts to clear the ball on Tuesday night in the championship match of the Class 6A, District 6 girls soccer tournament.

HALLE JOHNSON, Lakeland Christian: A junior defender, Johnson has been an impact defender on the Vikings' last two state championship teams. She was second team, all county last year.

JENN TAGALOS, Lake Gibson: A senior, Tagalos began her career as an offensive player with 11 goals as a freshman but moved to defense where she has been one of the top defenders in the county. She was first-team, all-county last year.

ADDIE LEMMOND, Victory Christian: A junior defender, Lemmond was a top defender last year but ended the season with an injury but still was second team, all county.

BREANNA HORVATIN, Lakeland: A senior, Horvatin anchored the back line for the Dreadnaughts last season.

HELENA RODRIGUEZ, Frostproof: Just a seventh-grader, Rodriguez was the Bulldogs' top player last year and a dangerous scorer.

SOFIAL OLIVERA, Lakeland: Olivera has led the Dreadnaughts in goals over the past three season. Last year, she scored 17 goals with six assists.

MADISON HOULIHAN, Auburndale: A senior, Houlihan was third on the Bloodhounds in scoring with nine goals and eight assists despite missing the latter half of the season with an injury.

LEEYA HARRISON, McKeel: A senior, Harrison anchors a strong defense for the Wildcats, who are coming off their first season making the final four.

BRIANNA WOODRUFF, Winter Haven: A sophomore forward, Woodruff led the Blue Devils in scoring last season as a freshman with 12 goals and five assists.

MAKENZIE MAROTZ, Lakeland Christian: A junior, Marotz split time in goal early in the season before taking control of the position full time. She gave up just eight goals all season and posted a 0.435 goals against average.

NAOMI GARNER, Lakeland: A junior, Garner has been a key midfielder in each of her first two years of varsity. She scored 10 goals as a freshman and was third on the Dreadnaughts last season with five goals.

MARI CARR, Lakeland Christian: Despite coming off the bench, Carr was third with 10 goals for the state champion Vikings. A junior, Carr will be a go-to player at forward.

ALANEY HANCOCK, Auburndale: Hancock returns for her junior year after missing the latter part of last season after sustaining an injury in girls weightlifting.

SYDNEY RASNAKE, All Saints: Just an eighth-grader, Rasnake, who also competes on the golf team, led the district runner-up Saints in scoring with 11 goals and 12 assists.

LILY SARRIS, George Jenkins: A sophomore, Sarris is a top goalkeeper. She moved up to varsity as a sophomore last season and her play kept the Eagles in matches with her spectacular play.

MARIA NEILSON, McKeel: A junior, Neilson was tied for third with seven goals last season and will be an important part of the Wildcats' attack.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Here are 20 top girls soccer players in Polk to watch in 2023-24