Introducing the 2023 Naples Daily News All-Area Girls Soccer Team sponsored by Babcock Ranch
At the end of each season, the Naples Daily News selects All-Area teams honoring the best athletes for every sport. Coaches from area schools are sent nomination forms and are asked to nominate and rate their own athletes as well as those from other teams. That data combined with the Naples Daily News' own research lead to the selection of the All-Area teams.
FIRST TEAM
Anselle Aikin
School: Barron Collier
Year: Senior
Highlights: Aikin's play in the midfield was much-needed for Barron, assisting on three goals and helping create quality chances on the offensive end. Aikin's strong defensive play in the midfield limited opponents to just 0.71 goals per game.
Ava Babcock-Watford
School: Gulf Coast
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: Babcock-Watford capitalized off her freshman season at the forward position, finishing with six goals to help Gulf Coast finish 6-7-1.
Addison Bilzor
School: Barron Collier
Year: Junior
Highlights: Bilzor was a key piece on the back line for the Cougars, which notched nine shutouts this season. Bilzor scored one goal and helped propel Barron Collier to a district championship and regional semfinal appearance.
Sofia Cuellar-Gutierrez
School: Naples
Year: Freshman
Highlights: The lone freshman to make first team, Cuellar-Gutierrez helped fill the void on the back line for Adam Weikel's group. Her speed gave opponents trouble, as Cuellar-Gutierrez had a hand in 10 shutouts. She also added one assist and helped the Golden Eagles finish 10-3-3.
Lucy Froitzheim
School: Naples
Year: Senior
Highlights: Froitzheim's play, primarily in the midfield, was impressive, putting together a nine-goal, six-assist season with a regional semifinal appearance. Recently committed to Florida, Froitzheim also played on the back line and helped Naples post double-digit shutouts for the fourth consecutive season.
Addison Johnson
School: Palmetto Ridge
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: Johnson burst onto the scene in just her second season, leading the county in goals (18) while adding an assist. The Bears finished 7-6, giving the program their first winning season since 2015-16.
Paige Knoth
School: Barron Collier
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: Knoth's play in net was critical to the Cougars' success under first-year coach Aaron Thayer. The sophomore keeper finished with six shutouts and allowed just 11 goals in 13 matches. Knoth ended the season with 76 saves and kicked the game-winning penalty kick against Naples to give Barron the Class 5A-District 12 title.
Elaina Loden
School: Naples
Year: Senior
Highlights: Officially a four-time Naples Daily News All-Area First-Team selection, Loden concluded her senior season with eight goals and a pair of assists to help Naples go 10-3-3. Loden ends her prep career with 42 goals and 21 assists.
Alyssa Reeves
School: Lely
Year: Senior
Highlights: Reeves' senior season helped propel her back to first-team status, finishing with nine goals and seven assists for the Trojans (5-9-1). The senior scored or assisted on 16 of the team's 23 goals.
Brielle Strackbein
School: Gulf Coast
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: Strackbein was consistently on the field for 80 minutes in virtually every game this season for the Sharks. The sophomore had a pair of goals and an assist in the midfield for Gulf Coast, which finished 6-7-1.
Josephine Vickaryous
School: Barron Collier
Year: Junior
Highlights: Not many programs have their top defender lead the team in scoring, but that was the case for Barron. The junior led the Cougars with six goals with a pair of assists to help propel Barron to a regional semifinal in Class 5A. Vickaryous also made it tough for opposing teams to score, as the Cougars let up less than a goal per game.
Molly Vickaryous
School: Naples
Year: Junior
Highlights: Entering the season, Vickaryous was primed to be Naples' top defender, and she lived up to the billing. Vickaryous' physical play often disrupted the flow of opposing teams, helping Naples allow just 0.63 goals per game. Vickaryous also created multiple chances, finishing with four assists.
SECOND TEAM
Edin Abougzir, Barron Collier
Hayden Bluestein, Gulf Coast
Amanda Burke, Palmetto Ridge
Maddison Connaway, Barron Collier
Isabella Cuellar-Gutierrez, Naples
Bridgette Graney, Naples
Ava Majury, Naples
Hana Markovic, Gulf Coast
Delfina Morales, Barron Collier
Kelsey Scott, Naples
Fernanda Soto, Palmetto Ridge
Ada Thomsen, Barron Collier
HONORABLE MENTION
Barron Collier: Ann-Campbell Brown, Kiersten Lehman, Ada Thomsen
Community School: Adeline Brown, Nikki Ferrante, Alexis Purdy
Golden Gate: Janelle Cabrera, Kimberly Jimenez, Madalyn Takala
Gulf Coast: Madisyn Brouillard, Gabriella Lagrasta, Ava Shultz
Immokalee: Maria Del Carme, Stassy Edouard, Sarie Lapointe
Lely: McKenna Broxson, Kassandra Castillo, Michelle Rodriguez
Naples: Ella Casagrande, Emma Disarro, Safiya Fakhoury
Palmetto Ridge: Samantha Strahle
St. John Neumann: Felicity Igot, Jacinta Igot, Melissa Jacoby
Seacrest Country Day: Kennedy Barnaby, Carole Ann Hussey, Brooke Shefsky
COACH OF THE YEAR
Aaron Thayer
School: Barron Collier
Highlights: Not many first-year coaches find immediate success, but Thayer helped continue the winning ways at Barron despite the program losing two key offensive pieces last season in Ashlyn Freshwater and Lola Schaa. Thayer posted a 10-4-3 record in his first season, which included a district championship win over Naples in penalty kicks.
Follow Southwest Florida Sports Writer Alex Martin on Twitter: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: The Naples Daily News 2023 All-Area Girls Soccer Team sponsored by Babcock Ranch
