Meet the 2023 Peoria Journal Star all-area girls soccer team and the player of the year

PEORIA — The best girls soccer player in the Peoria area during the 2023 season was an athlete who is a highly-recruited NCAA Division-I player.

In basketball.

Notre Dame junior Mya Wardle headlines the 2023 Journal Star all-area girls soccer team as its player of the year. Wardle showed she is an elite two-sport athlete, following her winter campaign as Notre Dame's point guard with a return to soccer after a one-year hiatus.

An extremely speedy, high-motor intense competitor, she was a force at forward for an Irish soccer team that went deeper in the playoffs than any other in the area, stopped one match from the state finals.

Area coaches said her speed and scoring skill forced opponents to game plan specifically for her, and that defending her and keeping her from taking over a game was a real challenge. Often, those focused efforts still didn't stop her.

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Overall, Notre Dame led the area with an 18-4-2 mark — winning all 18 games by shutout — and swept to a Big 12 Conference title at 10-0. In the Mid-Illini Conference, Dunlap and Morton each went 6-1 to share the league title, while Metamora was close behind at 5-1-1.

Notre Dame, Dunlap, Morton and Metamora combined for 54 wins in a Peoria area that saw fewer individual superstars, but deeper well-distributed quality talent.

In the end, Notre Dame swept through four playoff games by a combined 16-0, and beat Metamora, Dunlap and Geneseo along the way to reach the Washington Supersectional.

The run ended there with a 1-0 double-overtime loss to Lisle Benet, which went all the way to the Class 2A state title game before it was defeated by Chatham Glenwood.

Here is the Journal Star all-area team, led by Wardle.

Mya Wardle, Notre Dame

The junior forward and player of the year scored 16 goals and added 15 assists in 21 games. She busted opposing defenses and created scoring opportunities for teammates, and used her elite speed to stress defenders. She was a unanimous all-Big 12 Conference selection and a first-team All-State pick by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.

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Addie Jennetten, Notre Dame

The senior goalkeeper posted 18 shutouts — and 30 over her last two seasons — for one of the best defensive teams in the state. She allowed just nine goals in 24 games all season and anchored the Irish run to the supersectional. She wrapped up her prep career with IHSSCA all-state honors and was a Big 12 Conference first-team selection.

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Sophie Davila, Morton

The sophomore midfielder was one of five area players to earn an IHSSCA all-state selection, and also was a all-Mid-Illini first-team pick. Her 41 shots on goal in 19 games led the team, and she produced team-bests with 17 goals and 13 assists.

Abbie Gleason, Dunlap

The junior midfielder was an IHSSCA all-state selection, a Mid-Illini all-conference first-team pick, served as captain of her team and earned team MVP honors. She controlled the middle for Dunlap, and shifted into an attacking player who produced eight goals and four assists. She was the catalyst for the Eagles.

Addie Dea, Morton

The emerging sophomore midfielder earned IHSSCA all-sectional honors and was a Mid-Illini Conference first-team selection. She produced 36 shots on goal in 19 games. She was next, behind Davila, with 16 goals and seven assists on a strong Morton team.

Elise Grant, Dunlap

The sophomore was an attacking midfielder whose passing game was elite. She scored eight goals and added three assists, and played a high-tempo, emotional game. Grant earned IHSSCA all-sectional and all-Mid-Illini first-team honors.

Ava LaFollette, Metamora

The midfielder was the only freshman to earn IHSSCA all-sectional honors for the Section 8 region, which includes all the Peoria area teams. She was an all-state candidate, and earned all-Mid-Illini first-team honors. She scored 25 goals — believed to be the only freshman in the area to reach that scoring level. She added three assists to those 25 goals over 18 games.

Devyn Davis, Dunlap

The sophomore was primarily a forward but was versatile enough to fill roles as an attacking center midfielder and outside midfielder in some games. She delivered a team-best 10 goals and team-best eight assists in 21 games, and her consistent placement left her as the go-to for the team's set pieces and corner kicks. She earned IHSSCA all-sectional honors and was an all-Mid-Illini first-team pick.

Zoe Kormah, Pekin

The high-scoring sophomore forward netted 28 goals and added three assists this season, and was an IHSSCA all-state selection. She earned all-Mid-Illini first-team honors and now has 43 goals after her first two seasons.

Taylor Haun, Metamora

The junior center-midfielder leaned defensive-minded and controlled the middle of the field for Metamora. She reads the game well and is a powerful presence in the middle. Her signature game was in a 3-0 win over Dunlap. She had two goals, five assists in 18 games, and earned IHSSCA all-sectional honors and was an all-Mid-Illini first-team pick.

Claire Girard, Notre Dame

The senior midfielder was a unanimous all-Big 12 selection and an IHSSCA all-sectional selection. She delivered big moments for Notre Dame in the playoffs and posted 17 goals and nine assists in 23 games.

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Mckenna Shilevinatz, Richwoods

The senior attacking midfielder scored 20 goals, which put her at 40 for her career. She added seven assists. She earned IHSSCA all-state honors and was a unanimous all-Big 12 pick. Her next stop is on the field for St. Ambrose.

Meredith Oliver, Notre Dame

The senior had one goal and one assist, but didn't allow any, either. The lockdown defender was an IHSSCA all-sectional pick and a consensus all-Big 12 selection.

Abby Cooley, Richwoods

A sophomore defender who anchored a Richwoods team that posted 18 shutouts in 24 games. Her elite speed puts her among the top three fastest players in the area. And old-school, tough defender who was a unanimous all-Big 12 first-team selection.

Honorable mention

• Maggie Urich, sr, goalkeeper, Richwoods (18 shutouts, IHSSCA all-sectional and 1st-team Big 12).

• Ellen Dahlquist, jr, defender, ND (4g, 5a).

• Jackie Contreras, jr, midfielder, Richwoods (IHSSCA all-sectional, Big 12 all-conference 1st team).

• Jane Geers, sr, defender, Notre Dame

• Arlie Akers, jr, forward, Morton.

• Mylee Hansen, jr, defender, Pekin (IHSCCA all-sectional, Mid-Illini honors).

• Riley Anderson, sr, defender Dunlap (Mid-Illini honors, Eagles Best Defender honors).

• Heidi Hudson, sr, forward, Washington.

• Elly Bare, jr, midfielder, Notre Dame, (Big 12 2nd team).

• Willow Toft, soph, defender, Washington (Mid-Illini honors).

• Lola Kaiser, jr, midfielder, Morton (9 goals, 3 assists, Mid-Illini 1st-team honors).

• Chloe Bartlett, sr, forward, Canton (IHSSCA all-sectional).

• Maddie Stickelmaier, soph, midfielder, Notre Dame (all-Big 12 2nd team).

• Gabby Schupbach, soph, center-back, Dunlap (Mid-Illini 2nd team).

• Kate Robertson, soph, outside-midfielder, Dunlap (Mid-Illini 2nd team).

• Maya Duncan, jr, defender, Metamora (IHSSCA all-sectional and Mid-Illini 2nd team selection).

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA girls soccer: Peoria all-area team, player of the year Mya Wardle