Meet The DNJ's 2023 All-Area girls soccer team, player of the year for 2023 TSSAA season
Aierona Duenez enjoyed her senior season at Oakland much more than her first season with the Lady Patriot soccer team.
Duenez missed half of the 2022 season, including the entire postseason, with an injury after transferring from Antioch.
The midfielder with a powerful ball-striking ability made up for lost time in 2023, leading the area with 26 goals while also dishing out seven assists. Her efforts helped Oakland cruise to District 8-AAA and Region 4-AAA championships and a trip to the Class AAA state tournament.
She has also been named the player of the year on The Daily News Journal's 2023 all-area soccer team.
"It was terrible," said Duenez, about how her junior season ended. "I was heartbroken. The only thing that kept me sane was this team."
Duenez scored multiple goals in several of Oakland's games, including four in a district win over Blackman. She and junior teammate Leah Krugh were a lethal duo for opponents, combining for 44 goals and 26 assists.
"Aireona is a special player, but an even better person," Oakland coach Jeff Porter said. "She was not only one of our primary goal scorers this season, but a true leader. I can't express how much I appreciate her contributions to our program."
Duenez will stay in Murfreesboro, as she recently signed to play at MTSU.
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"I'm very very excited for that pathway," Duenez said. "It's going to be an amazing opportunity."
The DNJ's 2023 all-area girls soccer team is as follows:
First team
Mac Allen
Siegel, Jr.
Position: Goalkeeper
Why chosen: The District 8-AAA Goalkeeper of the Year had eight shutouts and 93 saves in leading the Lady Stars to the Class AAA sectional.
Claire Bryant
Stewarts Creek, Jr.
Position: Midfielder
Why chosen: Bryant helped lead the Lady Red Hawks to a District 7-AAA title, scoring 17 goals and adding five assists, playing both midfielder and forward.
Aireona Duenez
Oakland, Sr.
Position: Midfielder
Why chosen: The DNJ's 2023 All-Area Player of the Year and MTSU signee led Rutherford County in scoring, tallying 26 goals while adding seven assists as the Lady Patriots reached the Class AAA state tournament. She was also the District 8-AAA midfielder of the year.
Taylor Genova
Stewarts Creek, Fr.
Position: Midfielder
Why chosen: Genova made a big splash in her first season, scoring 17 goals, which was tied for the team lead, and adding 10 assists, which was second on the team.
Julia Ann Hamilton
Central Magnet, Sr.
Position: Forward
Why chosen: The District 8-AA Offensive Co-MVP scored 10 goals and added six assists.
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Makai King
Siegel, So.
Position: Defender
Why chosen: The District 8-AAA Defensive MVP also scored four goals and added five assists while playing some forward. She helped lead the Lady Stars to the Class AAA sectional.
Leah Krugh
Oakland, Jr.
Position: Forward
Why chosen: The 8-AAA offensive MVP led Oakland to the state tournament. She scored 18 goals and added 19 assists.
Aniah Leflouria
Oakland, Jr.
Position: Defender
Why chosen: The all-district selection helped lead an Oakland defense that allowed just 15 goals in 18 matches.
Reagan McGinnis
Rockvale, Sr.
Position: Forward
Why chosen: The first-team all-district selection finished with seven goals and six assists to lead the Lady Rockets in both categories.
Abigail Pennington
Stewarts Creek, Fr.
Position: Forward
Why chosen: Pennington was responsible for 24 goals for the Lady Red Hawks, contributing 13 goals and 11 assists.
Dani Witsman
Siegel, Sr.
Position: Defender
Why chosen: The first-team all-district performer helped Siegel limit opponents to 19 goals in 21 games as the Lady Stars reached the Class AAA sectional.
Second team
Forward: Chelsey Amaya, La Vergne, Jr.
Forward: Allyson Hawkins, Blackman, Sr.
Forward: Lillian Opie, Stewarts Creek, So.
Midfielder: Reily Gusman, Central Magnet, Sr.
Midfielder: Sydney Johnson, Siegel, Fr.
Midfielder: Macy Khamphengphet, Oakland, Jr.
Midfielder: Megan Parker, Blackman, Sr.
Defender: Aralyn Perel, Smyrna, Jr.
Defender: Corinne Saiyasak, Stewarts Creek, Sr.
Defender: Ashley Stacey, Oakland, Sr.
Goalkeeper: Piper Burgess, Oakland, Sr.
Coach of the Year
Jeff Porter, Oakland
Why chosen: Porter led the Lady Patriots to a 15-2-1 record, going unbeaten in District 8-AAA and winning 15 games in a row until a 2-1 loss to Ravenwood in the Class AAA state quarterfinals.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Murfreesboro All-Area girls soccer team for 2023, player of the year
