Remember these names: High Desert high school girls soccer players to watch this season
The 2023-24 girls soccer season is officially underway as most area teams have already played a handful of games.
The High Desert has constantly had several high-caliber teams, and teams that have made deep postseason runs.
Last year was no exception as Serrano made a run to the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 semifinals while six girls earned All-CIF-SS First Team selections.
Five of those athletes were seniors last year, with the lone returner being Excelsior’s Mia Reyes, who earned the Agape League’s MVP award after racking up 37 goals and 38 assists in 12 games.
Apple Valley looks poised to defend the Mojave River League title in a tough league, loaded with talent across the board. The Sun Devils captured the league title last year with a half-game lead over Oak Hills.
The Sun Devils are currently 2-0 after victories over Silverado and Granite Hills, respectively.
Leading the way for the team of returning players is reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kaydence Bonneau, who scored six goals with two assists in 19 games as a junior.
Alyssa Vernon and Mollie Zielke highlight the list of returners for Oak Hills. Vernon, who earned a spot on the All-MRL First Team last season, recently signed a National Letter of Intent to continue playing soccer at California State University, San Bernardino.
Zielke is back for her junior season after scoring 11 goals with six assists as a sophomore.
Meanwhile, in the Desert Sky League, Granite Hills is looking to capture a sixth-straight league title.
It’s going to be a tough road as the Cougars have a new-look squad after graduating several talented seniors. Islet Montes, a senior, and sophomores Calie Hitt and Lianna Tsabur are among the top players returning as the trio each scored four goals last year for the Cougars.
Barstow appears ready to contend for the DSL title after last year’s second-place finish and a strong core of returners, including last year’s top scorers Madalynn Ayala and Caliana Chaco.
While league play doesn’t officially begin until January, here’s a list of girls soccer players to watch across the High Desert this season, broken down by league.
Desert Sky League
2022-23 standings: 1. Granite Hills (8-0), 2. Barstow (5-3), 3. Victor Valley (4-4), 4. Adelanto (3-5), 5. Silverado (0-8)
2022-23 Player of the Year: Samantha Grantham, Granite Hills
2022-23 Goalkeeper of the Year: Brianna Torres, Adelanto
Adelanto — Briza Mendoza, sophomore; Desirre Gonzalez, senior; Lillian Martinez, freshman.
Barstow — Caliana Chaco, senior; Chloe Bledsoe, senior; Hailey King, junior; Leialli Garcia, senior; Madalynn Ayala, junior.
Granite Hills — Calie Hitt, sophomore; Islet Montes, senior; Julia Alvarado, senior; Lianna Tsabur, sophomore; Marisah Nolan, sophomore.
Silverado — Bella Martinez, sophomore; Daisy Mora, senior; Giselle Garcia, junior; Keanna Ramirez, senior; Layla Cheney, junior.
Victor Valley — Amber Saldana, senior; Juvilee Rodriguez, senior; Linsey Carmona, sophomore; Madai Ibarra, senior; Saydee Gardner, junior.
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Mojave River League
2022-23 standings: 1. Apple Valley (9-1), 2. Oak Hills (8-1-1), 3. Serrano (6-3-1), 4. Sultana (3-5-2), 5. Hesperia (2-7-1), 6. Burroughs (0-10)
2022-23 Offensive Player of the Year: Sydney Middaugh, Oak Hills
2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year: Kaydence Bonneau, Apple Valley
Apple Valley — Alia Collins, junior; Aubrey Scott, senior; Jadyn Bechtel, freshman; Jayla Justice, Apple Valley; Kaydence Bonneau, senior; Payten Mcclain, junior; Sarah Fort, senior.
Hesperia — Alexis Cisneros, senior; Amberly Herrera, sophomore; Clarissa Rolon, sophomore; Denise Jimenez, junior; Samantha Herrera, senior.
Oak Hills — Aliyah Casillas, freshman; Alyna Luviano, freshman; Alyssa Vernon, senior; Cambria Lawson-Kitchen, sophomore; Makaela Maldonado, junior; Mollie Zielke, junior; Sasha Therrien-Dominguez, senior; Takoah Castillo, senior.
Serrano — Addison McDaniel, senior; Giselle Martinez, sophomore; Katy Beck, junior; Madison Baker, senior; Miranda Banuelos, junior; Stephania Mendoza, senior.
Sultana — Cissy Men, sophomore; Evelyn Ledesma, sophomore; Mishelle Dominguez, junior.
Cross Valley League
2022-23 standings: 1. University Prep (7-1), 2. Riverside Prep (6-1-1), 3. Academy for Academic Excellence (2-3-3), 4. Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy (1-5-2), 5. Big Bear (0-6-2)
Academy for Academic Excellence — Abbey Gremer, senior; Anahi Duron, senior; Bella Moreno, senior; Caitlyn Carlson, sophomore.
Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy — Amo-Mia Villa, junior; Chelsie Pacheco, junior; Diana Puente, senior; Iayla Akima, junior; Violet Whiting, senior.
Riverside Prep — Jasmine Reyes, junior; Leahna Ortega, freshman; Skye Hernandez, senior; Shylah Gilchrist, sophomore.
University Prep — Amaris Esparza, senior; Angela Bettess, senior; Krystal Ortega, senior; Kylie Flores, junior.
Agape League
2022-23 standings: 1. Excelsior (11-0-1), 2. Academy of Careers & Exploration (8-3-1), 3. Silver Valley (6-5-1), 4. Lucerne Valley (3-8-1), 5. UCSA (0-12).
2022-23 MVP: Mia Reyes, Excelsior
Academy of Careers & Exploration — Araceli Manzo, senior; Danaka Pelayes, senior; Sandy Montufar-Mendez, sophomore; Taylor Coffel, junior.
Excelsior — Dominique Corradino, sophomore; Jackie Guillermo, senior; Jorden Gilford, sophomore; Kiera Ortega, senior; Marissa Amaya, senior; Mia Reyes, junior.
Silver Valley — Angeline Pottrich, senior; Camile Lucio, senior; Kristy Nugent, senior; Marissa Perez, junior.
CIF-SS Playoff Divisions
Division 3 — Apple Valley, Granite Hills, Oak Hills
Division 4 — Serrano
Division 5 — Adelanto, Barstow, Riverside Prep, University Prep, Victor Valley
Division 6 — AAE, CIMS, Hesperia, Lucerne Valley
Division 7 — ACE, Excelsior, Silverado, Silver Valley
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: High Desert girls soccer: Players to watch for the 2023-24 season
