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Here is the SJ-R's all-area girls soccer team for 2023

ryan mahan and bill welt, state journal-register
·5 min read

The State Journal-Register had two teams bring home hardware from the girls state soccer tournament this month. Chatham Glenwood won its second Class 2A state championship with a 2-0 overtime victory over Lisle Benet Academy while Pleasant Plains secured its best finish in the state tourney with a 1-0 win over Elmhurst IC Catholic in the Class 1A event the week before.

Those teams are well-represented on The State Journal-Register's annual list of the best soccer players in the area. SJ-R reporters Bill Welt and Ryan Mahan have picked 12 players for each of the small school and large school teams, respectively.

Here's a look at The State Journal-Register's Small School and Large School girls soccer teams.

Chatham Glenwood's Ali Matthews hoists the Class 2A girls soccer state title after the Titans defeated Lisle Benet Academy 2-0 in double overtime at Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium in Naperville on Saturday, June 3, 2023.
Chatham Glenwood's Ali Matthews hoists the Class 2A girls soccer state title after the Titans defeated Lisle Benet Academy 2-0 in double overtime at Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium in Naperville on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

LARGE SCHOOL

ZOE CORMIER, Rochester

Rochester Senior Zoe cormier, who plays three sports, volleyball, football, and soccer, at her school Friday August 19, 2022.
Rochester Senior Zoe cormier, who plays three sports, volleyball, football, and soccer, at her school Friday August 19, 2022.

The Rockets’ senior defender scored six goals and had four assists but played a key role as Rochester had 10 shutout wins. She was named to the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-sectional team.

AREONNA CRAINE, Southeast

The junior defender scored four goals and had two assists as a center back. Her “athletic ability” was a key component for John Krohe’s Spartans and she was named to the IHSSCA’s all-sectional team.

MAGGIE GLECKLER, Rochester

An IHSSCA All-State pick, this senior midfielder led the Rockets in both goals (23) and assists (19) and helped Rochester go undefeated for more than a month in March and April.

Here are the SJ-R's girls track and field athletes of the year and all-area team for 2023

KAMRYN HOFFMAN, Springfield High

The Senators’ freshman midfielder had a breakout season with 71 points (26 goals and 19 assists) and earned an all-state nod from the IHSSCA.

HANNAH LAMBERT, Sacred Heart-Griffin

Sacred Heart-Griffin's Hannah Lambert works against Pleasant Plains' Sophia Taft during the first half of the Class 1A Riverton Sectional girls soccer final on Friday, May 19, 2023. Plains won 1-0.
Sacred Heart-Griffin's Hannah Lambert works against Pleasant Plains' Sophia Taft during the first half of the Class 1A Riverton Sectional girls soccer final on Friday, May 19, 2023. Plains won 1-0.

The IHSSCA All-State senior forward scored 16 goals and finished with six assists for the 15-win Cyclones.

RYLANN LAW, Chatham Glenwood

Chatham Glenwood's Rylann Law walls off a Sacred Heart-Griffin defender during a Central State Eight Conference girls soccer match at the Glenwood Athletic Complex on Friday, May 5, 2023. Glenwood won 3-0.
Chatham Glenwood's Rylann Law walls off a Sacred Heart-Griffin defender during a Central State Eight Conference girls soccer match at the Glenwood Athletic Complex on Friday, May 5, 2023. Glenwood won 3-0.

The future is bright for the Class 2A state champions. This sophomore forward scored 42 goals — including an insurance goal in overtime of the state title game against Lisle Benet — and had 10 assists. She was named to the IHSSCA All-State team.

BRIDGET LYONS, Springfield High

Along with Kamryn Hoffman, the Senators have two dynamic freshmen on this list. This freshman midfielder earned an IHSSCA all-sectional selection with 13 goals and 14 assists, both second on the team behind Hoffman.

ALI MATTHEWS, Chatham Glenwood

Chatham Glenwood's Ali Matthews claims the Class 2A supersectional plaque following a 5-0 victory over Troy Triad at the Glenwood Athletic Complex on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
Chatham Glenwood's Ali Matthews claims the Class 2A supersectional plaque following a 5-0 victory over Troy Triad at the Glenwood Athletic Complex on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

The senior defender helped Glenwood allow just two goals in its seven postseason wins. She also scored four times overall and had an assist to earn IHSSCA all-sectional honors.

TAYLOR OFFER, Rochester

Rochester's Taylor Offer, left, vies for the ball against Chatham Glenwood's Makenna Yeager during the second half of a Central State Eight Conference girls soccer match on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
Rochester's Taylor Offer, left, vies for the ball against Chatham Glenwood's Makenna Yeager during the second half of a Central State Eight Conference girls soccer match on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

A sophomore forward, this IHSSCA all-sectional selection was second on the team in goals scored (13) and assists (16) as Rochester won 19 times in 24 games.

CAROLINE SHEEHAN, Sacred Heart-Griffin

The Cyclones’ sophomore midfielder scored 15 times and assisted on five other goals and earned a spot as an IHSSCA all-sectional pick.

ABI STEPHENS, Chatham Glenwood

The Titans’ junior goalkeeper allowed just 17 goals in 26 games. After the calendar hit May, she let through just five goals the rest of the season. She earned a spot on the IHSSCA All-State Goalkeeper team.

HADEN VLCEK, Chatham Glenwood

Chatham Glenwood's Haden Vlcek heads the ball for a goal against Chicago De La Salle during the first half of the Class 2A girls soccer state semifinal at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville on Friday, May 2, 2023.
Chatham Glenwood's Haden Vlcek heads the ball for a goal against Chicago De La Salle during the first half of the Class 2A girls soccer state semifinal at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville on Friday, May 2, 2023.

The Indiana University commit and junior defender is an IHSSCA All-State honoree after she helped the Titans to an undefeated run in the Central State Eight Conference and to the 2A state championship. She scored 10 goals and had four assists.

SMALL SCHOOL

ADI FRAASE, Pleasant Plains/New Berlin

The junior defender fueled 23 shutouts en route to a 27-3-1 overall record and third place in the Class 1A state finals. The Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-sectional pick also chipped in four goals and two assists.

CALLIE GILL, Auburn

The sophomore IHSSCA all-sectional midfielder led the Trojans with 25 goals and 11 assists.

ASHLEY GIL-MOLINERO, Beardstown

The junior forward/midfielder returns to the all-area list after doling out 25 goals and 15 assists for the Tigers. She was awarded IHSSCA all-sectional and team MVP honors for a second consecutive season.

TAYLOR HIPSHER, North Mac

The senior IHSSCA all-sectional forward powered the Panthers with 15 goals and nine assists.

Here are the SJ-R's boys track and field athletes of the year and all-area team for 2023

KARSYN JACOBY, Athens/Petersburg PORTA

The sophomore forward propelled the Warriors to their first Class 1A regional title in program history with the lone goal against Champaign St. Thomas More. The IHSSCA all-sectional honoree poured in 28 goals and seven assists.

BAILEY LEACH, Pleasant Plains/New Berlin

Pleasant Plains midfielder Bailey Leach Friday, June 23, 2023.
Pleasant Plains midfielder Bailey Leach Friday, June 23, 2023.

The freshman midfielder and IHSSCA all-sectional pick totaled 28 goals and 29 assists — both team bests — to lead the Cardinals to their first state trophy since 2009.

JORDYN LOVELESS, Carlinville

The sophomore IHSSCA all-sectional forward amassed 31 goals and nine assists.

TATYANA MEHUNDREW, Lutheran/Calvary

The junior defender was voted IHSSCA all-sectional for a third consecutive season and finished with five goals and three assists.

MADISON RIGDON, Williamsville

The junior defender garnered IHSSCA all-sectional honorable mention and finished with four goals and nine assists.

KENDALL SIMS, Pleasant Plains/New Berlin

The sophomore defender earned IHSSCA all-sectional honors after the defense didn’t allow a goal in six of the team’s seven playoff games for third place in Class 1A. She also chalked up eight goals and two assists, including the go-ahead penalty kick against Sacred Heart-Griffin in the 1-0 Riverton Sectional final victory.

ALANNA SMITH, Riverton/Buffalo Tri-City

The senior midfielder was IHSSCA all-sectional honorable mention after recording 15 goals and 12 assists. She finished her career with 37 goals and 20 assists, the latter ranks second in program history. She will play at NCAA Division III Millikin University.

BROOKLYN TERMINE, Williamsville

The freshman midfielder chalked up 28 goals and 10 assists to lead Williamsville to a 19-6-1 overall mark and a second consecutive regional title in Class 1A. She picked up IHSSCA all-sectional laurels.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield all-area girls soccer team for the 2023 season