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The top returning Vermont high school girls soccer players? Our 2023 watchlist.

alex abrami, burlington free press
·9 min read

With the return of high school sports for the 2023-24 year just around the corner, it's time to draw up interest and intrigue with our seasonal preview content.

After conversations, texts and email messages with coaches and media colleagues throughout Vermont, below are the state's top returning girls soccer players. The list includes Burlington Free Press player of the year Chloe Pecor, back for her final campaign at Champlain Valley, and Colchester junior Ava Moore, a two-time BFP all-state first-team selection, plus a handful of familiar stars from a year ago.

All told, the list recognizes 49 players to watch during the 2023 fall season.

Links to coverage: What to expect from the Burlington Free Press for preseason content

To follow: Watch lists for field hockey, boys soccer, football, cross-country running and volleyball.

Enjoy!

2023 Free Press girls soccer watchlist

(Note: Players listed in alphabetical order)

Jordan Alley

► School: Blue Mountain

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: The Mountain Division first team and coaches' D-IV all-state selection racked up 27 goals and 9 assists for third-seeded Blue Mountain.

Ava Ardovino

► School: BFA-Fairfax

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: The Mountain Division player of the year struck for 32 goals and 16 assists, giving her a program-record 57 tallies through two seasons at Fairfax.

Finley Barker

► School: Mount Mansfield

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: The multi-sport athlete landed on the BFP all-state second team after helping the Cougars reach the program's first Division I final since 2004.

MMU's Finley Barker sends a pass up the field during the Cougars 1-0 win over Essex under the lights in 2022.
MMU's Finley Barker sends a pass up the field during the Cougars 1-0 win over Essex under the lights in 2022.

Ava Barron

► School: Champlain Valley

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: The BFP all-state second-team selection registered 2 goals, 5 assists for the Division I champion Redhawks.

CVU's Ava Barron gets out ahead of Rutland's Bethany Solari during the Redhawks' 3-0 semifinal win over Rutland in 2022.
CVU's Ava Barron gets out ahead of Rutland's Bethany Solari during the Redhawks' 3-0 semifinal win over Rutland in 2022.

Isabelle Benoure

► School: Colchester

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: Earned a spot on the BFP all-state second team thanks to composed defensive work in Colchester's 13-win campaign.

Colchester's Isabel Benoure looks for a teammate to pass to during the Lakers' 1-0 loss to CVU in 2022.
Colchester's Isabel Benoure looks for a teammate to pass to during the Lakers' 1-0 loss to CVU in 2022.

Izzy Bloom

► School: Rice

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: A critical piece of the defense during Rice's run to the second of back-to-back Division II titles, Bloom was named to second team in the Lake Division.

Lily Briggs

► School: Fair Haven

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: The attacking midfielder sprung for 25 goals and 10 assists as the Slaters reached the Division III final. She made the coaches' D-III squad and the honorable-mention list for BFP all-state.

Sabine Brueck

► School: North Country

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: Last year's Burlington Free Press' girls athlete of the year struck for 20 goals for 12-win North Country. She also made the BFP all-state honorable-mention list.

Esther Carlson

► School: Montpelier

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: The second-team Capital Division selection supplied 14 goals, 8 assists for the top-seeded team in Division II.

Sunshine Clark

► School: Rice

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Goalie

► 2022 season: Selected for the BFP all-state honorable-mention list, Clark posted her second straight season of 10 clean sheets for the two-time Division II champs. In 2022, she amassed 115 saves and earned a 87.8% save percentage.

Rice goalie Sunshine Clark makes a save during the second half of the 2022 Division II championship game.
Rice goalie Sunshine Clark makes a save during the second half of the 2022 Division II championship game.

Caitlyn Davison

► School: Hazen

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: The coaches' Division IV all-state honoree picked up 5 goals, 2 assists for the Wildcats.

Chloe DeJong

► School: Mount Mansfield

► Class year: Sophomore

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: As a freshman, DeJong shined on the Cougars' defense and was awarded a spot on the BFP all-state honorable-mention squad.

MMU's Chloe DeJong passes to a teammate during the Cougars' 1-0 win over Essex under the lights at EHS in 2022.
MMU's Chloe DeJong passes to a teammate during the Cougars' 1-0 win over Essex under the lights at EHS in 2022.

Brooks DeShaw

► School: Burlington

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: Selected to the BFP all-state second team after tallying 19 goals and 5 assists for the Seahorses. She had 39 career goals.

Brooks DeShaw (4) and the Seahorses celebrate after scoring late in their 1-0 win over South Burlington in 2022.
Brooks DeShaw (4) and the Seahorses celebrate after scoring late in their 1-0 win over South Burlington in 2022.

Stella Dooley

► School: Champlain Valley

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: Anchored a defense that did not yield a goal over the final five games for the Division I champions. Dooley was named to the BFP all-state first team.

CVU's Stella Dooley heads the ball during the Redhawks' 1-0 win over MMU in the 2022 D1 State Championship at Norwich University.
CVU's Stella Dooley heads the ball during the Redhawks' 1-0 win over MMU in the 2022 D1 State Championship at Norwich University.

Maddison Doyle

► School: Mount Mansfield

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: A second-team Metro Division selection after serving crucial role on Mount Mansfield's back line.

MMU defender Maddison Doyle sends the ball up the field during the Cougars' season-opening 1-0 loss to Rutland in 2021.
MMU defender Maddison Doyle sends the ball up the field during the Cougars' season-opening 1-0 loss to Rutland in 2021.

Lily Garey-Wright

► School: St. Johnsbury

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: The center back tallied 3 goals, 1 assist and did well on set pieces to make the coaches' D-I all-state team.

Reese Gordon

► School: South Burlington

► Class year: Sophomore

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: Gordon excelled as a freshman center back, starting every game to be named to the Metro Division second team.

South Burlington's Reese Gordon, left, defends during the 2022 regular season.
South Burlington's Reese Gordon, left, defends during the 2022 regular season.

Maura Grazioso

► School: Burr and Burton

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: A key starter in the midfield for a Bulldogs squad that captured nine victories.

Isabel Greb

► School: Proctor

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield/forward

► 2022 season: Named to the coaches' Division IV all-state team after racking up 27 goals and 10 assists. Greb has 73 career goals entering her final campaign.

Sarah Hailey

► School: Stowe

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: Totaled 29 goals, 8 assists to lead Stowe to a Division III three-peat. Selected to the BFP all-state first team.

Sidney Herrington

► School: Arlington

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: The coaches' Division IV all-state selection struck for 22 goals as the Eagles reached the state semifinals.

Charli Kellaway

► School: North Country

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: A central midfielder, Kellaway led the Falcons with 11 assists while also scoring three times to land on the Capital Division first team and coaches' D-II all-state.

Rachel Kelley

► School: South Burlington

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: A second-team BFP all-state selection, Kelley had 9 goals, 3 assists.

South Burlington's Rachel Kelley fires a shot on goal during the Wolves' 1-0 loss to Burlington in 2022.
South Burlington's Rachel Kelley fires a shot on goal during the Wolves' 1-0 loss to Burlington in 2022.

Anya Kennedy

► School: North Country

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: Landed on the coaches' Division II all-state squad.

Zoe Klein

► School: Champlain Valley

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: Put up 11 goals, 4 assists for the Division I champions to make the BFP all-state second team.

Abby Kopeck

► School: Burr and Burton

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Goalie

► 2022 season: The goalie earned a spot on first team in the Southern Vermont League 'A' Division.

Cadence Lafferty

► School: BFA-St. Albans

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: A true striker, Lafferty made second team in the Metro Division for the Comets.

Elizabeth Love

► School: Fair Haven

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Forward/defense

► 2022 season: An honorable-mention selection for BFP all-state, Love split time on defense and attack to register 15 goals and 10 assists.

Oakley Machanic

► School: South Burlington

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: The BFP all-state first-teamer served the Wolves as a holding defensive midfielder (1 goal, 3 assists) with a high win rate.

South Burlington's Oakley Machanic clears the ball up field during the 2022 regular season.
South Burlington's Oakley Machanic clears the ball up field during the 2022 regular season.

Holley MacLellan

► School: Milton

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: Tallied 8 goals, 12 assists to be named the Lake Division player of the year for the Division II runner-up Yellowjackets.

Milton's Holley MacLellan, left, looks to possess a loose ball during the 2022 regular season.
Milton's Holley MacLellan, left, looks to possess a loose ball during the 2022 regular season.

Raven McCray-Fay

► School: Rice

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: An honorable-mention selection for BFP all-state, McCray-Fay helped Rice surge to a Division II title repeat in her first season with the South Burlington program.

Rice's Raven McCray-Fay, left, battles for possession during the 2022 Division II girls soccer championship game.
Rice's Raven McCray-Fay, left, battles for possession during the 2022 Division II girls soccer championship game.

Savannah Monahan

► School: Milton

► Class year: Sophomore

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: Scored a team-best 16 goals to go with 6 assists to make the Lake Division first team.

Milton's Savannah Monahan scores in last year's Division II semifinals vs. Mount Abraham.
Milton's Savannah Monahan scores in last year's Division II semifinals vs. Mount Abraham.

Breya Montague

► School: Essex

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: Returned from ACL injury to make the Division I coaches' all-state team and a spot on the BFP all-state honorable-mention squad.

Ava Moore

► School: Colchester

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: Named to her second straight BFP all-state first team after tallying 18 goals and 4 assists.

Colchester's Ava Moore controls the ball during the Lakers 1-0 loss to CVU in 2022.
Colchester's Ava Moore controls the ball during the Lakers 1-0 loss to CVU in 2022.

Cadence Ovitt

► School: BFA-St. Albans

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: Ovitt was a first-team selection in the Metro Division.

Chloe Pecor

► School: Champlain Valley

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: The BFP and Gatorade player of the year broke CVU's single-season goals record with a 27-goal, 7-assist campaign for the Division I champions.

CVU's Chloe Pecor reaches for the ball during the Redhawks' 1-0 win over the Cougars in the 2022 D1 State Championship game at Norwich University.
CVU's Chloe Pecor reaches for the ball during the Redhawks' 1-0 win over the Cougars in the 2022 D1 State Championship game at Norwich University.

Rosie Perkinson

► School: Burlington

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: Landed on the coaches' Division I all-state team and the Metro Division first team.

Burlington's Rosie Perkinson races past Milton's Holley MacLellan to the ball during the Seahorses' game against the Yellowjackets in 2022.
Burlington's Rosie Perkinson races past Milton's Holley MacLellan to the ball during the Seahorses' game against the Yellowjackets in 2022.

Maddy Perry

► School: Fair Haven

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Defense/forward

► 2022 season: Supplied 11 goals and one assist for the Division III finalist Slaters. Named to the Southern Vermont League 'B' Division first team.

Kelsi Pratt

► School: Colchester

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: A first-team selection for the Metro Division as well as a honoree on coaches' Division I all-state. Pratt tallied 3 goals, 4 assists.

Colchester's Kelsi Pratt heads up the field with the ball during the Lakers 1-0 loss to CVU during the 2022 regular season.
Colchester's Kelsi Pratt heads up the field with the ball during the Lakers 1-0 loss to CVU during the 2022 regular season.

Sofia Randall

► School: Mount Mansfield

► Class year: Sophomore

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: As a wing player in her freshman year, Randall made second team in the Metro Division.

MMU's Sofia Randall gathers the ball during the Cougars' 1-0 loss to CVU in the 2022 D1 Championship game at Norwich University.
MMU's Sofia Randall gathers the ball during the Cougars' 1-0 loss to CVU in the 2022 D1 Championship game at Norwich University.

Hailey Routhier

► School: Essex

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Defense

► 2022 season: Routhier returns to the lineup following a missed season due an ACL injury.

Audrey Rupp

► School: Windsor

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: Amassed 18 goals, 11 assists for the Yellow Jackets, earning a spot on the coaches' Division III all-state squad.

Mary Sanderson

► School: Leland & Gray

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: Helping Leland & Gray to the Division IV title, Sanderson had 7 goals, 4 assists. Also made the coaches' D-IV all-state squad.

Kelsie Scanlon

► School: Essex

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Goalie

► 2022 season: Selected as first-team goalie on BFP all-state after making 93 saves and conceding just five goals.

Essex goalie Kelsie Scanlon makes a leaping save during the Hornets' 2022 quarterfinal match against the CVU Redhawks.
Essex goalie Kelsie Scanlon makes a leaping save during the Hornets' 2022 quarterfinal match against the CVU Redhawks.

Macie Stagner

► School: Springfield

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: A first-team selection in the Southern Vermont League 'B' Division.

Tessa Sweeney

► School: BFA-St. Albans

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: Earned spot on the Metro Division first team.

Cianna Tomasi

► School: Milton

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Forward

► 2022 season: Picked up 7 goals, 6 assists for the Yellowjackets to land on second team for the Lake Division.

Milton's Cianna Tomasi, left, battles for the ball during the final minutes of the 2022 Division II championship game.
Milton's Cianna Tomasi, left, battles for the ball during the final minutes of the 2022 Division II championship game.

Joanna Toy

► School: Mount Abraham

► Class year: Senior

► Position: Goalie

► 2022 season: A starter every year of her career, Toy landed on the coaches' Division II all-state team in guiding the Eagles to the state semifinals.

Mt. Abraham goalie Joanna Toy makes a save during the Eagles 2-1 semifinal loss to Milton in 2022.
Mt. Abraham goalie Joanna Toy makes a save during the Eagles 2-1 semifinal loss to Milton in 2022.

Taylor Wilkins

► School: Arlington

► Class year: Junior

► Position: Midfield

► 2022 season: A coaches' Division IV all-state selection who struck for 20 goals for the Eagles.

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Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont high school girls soccer: Players to watch for 2023 season