Charlotte-area girls soccer preview: Top players, teams to watch this season
The Observer’s preview of spring sports teams and athletes continues today with girls soccer.
Charlotte Observer Girls’ Soccer Teams to Watch
Cox Mill: The defending 3A state champions have an experienced group back, including senior center midfielder Michaela Fisher (Furman University commit, 12 goals, five assists last year), senior left wing Savannah Noll (Longwood University commit, 10 goals last year) and senior center back Lauren Ruf (defense allowed only five goals last season).
Community School of Davidson: The Spartans return a solid core from a team that averaged 6.4 goals per game and won the 2A state title a year ago. Senior Michaela Deas (30 goals) returns with the junior trio of Tyler Baugh (17 goals), Cameron Koster (13 goals) and Sophia Kritzer (13 goals).
Hough: The Huskies’ have been consistent winners going 36-2-2 in the last seasons, including 16-1 a year ago. Coach David Smith returns seven starters, including senior defender Alayna Bennett (Belmont Abbey commit), senior defender Maria Rayburn (six goals, 16 assists last year, Catawba College commit) and junior forward Kennedy Bell (seven goals, four assists in six games last year).
Lake Norman Charter: The Knights have a wealth of talent back from the defending 2A state championship team that went a perfect 19-0 last season. All-state senior forward/midfielder and N.C. State commit Eliza Rich returns after having 32 goals and 22 assists last year. Rich will team with senior forward Haven Stanley (20 goals, 10 assists last season) and senior center back Reese Robinson (Appalachian State commit) to give Lake Norman Charter a legit shot to repeat as they move up to class 3A.
Myers Park: The defending, 4A state champions also have plenty of firepower as they look to defend their title. Longtime, Myers Park soccer coach Bucky McCarley will look to seniors like center midfielder Mia Lynch and defender Meghan Stines, as well as junior forward Charlotte Simas (20 goals, seven assists last year) to help lead the way.
Providence Day: The Chargers return 17 starters from a Providence Day team that was nationally-ranked and went a perfect 19-0 on their way to a second straight NCISAA Division 4A state championship. This team, will look a little different after losing four players to college soccer (who combined for 85 goals).
But, Coach Dan Dudley has plenty of options in senior midfielders Ava Hellner (14 goals last year, all-state, University of Kentucky commit) and Cameryn Sicard (nine goals, seven assists last year University of Richmond commit) leading the offense.
Meanwhile, senior goalkeeper Addy Holgersen (Clemson commit, five goals allowed last year) and junior goalkeeper Chandler Brooks (six goals allowed last year), and a pair of star defenders -- senior Maggie Carabell and junior Lauren Jensen -- give the Chargers a solid core returning from a unit that gave up 11 goals all season a year ago.
Charlotte Observer Girls’ Soccer Players to Watch
Maddie Eastman, Charlotte Country Day: The University of Kentucky commit is an all-state senior captain who had six goals and four assists last year.
Erin Figueroa, Union Academy: The Cardinals’ senior center back is a four-year starter who is back to anchor a defense that surrendered only 18 goals in 14 games last season.
Olivia Kromer, Charlotte Catholic: The Cougars’ senior forward (eight goals, seven assists last year) will pair with junior midfielder Gabby Chamorro, to lead the Charlotte Catholic offense.
Aleisha Lamb, Independence: North Greenville University commit (nine goals, four assists last year) will team with junior Kam Browder (Wingate University commit, eight goals last year) on a Patriots’ team (6-6-1) that has the experience to be much improved this season.
Maddie Milliron, Hickory Ridge: The East Carolina commit, a senior all-state midfielder, had 16 goals, six assists last year.
Carly Montgomery, Ardrey Kell: The University of Florida commit, a junior center back, plays a big role defensive and offensively (six goals, seven assists last year) for the Knights.
Maddie Mosteller, Hickory: Lincoln Memorial University commit, an all-state pick, was Northwestern 3A/4A conference player of the year last season, when she had 22 goals, 13 assists.
Jayce Rase, Lake Norman: University of West Virginia commit is playing her first year of high school (former club player) and is “arguably one of the best players in the state,” according to Lake Norman soccer coach Matthew Bice.
Ella Smith, Charlotte Latin: The Hawks’ all-state junior forward/midfielder can make plays for herself (17 goals last year) or her teammates (19 assists last season) for a team that expects to compete for a state championship (NCISAA 4A state runner-up from last year).
Grace Smith, South Point: The Red Raiders’ junior forward is big-time playmaker who had 32 goals, 12 assists last year for the 2A state semifinalist squad that went 17-1 last year.
Milla Syska, Hickory Grove: The Western Carolina University commit is an all-state pick who had 39 goals a year ago.
Lindsay Thomas, Providence: The Panthers’ senior (10 goals, six assists last year) pairs with sophomore Isabelle Allbaugh (10 goals) to give Providence the offensive firepower to compete in the Southwestern 4A conference and the state tournament.
Cambell Vanderhaar, East Lincoln: The Mustangs’ senior center back was the team’s most valuable player, a four-year starter who is the “rock of our team,” according to East Lincoln soccer coach Jason Dragoon.
Samantha Whitaker, Lincolnton: The Wolves’ all-region performer (15 goals, 17 assists last year) gives Lincolnton a potent 1-2 scoring punch with senior Alexa Lopez (19 goals last season).
Girls’ Soccer Notes
Ardrey Kell in the Family: The Knights’ roster boasts three sets of sisters: Ally and Emily Casey, Carly and Maddie Montgomery and Elie and Kayley Newman.
Back in Action: East Lincoln senior forward Deana Poteat has worked really hard to get back on the field for the Mustangs. After scoring 19 goals as a freshman, she only played in four games in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season. Last year, she had nine goals in nine games, missing time with an injury, according to East Lincoln coach Jason Dragoon. This year, as a senior, Poteat finally gets her chance to shine.
Going North?: The Vikings have a chance to be improved with eight starters returning, led by junior forward Keera Moua (19 goals) last season.
On the Rise: The Hibriten girls’ soccer team went 12-2-1 last year, despite starting 10 players who were either freshmen or sophomore. This year, that experience should pay off with senior midfielder Charis Keen (10 goals last year) and junior goalkeeper Rylee Conard (six shutouts last year) back to lead the team.
