The Charlotte Observer high school girls’ soccer season preview: Teams, players to watch
A year ago, the Charlotte area produced multiple girls’ soccer state champions.
Davidson Day (2A) and Providence Day (4A) won N.C. Independent School championships. Christ The King (2A) and Marvin Ridge (4A) won public school titles.
The 2025 season kicks off Feb. 24, and area schools appear primed for another banner season. Here’s The Observer’s annual preview:
Teams to watch
Charlotte Latin: The Hawks return eight starters from a 20-win team whose only three losses came to state champion Providence Day, including in the NCISAA 4A state championship. Returnees include all-state forward Dempsey McMahon (South Carolina commit, 21 goals, nine assists), and midfielder Claire Zhang (nine goals, five assists) — a pair who will the offense. Seniors Addie Hull, Maggie Hyder (Trinity College commit) and Lillian Jarmosevich (Swarthmore College commit) are back to lead a defense that allowed 12 goals in 23 games last season. Latin should be a challenger for a 14th state title in May.
Davidson Day: The Patriots expect to be a legitimate contender to win a third straight NCISAA championship with all-state performers like senior goalkeeper Isabel Seifert (16 shutouts last year, two-time, conference player of the year, University of Richmond commit), junior midfielder Kipenzi Perry (nine goals, 11 assists, N.C. State commit) and sophomore midfielder Audrina Santos (on U17 El Salvador National team) all returning. Sophomore defender Elyse Spraberry, a Lake Norman transfer, should also have an immediate impact in the lineup.
Hough: The Huskies have been a consistent winner, averaging 22 wins per season over past three years. This year, Hough returns four starters from a 22-2-1 squad. Coach George Kutcher will lean on his defense, where junior goalies Riley Pickels (N.C. State commit, 73 saves, 12 shutouts) and Elizabeth Rupert (Western Carolina commit, 31 saves, 12 shutouts) both return. The Hough offense, which scored 136 goals last season, will need to reload. But senior forward Elise Larimer (UNC Wilmington commit, missed last season with injury, six goals, 11 assists as a sophomore), and midfielder Mary Wunder (nine goals, nine assists last year) will look to help the Huskies score.
Marvin Ridge: The defending 4A state champions have a wealth of experience back. Those players include senior Molly Estes (a three-year starting goalkeeper, Anderson University commit), senior Jessica Mattson (all-state center back, Furman University commit, eight goals, seven assists) and senior Izabella Zicchinolfi (midfielder, 11 goals, Lenoir-Rhyne University commit). Sophomore forward Lucy Chin, who had 11 goals, 10 assists as a freshman, should also have a big impact on the offense.
Pine Lake Prep: The Pride have established themselves as one of the best teams in the state, regardless of classification, going 40-4-3 in the last two years. Pine Lake Prep was 2A state runner-up in 2024, and a 2A state semifinalist in 2023. This year, coach Paul Ebenhoeh expects to be even better, returning all-state senior midfielder Avery Garrett (24 goals, 35 assists last season, Campbell University commit) and junior defender Braelyn Iosue (Division I recruit, led defense with 16 shutouts last season). The Pride should also get major contributions from two newcomers: junior forward Sadie Peterson (Clemson commit, transferring back to Pine Lake Prep from Florida’s IMG Academy), and freshman midfielder Victoria Christiansen (top level club player with invites from Carolina Ascent and U.S. women’s national youth team).
Providence Day: The Chargers spent parts of last season as the No. 1 team in the nation and return the core of a team that has won four of the past five NCISAA state championships. The Providence Day offense, which averaged nearly five goals per game last season, returns senior midfielder Blane McElory, a 2024 All-American and N.C. Gatorade player of the year. McElroy had 39 goals and 31 assists last season. Back with her are all-state junior midfielder Devin McElroy (16 goals, 13 assists, Miami, Ohio, commit) and senior Lia Zimmer (13 goals, seven assists).
Players to watch
Georgia-Allen Aaron, Providence: The Panthers’ all-state midfielder, a Francis Marion commit and Southwestern 4A conference player of the year, had five goals and eight assists last season.
Sadie Badgett, East Lincoln: The Mustangs’ all-state center back scored two goals to go with five assists last season on a defense that had 15 shutouts and allowed 16 goals in 24 games. Badgett is a Campbell commit.
Ella Berry, Cox Mill: The Chargers’ all-region senior back had 12 goals for a 14-win team as a junior.
Molly Carlson, Covenant Day: The Lions’ all-state senior goalkeeper, a Virginia commit, had 136 saves and eight shutouts for a team that has advanced to back-to-back NCISAA 4A state semifinals.
Cameron Cline, Mooresville: The Blue Devils’ all-state senior, a Wingate commit, is the team’s top returning playmaker. She had 18 goals last season, including four game-winners, plus eight assists on a 4A public school state semifinals.
Tyler Clyburn, North Mecklenburg: The Vikings’ senior forward, an Auburn signee, is back to lead North Mecklenburg offense after scoring 17 goals last season.
Julia Grier and Carolina Wawak, South Mecklenburg: The Sabres’ all-state senior midfielder, Grier is a Wofford commit and the team’s leading returning scorer (12 goals last year), while all-region, senior center back Wawak, a four-year starter, headlines the South Meck defense.
Merrin Gunter, Gaston Christian: The Eagles’ three-time all-Metrolina Athletic conference performer (16 goals, 11 assists) returns to lead a younger team.
Aubrey Hutchins, Hickory Ridge: The Ragin’ Bulls’ senior, an Anderson University commit, led Hickory Ridge with both 16 goals and eight assists last year. Hutchins will team with junior goalkeeper, Aubrey Rose (111 saves, seven shutouts) to lead a team that returns 10 starters.
Zumelya Jimenez, Forest Hills: The Yellow Jackets’ senior forward, the Rocky River conference player of the year who poured in 61 goals and had 19 assists last year, has an injury that could take her out for the bulk of the season. Heading into her senior season, Jimenez’s 186 career goals ranks No. 5 in state history.
Avery Johnson, Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers’ senior, a Yale commit, had 13 goals and five assists last season. She’s part of a versatile midfield with juniors Molly Brown (14 goals, nine goals) and Sam Vanderhave (five goals, 15 assists).
Savanna Leckner, Charlotte Catholic: The Cougars’ all-state sophomore forward looks to build on a breakout freshman season where she scored 28 goals.
Grace Maynard, South Point: The Red Raiders’ all-state center back, a UNC Wilmington commit, had five goals and two assists last season. She’ll team with junior goalkeeper Isabella Goodwin (12 shutouts) to lead a South Point team that lost on penalty kicks in the NCHSAA 3A state final last season.
Chayla McDaniel, Myers Park: The Mustangs’ all-region, all-conference, senior defender is back to help lead Myers Park’s defense.
Ava Merli, Independence: The Patriots’ all-Southwestern 4A (SW4A) conference defender returns for a team looking to improve on last season’s 8-8-5 record under first-year coach and former assistant Rebekah Severs.
Emily Morris, Lincolnton: The senior goalkeeper had 186 saves last year and will move to center back and the midfielder this year to help what should be an improved Wolves’ team.
Ellie Riechman, Ardrey Kell: The Knights’ all-state senior, the reigning SoMeck 4A conference player of the year, had seven goals and 15 assists last season. She returns with senior goalkeeper Waleska Rugel, and junior center back Taylor Kleinschmidt.
Kate Robinson, Lake Norman Charter: The Knights’ all-state senior midfielder, a Catawba College commit (20 goals, 14 assists) will be one of Lake Norman Charter’s top playmakers this season.
Alice Tyson, East Mecklenburg: The junior goalkeeper, the Southwestern 4A keeper of the year, had 158 saves as a sophomore.
Notes
Double duty: Lincolnton girls’ soccer coach Steven Cheatham is also the head boys’ soccer coach at West Lincoln in the fall. Cheatham also splits time teaching at both Lincolnton and West Lincoln High.
Five-peat?: Davidson Day coach Brad Laatsch is going for his fifth straight NCISAA state championship this season. He’s won two in a row with both Patriots’ boys’ and girls’ soccer teams in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
London calling: The Providence Day girls’ soccer team took a preseason trip to London, England, where it played friendlies with Arsenal, Charlotte FC and Brighton academy players in addition to stadium tours and other sightseeing.
National teams: Davidson Day sophomore midfielder Audrina Santos, is on the U17 El Salvador national team, while Providence Day senior, Lia Zimmer, is on the Hungarian national team.
New program: Former East Mecklenburg soccer coach Timothy Long will lead the way for the Ballantyne Ridge team as it debuts this season.
