Charlotte Catholic duo headlines 2026 The Observer’s girls’ soccer all-star team

Charlotte Catholic won the N.C. 6A state championship and gave coach Gary Hoilett his ninth title.

Today, Hoilett and N.C. player of the year Marquerite McPhillips headline the 2026 Charlotte Observer girls’ soccer all-star team.

McPhillips, a senior forward, had 23 goals and 13 assists this season. She led the Cougars to a 24-0-1 record and a No. 1 ranking in MaxPreps’ national poll.

Hoilett, who led the Cougars to boys’ and girls’ state titles in the 2025-26 school year, has more than 900 games in his career.

All-Observer girls’ soccer first team

FORWARD

Lucy Chin, Marvin Ridge, Jr.: All-state pick led her team to a top 30 national ranking. She ended the season with 25 goals and 11 assists.

Amaya Falzarano, Myers Park, Sr.: Falzarano, an Indiana recruit, was the star of the Mustangs’ 8A state championship team, finishing the season with 25 goals and eight assists.

Mary Martin-Spinner, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.: The Cougars’ star helped her team to a No. 1 national ranking and an N.C. state title. She finished with 21 goals and 22 assists.

Olivia Miller, Hough, Jr.: Helped her team to a top 40 national ranking with 23 goals and 13 assists this season. Miller was an all-state pick.

Peyton Peterson, Pine Lake Prep, Fr.: Peterson had three goals in a 5-1 win over Wake Prep, leading her team to its second straight 3A title. For the season, Peterson had 46 goals and 13 assists. Her goal scoring ranked No. 6 in America among freshmen.

Addison Pierce, Christ The King, Jr.: Pierce scored three goals in her team’s 3-0 win over Franklin Academy in the NC 2A state final. It was her school’s fourth straight state title. She finished the season with 44 goals and 14 assists.

MIDFIELDERS

Victoria Christiansen, Pine Lake Prep, Soph.: Part of a four-time state championship team this season, Christiansen was an all-state pick who had 10 goals and 26 assists.

Devin McElroy, Providence Day, Sr.: McElroy, an all-state pick, led her team to an NCISAA state championship. She finished the season with 17 goals and 15 assists on a Chargers team ranked No. 36 in America by MaxPreps.

Marguerite McPhillips, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.: McPhillips was a top scoring threat on the nation’s No. 1 team, finishing the season with 23 goals and 13 assists.

DEFENSE

Braelyn Iosue, Pine Lake Prep, Sr.: Iosue played in four state championship games in her career and was part of a defense that didn’t allow a goal in any of them. This season, the all-state pick had four goals and an assist.

Taylor Kleinschmidt, Ardrey Kell, Sr.: An all-state pick, Kleinschmidt helped the Knights to a sixth straight conference title despite losing all-star scorer Makayla Rodriguez to a knee injury early in the year. Kleinschmidt had four goals and three assists and helped her team get 14 shutouts.

Peyton Steele, Hickory Ridge, Sr.: Steele, an all-state pick, was part of a Ragin’ Bulls’ defense that allowed 16 goals in 27 games. She had five scores and 16 assists.

Regan Truxillo, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.: Truxillo, an all-state pick, was part of a Cougars defense that allowed seven goals in 25 games.

GOALIE

Riley Pickels, Hough, Sr.: An all-state pick, Pickels had 17 shutouts in 26 games and allowed nine goals.

All-Observer girls’ soccer second team

FORWARDS

Julia Freeman, Ballantyne Ridge, Soph.

Makenna Bahnick, Central Academy, Sr.

Cheyenne Painter, Mountain Island Charter, Sr.

Ally Stewart, East Lincoln, Fr.

Megan Story, Northwest Cabarrus, Sr.

Kylie Taylor, Marvin Ridge, Soph.

Mia Valenica, Cannon School, Jr.

MIDFIELDERS

Lily Daniels, Myers Park, Jr.

Payton Lenox, East Gaston, Jr.

Rubi Martinez, Chambers, Sr.

Sydney Treanor, Hough, Sr.

Eva Smith, Pine Lake Prep, Soph

DEFENSE

Rylan Breath, Mountain Island Charter, Sr.

Macie Cline, Mooresville, Jr.

Kate Hux, South Point, Fr.

Marissa Perry, Cox Mill, Jr.

GOALIE

Fallon Leckner, Charlotte Catholic, Jr.

Molly Howe, Hopewell, Soph.

Langston Wertz Jr.

The Charlotte Observer

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Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.” Support my work with a digital subscription