Introducing the 2024 Wichita Eagle high school girls soccer All-Metro team

The Wichita Eagle announced its annual All-Metro girls soccer team on Wednesday, recognizing some of the best high school players in the state of Kansas from the 2024 season.

The All-Metro features the top players and the top coaches from Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties based on statistics, team success, postseason recognition and area coaches’ feedback.

Maize South senior forward Kyndal Ewertz, an Arkansas signee, was named the Girls Soccer Player of the Year for the second season in a row.

2024 WICHITA EAGLE ALL-METRO GIRLS SOCCER TEAM

Madeline Bracy, Eisenhower senior defender

Part of a 13-win Eisenhower team, Bracy stood out in the area for her pace, technical ability and doggedness to shut down opposing forwards. The Emporia State signee was voted a first-team all-league selection as a defender in AV-CTL Div. II.

Liliana Cortez, Maize senior defender

A former midfielder, Cortez volunteered to move to the center-back position for her senior year to help the team in a move that helped spur the Eagles to the Class 6A semifinals. The Newman signee was voted a first-team all-league defender in AV-CTL Div. I and also named an honorable mention all-state pick.

Maize coach Jay Holmes on Cortez: “Lily is just a really coachable player who decided to take on a different role for us this year after we graduated a lot of our defensive unit from last year. She played in the back some for her club team and she agreed to step up and play center-back for us and she just did exceptionally well. Just her speed and her ability to read the game allowed her to be really successful for us.”

Liza Dugan, Bishop Carroll sophomore defender

Few outside backs in the state were more dangerous than Dugan, who was a two-way standout for a Carroll team that placed third in Class 5A. The sophomore finished with seven goals and 12 assists and was voted a second-team all-state defender in 5A and a second-team all-league defender in the City League.

Carroll coach Greg Rauch on Dugan: “Liza was a phenomenal outside back for us because she is skilled in the way the modern game requires. Almost every formation utilizes the outside backs as the first line of attack and she was exactly that for us this year. She was able to score in some huge games for us and against the biggest competition of the year. She was never afraid of the moment and she was also a lock-down defender, too. She embraced the role as a marking defender and also went forward in the attack and did a remarkable job.”

Kyndal Ewertz, Maize South senior forward

The two-time All-Metro Player of the Year, Ewertz finished one of the best careers in Kansas history with another stellar season. The Arkansas signee finished with 36 goals and 20 assists, breaking the single-season program record, to earn Co-Forward of the Year in Class 5A and sole MVP honors in AV-CTL Div. I. She finished her career with 135 goals.

Maize South coach Rey Ramirez on Ewertz: “She has been blessed and gifted with so much talent and ability, but with those blessings came the responsibility of carrying a program on her back, and that’s exactly what she did. Every time we were faced with a difficult opponent or faced adversity, Kyndal was the special kind of player who carried us through the toughest times.”

Leah Henke, Bishop Carroll junior forward

The scoring dynamo at the top of the formation for the City League champions, Henke netted 26 goals with nine assists to help lead the Golden Eagles back to the Class 5A semifinals and earn her second All-Metro nod. The Washburn recruit was voted a first-team all-state forward in Class 5A and also a first-team all-league player in the City League.

Carroll coach Greg Rauch on Henke: “Leah was a player who jumped off the page at us from Day 1. She has grown so much and really accepted the mental challenges of the game as she has matured and has become a true menace. She’s not overanalyzing or overthinking, she’s just playing and that’s a terrible set of news for the defenders trying to guard her. She has pace for days and just her field vision is what makes her special. I could put her anywhere on the field and she would make the right play. She just gets it.”

Brecken Hoy, Bishop Carroll senior midfielder

The creative force in the middle of the field for Carroll, Hoy finished with 15 goals and 13 assists to help the Golden Eagles win another City League title and take third in Class 5A. The Johnson County Community College signee was voted a first-team all-state midfielder in 5A and also a first team all-league player in the City League.

Carroll coach Greg Rauch on Hoy: “Brecken could literally play every position on the field for us if she had to. She is the best student of the game I’ve ever coached. I happened to have her in class as a (teacher’s assistant) and she would finish her work, then watch so much game film. She would scout other teams, watch our own film, everything. I don’t believe there is any player more mentally prepared than Brecken Hoy.”

Nevaeh Kelly, Rose Hill junior defender

Spearheaded a back line that registered two straight postseason shutouts over Topeka Hayden and Trinity Academy to punch the Rockets’ ticket to the state tournament for the first time since 2011. Earned first-team all-state honors in Class 4-1A at defender and was also voted a first-team all-league defender in AV-CTL Div. III-IV.

Genevieve LaMarche, Maize South junior midfielder

One of the most entertaining players in Kansas, LaMarche electrified crowds everywhere with her creative play as Maize South’s central attacking midfielder. In her first year playing high school soccer, the North Dakota State commit netted 33 goals with nine assists to help the Mavericks reach the Class 5A semifinals once again. She was voted a first-team all-state midfielder in 5A and first-team all-league player in AV-CTL Div. I.

Maize South coach Rey Ramirez on LaMarche: “She is about as much fun as you’re going to get in a high school soccer player. The enthusiasm and the joy in which she plays soccer is an incredible sight to see and something that brought a lot of attention to our team because of what she makes people who watch her feel. It was an absolutely awesome experience for her first year of high school soccer, and she came on and made a huge splash from the first week and helped propel our program forward.”

Ashlin Lynch, Andover senior defender

While Andover was known for its high-scoring attack, Lynch was the captain on the back line who proved to be the glue to a Trojans team that won a Class 5A regional title. The Butler Community College signee was voted a second-team all-state defender in 5A and first-team all-league pick in AV-CTL Div. II.

Andover coach Kevin Law on Lynch: “She was a center back who controlled literally every aspect of the game for us. If we were losing, we would move her up the field because she had that kind of talent to go help us score a goal. She was very physical and wins every ball in the air. We needed her to play center back and lead our back line.”

Avery Mason, Andover Central senior goalkeeper

At least a partial starter in all four years of her career, Mason was unanimously viewed as the best goalkeeper in the area this season. Her defense in goal helped Andover Central win 15 games and claim a Class 5A title, as the Charleston Southern signee was voted a first-team all-state goalkeeper in Class 5A and a first-team all-league player in AV-CTL Div. II.

Andover Central coach Stephanie Garcia on Mason: “It’s incredibly valuable to have Avery in goal for us. She has done a phenomenal job and she is a true game-changer for us. She gives the rest of the team confidence to do what they do and there’s nothing that can compare to that. If you don’t trust your keeper, then you’re not going to take chances to go up. We don’t want to pack in our defense. We want people to adjust to us, and I think she has given us that mentality.”

Olivia Oenning, Maize South senior midfielder

A two-time All-Metro selection, Oenning once again flourished in her role of doing the dirty work as a defensive midfielder on a high-scoring juggernaut. The Montreat (N.C.) College signee posted three goals and seven assists, while helping Maize South to another Class 5A semifinals appearance and earning first-team all-state honors as a midfielder.

Maize South coach Rey Ramirez on Oenning: “I think Olivia Oenning might just be my favorite player I’ve coached in a long time. The leadership and the work ethic she possesses and the selflessness she carries with herself and the humility she has is what I’m going to miss the most about this incredible soccer player and young lady.”

Breckynn and Olivia Pugh, Andover senior forwards

Two of the most dangerous players in Kansas this season just so happened to be twin sisters who both played at the top of the formation for Andover. Breckynn and Olivia both wreaked havoc for defenses all season to help the Trojans win 15 games and a Class 5A regional championship. Both Pugh sisters, who have each signed to play for Kansas City, were voted first-team all-state forwards in Class 5A and first-team all-league players in AV-CTL Div. II.

Andover coach Kevin Law on the Pugh sisters: “They both play the exact same way and that’s with a mentality to attack 100% of the time. They’re always attacking, always going for it. They’re not afraid to shoot and not afraid of the moment. Probably the thing I loved about them the most is that they never got frustrated. If things didn’t go their way, they didn’t come off the field ever showing it. They understood everything that was going on and they knew they would always have more opportunities.”

Izzy Sandoval, Newton senior midfielder

For the second straight year, Newton struggled to win as a team, but Sandoval’s two-way brilliance was undeniable. The Butler Community College signee finished with 17 goals and three assists, earning her second straight All-Metro nod, as well as second-team all-state honors as a midfielder in Class 5A and first-team all-league in AV-CTL Div. I.

Newton coach Scott Jantzi on Sandoval: “She was our best player for the last four years and was a captain for us all four years. She was just a game-changer. You could tell she makes things happens out there on the field. Late in the year we even had to move her back to the back line to help us solidify our defense. The girls really listened to her voice and she was like another coach out there on the field for us.”

Bella Smith, Eisenhower senior midfielder

One of the most talented players in the country, Smith once again excelled in her role as central attacking midfielder for a 13-win Eisenhower team. The Tennessee signee was named an All-Metro selection all three years she played in high school, as she was named Player of the Year in AV-CTL Div. II this season.

Shelby Kaba, Rose Hill coach

A first-year head coach who helped spark a turnaround in the program, leading the Rockets to their best record (13-5-1) and first Class 4-1A state tournament appearance since 2011. Rose Hill was led on the field this season by players like Nevaeh Kelly, Paige Loeck, Ella Swearingen, Ava Markley, Paige Winter, Kyia Kelly, Blythe Hackney and Abby McCulloch.

All-Metro second team

Katelyn Aune, Andover senior

Lexi Bauer, Maize South senior defender

Reese Bieker, Valley Center senior forward

Corrigan Bielefeld, Campus senior defender

Peyton Childers, Augusta senior defender

Parker Clark, Maize junior goalkeeper

Haven Deckinger, Andover Central senior defender

Avery Fellows, Maize South sophomore midfielder

Merari Flores, Northwest senior forward

Teagan Garrison, Mulvane senior defender

Caroline Giroux, Maize South sophomore defender

Kaitlyn Gobel, Valley Center senior defender

Haley Green, Trinity Academy junior defender

Blythe Hackney, Rose Hill freshman midfielder

Keilann Heath, Northwest senior defender

Brinley Hedden, Goddard freshman midfielder

Jojo Henderson, Trinity Academy sophomore forward

Leah Hong, Independent senior forward

Darby Howard, Bishop Carroll junior forward

Carly Hummel, Eisenhower senior forward

Anahi Ibarra-Arevalo, North senior forward

Kailyn Jackson, Heights senior forward

Cate Johnson, Andover senior defender

Kyia Kelly, Rose Hill sophomore forward

Greer Kice, Classical junior goalkeeper

Mikaela Llamas, Maize freshman forward

Itzelle Lumbreras, Bishop Carroll sophomore midfielder

Ava McAninch, Eisenhower junior defender

Sara Claire Michaelis, Kapaun Mt. Carmel freshman forward

Elleigh Newcomb, Andover Central sophomore forward

Hadley Ostrander, Maize South junior goalkeeper

Bethany Pannell, Trinity Academy senior midfielder

Jadyn Perales, Maize junior midfielder

Annabelle Schaefer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel sophomore defender

Presley Schmidt, Goddard freshman forward

Carson Sloan, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior defender

Jade Smallwood, Mulvane junior midfielder

Cecilia Solis, North senior defender

Gretta Stover, Andover Central senior midfielder

Maddie Weed, Bishop Carroll freshman defender

Harper Wintz, Derby sophomore forward

Greg Rauch, Bishop Carroll coach

All-Metro third team

Reese Adams, Kapaun Mt. Carmel sophomore goalkeeper

Adriana Alvarez, Newton junior forward

Emma Bachman, Eisenhower junior defender

Brynn Bachura, Andover Central sophomore defender

Makenna Balzer, Trinity Academy junior midfielder

Heide Bartel, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior midfielder

Avree Birkes, Valley Center senior midfielder

Emily Brundege, Augusta senior defender

Grace Buell, Augusta freshman midfielder

Caleigh Cross, Valley Center sophomore forward

Desiray Cuellar, East senior midfielder

Mackenzie Cunningham, Derby junior midfielder

Reese Fleming, Andover Central junior midfielder

Hayde Flores, East senior forward

Taylor Gray, Maize sophomore midfielder

Jazmine Guzman, North junior midfielder

Amiyah Hamilton, East junior forward

Sydney Hansen, Maize South sophomore forward

Lillianna Hernandez, Northwest junior goalkeeper

Bailey Hess, Goddard junior forward

Avery Kassman, Campus sophomore forward

Amelia Leggett, Derby freshman defender

Brooklin Lynch, Andover junior goalkeeper

Ava Markley, Rose Hill junior forward

Kaitlyn Martinez, North senior goalkeeper

Avery McCorry, Bishop Carroll sophomore forward

Trinity Perry, East senior midfielder

Annalys Rivas, Heights sophomore goalkeeper

Kate Robert, Andover freshman midfielder

Stephie-Safi Salumu, Independent senior midfielder

Lexee Shipp, Maize sophomore defender

Chloe Smith, Eisenhower sophomore midfielder

Maddy Spiers, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior forward

Kaelyn St. Vrain, Bishop Carroll senior defender

Ella Swearingen, Rose Hill junior midfielder

Bronalea Thies, Augusta senior forward

Meg Tilma, Classical junior forward

Abby Tofteland, Trinity Academy freshman midfielder

Lissette Tovar, North senior midfielder

Jaden Wilson, Derby senior goalkeeper

Paige Winter, Rose Hill junior midfielder

Kate Zickafoose, Classical senior defender

Rey Ramirez, Maize South coach