All-Daily Record 23-24: Shelby Vaughn the clear choice for Girls Soccer Player of the Year

Player of the Year: Shelby Vaughn, Norwayne

When Shelby Vaughn walked off the pitch for the final time, she walked off as one of the area’s top two players to ever play, right beside Wooster legend Jen Philippon. The debates can rage over who was better, but the two players left their mark on the area's soccer scene in equally impressive ways. Vaughn’s knowledge of the game, her ability to break down defenders, attack at will, turn on a dime and shoot, left or right, were all components that made her simply the area’s best.

Very few players from the Wayne/Holmes area end up playing college soccer at the Division I level. There's a reason Vaughn ended up going to Michigan State.

Clutch 'Cats: Norwayne avenges regular-season losses, beats Chippewa for district title

Goalkeeper of the Year: Grace Kostohryz, Wooster

Opponents averaged nearly 10 shots a game on goal against Wooster’s defense, which often put this senior goalkeeper in tough situations. More times than not, Kostohryz had the answers through her goalkeeping training and hard lessons learned on the pitch.

She finished with an 85% save percentage, finishing with 136 saves, the second highest total in the area this year. Kostohryz was the heartbeat of this year’s OCC co-champion. She was arguably its best player and without her some results would have been much different. Using guile, instincts, understanding of the box, it allowed her to keep the back third of the pitch on lockdown, giving her team a chance in every outing.

Coach of the Year: Schuyler Snyder, West Holmes

This is a story that starts back in 2008, when then Schuyler Jones — now Snyder — started a run of four straight years starting for West Holmes, under coach Josh Wengerd. Building a program from the bottom up, Snyder was part of the first-ever Knights squad to make it to regionals in 2011 before coming back to finish the job as head coach.

Taking over the reins of the program that she once helped Wengerd build as a player, she completed the mission, with a run to the Div. II state semifinals for the first time in program history. It was a storm that quietly gained steam as she forged a program that simply believed it could. On the biggest of stages, she led her squad to heights never seen in Millersburg and did it surrounded by the community she loved.

THE ALL-DAILY RECORD TEAM

Shelby Vaughn, Norwayne, sr.

The two-time All-Ohioan senior capped a brilliant career with an upset win over rival Chippewa and a tough Div. III bracket to regionals. Smooth on the ball with an electric kick, Vaughn earned her spot as one of the best players in Wayne/Holmes history.

Gabi Signorino, Wooster, jr.

Continuing a line of talented scorers, Signorino gave the Generals an offensive punch and carried them when it mattered most offensively. She finished with a team-best 21 goals and six assists.

Charli Murphy, West Holmes, fr.

There was no spot on the pitch that Murphy couldn’t play, and she did all of that to help West Holmes make its first run to state. Murphy finished an outstanding freshman campaign with 43 goals and eight assists.

Skye Morris, Waynedale, sr.

Morris helped take her program to whole another level as they made it to regionals for the first time in program history. She was a part of the lethal 1-2 punch and finished with 16 goals and 13 assists.

Annie Henegar, Chippewa, sr.

The All-Ohioan is the last of the line of talented the Henegar sisters, but definitely proved herself in arguably the area’s best soccer program. She headlined her final charge with 25 goals and nine assists.

Allie McMillen, West Holmes, sr.

There have only been six All-Ohioan selections in program history for the Knights, two of them belong to McMillen. There is no question she left as the best Knight to ever grace the pitch, leading the way for the program's first state team.

Elena Moyer, Chippewa, jr.

There weren't many better midfielders than Moyer, who really helped the Chipps control the pace of the pitch. Moyer was at her best when it mattered most, neutralizing opposing teams in the center and extending possessions for her team.

Nayeli Cruz, Waynedale, jr.

Cruz was the second half of the Golden Bear’s lethal 1-2 punch that propelled them to regionals for the first time in program history. Cruz finished with 19 goals and 14 assists.

Avery Arnold, West Holmes, sr.

With a knack for seeing the pitch perfectly, Arnold capped a stellar season with a trip to state. She finished with a team-high 22 assists and scored 12 goals to headline the way.

Addison Good, Chippewa, jr.

Good was the area’s best lockdown defender and was a key component to what was yet another stout defense. She drew the toughest assignments each game and, for the most part, came out on top as her defense only allowed three goals all year.

Claire Haas, Smithville, jr.

This fleet-footed Haas could be seen racing up the pitch to headline the Smithies charge. She finished with 14 goals and had 10 assists to lead Smithville with 38 points.

Jenna Necko, Smithville, jr.

The area’s fastest rising junior, this Smithie goalkeeper shined through injury and in health to establish herself among the best in the WCAL and area. She delivered big performances when it mattered most, showcasing great instinct, understanding of the box and giving her team a chance each game.

Grace Kostohryz, Wooster, sr.

Kostohryz was the heartbeat for the Generals this past season. Patrolling the box, showing natural instinct, Kostohryz will go down as the program's best goalkeeper and was the reason this team won many of their games this year.

Macey Belmont, Norwayne, sr.

Tackling tough assignments, Belmont anchored a defensive unit that came under fire a lot this year. She had the answers most games as she helped lock it down in the defensive third.

HONORABLE MENTION

Lauren Beach, Chippewa; Delaney Marshall, Chippewa; Valerie Gonzales, Orrville; Mia Rodriguez, Chippewa; Tessa Daniels, Smithville; Taelyn Lambert, Northwestern; Mallory Stutzman, Hiland; Cammi Wickens, Smithville; Kali Woods, West Holmes; Hayley Hilty, Waynedale; Natalie Rohr, West Holmes; Maria Rickett, Norwayne; McKenna Baney, Waynedale; Brianna Parks, West Holmes

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: All-Daily Record 23-24: Shelby Vaughn the clear choice for Girls Soccer Player of the Year