The 2024 State Journal/WiscNews girls soccer All-Area team

Oregon junior forward Addison Werth’s goal proved to be a WIAA Division 2 state tournament-winning strike. Waunakee had a formidable one-two Horizon League punch in seniors Charli Smith and Alyssa Thomas.

University of Wisconsin commit Abbey Stanton helped lead Madison West to the Big Eight Conference title. Madison Edgewood junior forward Sonoma Bever, who’s planning to attend Wake Forest, continued to display high-scoring ability. Sauk Prairie senior Erelyn Apel was a stopper in net.

They were among the top high school girls soccer players for the Madison/WiscNews area this season.

Waunakee (Division 1) and McFarland (Division 3) fell in the state semifinals.

Here is the 2024 Wisconsin State Journal/WiscNews girls soccer All-Area team.

Stats: 87 saves, 10 shutouts, 89% save percentage; 2 goals scored, 3 assists

Accolades: Apel was a first-team all-conference selection in the Badger Small Conference and was named the Badger Small player of the year. Apel was a first-team selection by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association on its All-State team. Sauk Prairie reached the WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinals, falling to eventual state champion Oregon 1-0.

Future plans: UW-La Crosse for women’s soccer and basketball

Favorite athlete: Larry Bird

Favorite athletic memory: Saving two penalties during the sectional final shootout against River Falls her junior year

Favorite pre-game meal: Peanut butter and jelly with a blue ICEE

Favorite pre-game song: “Sir Duke”

Quotable: “Erelyn will go down as one of the most instrumental players in this program’s rise over the past four seasons,” Sauk Prairie girls soccer coach Drew Kornish said. “Erelyn is a four-year starter in goal. Her leadership and skill drove us to the success our team was able to have this season. For her to be named as the player of the year in the Badger Small Conference as a goalkeeper speaks volumes about what she means to our team and the kind of player she is across our conference.”

Stats: 31 goals, 10 game-winning goals, 17 assists

Accolades: Bever was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection in the Badger Small Conference. Bever was a WSCA All-State first-team choice. She scored her 100th career goal in the Crusaders’ 3-1 victory over Dodgeville/Mineral Point in a Division 3 regional final. She has 101 goals (31, 39 and 31) and 56 assists (17, 28 and 11) in her career. Edgewood advanced to a Division 3 sectional final, falling 1-0 to McFarland.

Future plans: Wake Forest for women’s soccer

Favorite athlete: Kevin De Bruyne

Favorite athletic memory: Going to state my sophomore year

Favorite pre-game meal: Turkey wraps

Favorite pre-game song: “Hot Wings” from the movie Rio

Quotable: “Sonoma is a dangerous player from anywhere in the attacking third of the field and draws a lot of focus and defensive attention from opposing teams,” Madison Edgewood coach Chris Martinelli said. “Her skill, creativity and competitive spirit allow her to continue to be effective on the attack even with the extra attention. Sonoma is an exceptionally talented player and has been an impact player for our program since her freshman season, leading the team in scoring (more than 30 goals and double-digit assists) each of her first three seasons.”

Stats: 19 goals, 16 assists

Accolades: Freeman was a first-team all-conference selection in the Badger Small Conference for McFarland. Freeman was an honorable-mention choice on the WSCA All-State team. The Spartans advanced to the Division 3 state tournament semifinals, falling to Waukesha Catholic Memorial 1-0 at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee. Freeman was a first-team choice and the league player of the year when McFarland was in the Rock Valley Conference in 2023. She plans to attend UW-La Crosse and might play club soccer.

Favorite athlete: Simone Biles

Favorite athletic memory: Winning state in soccer freshman year

Favorite pre-game meal: Fruit and sub

Favorite pre-game song: “All of the Lights”

Quotable: “(She) will do anything the team needs of her without questioning it,” McFarland coach T.J. DiPrizio said. “Would play goalie if I asked her.”

Stats: 4 goals, 2 game-winners, 4 assists

Accolades: Kasel was a first-team all-conference selection as a defender in the Big Eight Conference. Kasel was an honorable-mention selection on the WSCA All-State team. She was a two-year captain and a two-time first-team all-conference choice. Middleton finished second behind Madison West in the Big Eight and advanced to a Division 1 sectional final, falling to Waunakee in a match decided by penalty kicks.

Future plans: South Dakota to play soccer

Favorite athlete: Anthony Edwards

Favorite athletic memory: Spending every day with my best friends, playing the sport I love

Favorite pre-game meal: Wings with teammates the night before; Gushers before the game starts

Favorite pre-game song: “Run This Town”

Quotable: “Sophie is a four-year varsity player and two-year varsity captain,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said. “She is calm, cool, collected, even when forwards are charging at her with the ball or when they are attempting to take the ball at her feet. I love watching how she uses body fakes and hesitation moves to get forwards to take a misstep in their attempt to get the ball.

“At times, it looks like there is an invisible string that connects the ball to her foot. She is a gamer through and through, always ready for a challenge. She has top-notch vision, hesitation moves, deft touches and passion mixed in with a bit of humor and fun to help the team laugh throughout the long and stressful season. She has been essential to the team both on and off the field these past four years.”

Stats: 31 goals, 6 assists

Accolades: McKay was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection in the Badger Small Conference. She was an honorable-mention selection on the WSCA All-State team. She was first-team all-conference all four years in high school. Mount Horeb advanced to a Division 3 regional final, falling to Evansville 3-2.

Future plans: Nebraska to play soccer

Favorite athlete: Carli Lloyd

Favorite athletic memory: Team-bonding activities in high school and traveling the country for club with my dad

Favorite pre-game meal: Tropical smoothie and a bagel

Favorite pre-game song: “No hands” by Waka Flocka Flame and “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar

Quotable: “Anya’s athleticism, skill and competitiveness have been vital for our team over her four years with Mount Horeb,” Mount Horeb coach Mark Newman said. “While her main position is in defense, her versatility allowed us to play her farther up the field to be a major factor in our offense as well. One of the very best players we’ve had in our program.”

Stats: 19 goals, 5 game-winners, 12 assists

Accolades: She was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection in the Badger Small Conference. She was an honorable-mention selection on the WSCA All-State team. Sauk Prairie was the Badger Small champion and advanced to a Division 2 sectional semifinal, falling to eventual state champion Oregon 1-0.

Future plans: Winona State for soccer

Favorite athlete: Lindsey Horan

Favorite athletic memory: Scoring the conference winning goal freshman year

Favorite pre-game meal: Sandwich with chips inside and a BUBBL’R

Favorite pre-game song: Hot Wings

Quotable: “McKayla’s season was her pinnacle season here at Sauk Prairie,” coach Drew Kornish said. “Her skills and leadership made her one of the best players in the conference and our team the best team in the Badger Small. It was an absolute pleasure to have coached her the past three seasons leading up to this one. This season was an honor to be able to watch her lead.”

Stats: 5 goals, 7 assists

Accolades: Smith was a unanimous first-team selection in the Badger Large Conference and was the Badger Large player of the year. Smith was a first-team selection on the WSCA All-State team. She was named Waunakee’s Most Outstanding Player. Waunakee was Badger Large co-champion with Oregon. The Warriors advanced to the Division 1 state tournament, falling to Kimberly 1-0 in the semifinals.

Future plans: UW-Green Bay to play soccer

Favorite athlete: Kobe Bryant

Favorite athletic memory: The whole week prior to state

Favorite pre-game meal: Liquid I.V.

Favorite pre-game song: “Girls in the Hood” by Megan Thee Stallion

Quotable: “Charli is a coach’s dream,” Waunakee coach Andy Moll said. “She is willing to do anything and everything to help her team. She is very modest and humble, but it is sometimes scary how good she can be and to see how much influence she can have in a game.”

*2024 Wisconsin State Journal/WiscNews All-Area girls soccer player of the year.

Stats: 13 goals, 16 assists

Accolades: Stanton was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection as a midfielder in the Big Eight and was the Big Eight player of the year. She was named to the first team of the WSCA All-State team. Madison West finished as the Big Eight champion and advanced to the Division 1 sectional semifinals, falling to Waunakee.

Future plans: Wisconsin to play soccer/study kinesiology

Favorite athlete: Rose Lavelle

Favorite athletic memory: Playing for the National ODP (Olympic Development Program) in England

Favorite pre-game meal: A smoothie and a bagel sandwich

Favorite pre-game song: “Grenade” by Bruno Mars

Quotable: “Abbey is one of the most dynamic, dangerous and attack-minded players I’ve had the pleasure of coaching,” Madison West coach Brandon Brown said. “She’s a versatile player, capable of playing all the traditional attacking positions on the field (winger, forward or center midfielder).

“She’s fast, quick, technically sound and always a threat to put her stamp on the game. She has been an outstanding leader and captain for Madison West girls soccer. In my opinion, she would be one of the starting 11 players for any high school team in the state of Wisconsin.”

Stats: 13 goals, 3 assists

Accolades: Studebaker was named a first-team all-conference selection in the Badger Large Conference. She was a second-team pick on the WSCA All-State team. Division 2 state champion Oregon was conference co-champion with Waunakee.

Future plans: UW-La Crosse for soccer

Favorite athlete: Alex Morgan

Favorite athletic memory: Winning the state championship

Favorite pre-game meal: Noodles & Company for home games and subs for away games

Favorite pre-game song: “Scream and Shout” by will.i.am and Britney Spears

Quotable: “She is a complete menace in front of the goal,” Oregon coach Bobby Nichols said.

Stats: 20 goals and 15 assists

Accolades: Thomas was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection in the Badger Large Conference for Waunakee, which was the league co-champion with Oregon. Thomas was an honorable-mention All-State selection by the WSCA. She was the Warriors’ Most Valuable Player.

Future plans: Wright State to play soccer

Favorite athlete: Alex Morgan

Favorite athletic memory: All the bus rides and the team dinners/hangouts the past four years and going to state sophomore year and, of course, beating Middleton in PKs to go to state this year.

Favorite pre-game meal: Chipotle the night before almost every game or peanut butter toast and eggs.

Favorite pre-game song: “Headlines’’ 

Quotable: “Alyssa is an invaluable part of our team,” Waunakee coach Andy Moll said. “She is a fierce competitor, but what separates her from her peers is her ability to make everyone around her better.”

Stats: 10 goals, 11 assists

Accolades: Werth was a first-team all-conference selection in the Badger Large Conference. Werth was a second-team selection on the WSCA All-State team. Oregon finished as co-champion with Waunakee in league play and wrapped up the regular season as the No. 1-ranked team in Division 2, prior to winning the state title.

Future plans: UW-Milwaukee for soccer

Favorite athlete: Caitlin Clark

Favorite athletic memory: Winning state championships

Favorite pre-game meal: Omelette

Favorite pre-game song: “Congratulations” by Post Malone

Quotable: “Just when you think you can stay with Addie, she changes gears and, ‘See ya later!’’’ Oregon coach Bobby Nichols said.

Forwards — Rylan Oberg, Sr., DeForest; Izzy Plesac, Sr., Verona.

Midfielders — Anya Carrillo, Jr., DeForest; Ava Dean, Sr., McFarland, Adelyn Frantz, Jr., Middleton; Delaney Hoelker, Sr., Oregon.

Defenders — Belle Dehner, Sr., Monona Grove; Lola Hernandez, Sr., Madison Memorial, Anya Purtell, Sr., Madison West; Summer Steel, Jr., Oregon.

Goalkeeper — Reese McCabe, So., Oregon.

Forwards — Caitlyn Frank, Sr., Baraboo; Addy Raue, So., Hustisford/Dodgeland; Gabriela Retana, So., Madison West; Sophie Schnaubelt, Sr., Waunakee.

Midfielders — Rowan Severson, Sr., Mount Horeb; Kylie Steel, Fr., Oregon.

Defenders — Ava Ballweg, Jr., Lodi; Brooke Nelson, Jr., Waunakee.

Goalies — Jaylah Moore, So., McFarland; JoJo Rosenfeld, Sr., Verona; Malia Zillman, Fr., Waunakee.

Editor’s note: The Wisconsin State Journal’s high school coverage area includes the following schools: Madison Memorial, Middleton, Verona, Madison La Follette, Sun Prairie East, Sun Prairie West, Madison West, Madison East, DeForest, Waunakee, Mount Horeb, Stoughton, Monona Grove, Oregon, Madison Edgewood, McFarland, Madison Abundant Life, Madison Country Day, St. Ambrose, Lodi and Sauk Prairie.

Schools in the WiscNews coverage area are: Beaver Dam, Waupun, Columbus, Dodgeland, Horicon, Hustisford, Fall River, Rio, Randolph, Cambria-Friesland, Wayland Academy, Central Wisconsin Christian, Portage, Poynette, Pardeeville, Lodi, Sauk Prairie, Reedsburg, Baraboo, Wisconsin Dells and Mauston.