NE Indiana Girls Starting XI

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The preseason is upon us. These are the top returning players in Northeast Indiana based on 2021 statistics and accomplishments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GK Meghan Kiebel, Central Noble, Sr.</strong> - 103 Saves, eight shutouts, 0.928 goals against average - A great athlete, Kiebel's drive makes her a great leader. Her ability to anticipate the attack and superb positioning is what elevate her to this list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D Haleigh Wesley, Bellmont, Sr. </strong>- one goal and six assists, second-team all-district - Very few can match the speed of this center back. Wesley finds a way to track down opponents and make clean tackles. Her long kicks are often a part of the counterattack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D Emma Tkacz, Leo, Jr.</strong> - third-team all-state - A superb defender who takes pride in shutouts, Tkacz flies around the field and uses her body when necessary. She is comfortable with the ball at her feet and can drive up the field advancing the ball into the attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D Karley O'Leary, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Sr.</strong> - two goals and two assists, second-team all-district - O'Leary is a patient defender who knows just the right moment to make the tackle. She's an excellent communicator with superb foot skill and passing accuracy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D [player_tooltip player_id='22325' first='Josslyn' last='Goss'], Carroll, Jr.</strong> - four goals - Goss is an outstanding outside back. She uses both speed and aggression to stop the attack. She has the ability to play any position on the field and often slides up on the attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>M [player_tooltip player_id='22311' first='Grace' last='Hein'], Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Sr.</strong> - three goals and six assists - Hein has the ability to play both holding and attacking mid. She has a motor that never seems to slow down. She remains calm on the field while often being the start of the Saints' attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>M [player_tooltip player_id='39357' first='Morgan' last='Kaiser'], Homestead, Sr.</strong> - two goals, second-team all-district - Kaiser is a tremendous defensive holding mid who is extremely strong in the air and does not give the opposing team's offense a chance to get started.&nbsp;She also distributes the ball very well, has an excellent shot, and can beat defenders 1-on-1 as she transitions in the offensive attack.&nbsp;She is a fantastic&nbsp;all-around central midfielder that you can build a team around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>M [player_tooltip player_id='37260' first='Sydney' last='Couch'], Homestead, Sr. </strong>- 23 goals and 14 assists, second-team all-state - Couch plays with a physicality that few can match. She is a leader on the field who can keep possession in tight spaces and distribute the ball at just the right moment. She has a powerful shot that makes her dangerous from anywhere in the attacking third of the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>F Brianna Munoz, Westview, So.</strong> - 30 goals and 11 assists, first-team all-district - Munoz is a dangerous forward who can play both the No. 9 or No. 10 on the field. She excels in heavy traffic inside the 18 beating multiple defenders to find her shot. She is strong in the attack with good speed and multiple moves that helps her find the back of the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>F [player_tooltip player_id='22273' first='Carly' last='Gilbert'], Bellmont, Jr.</strong> - 27 goals and 17 assists, honorable mention all-state - Gilbert is a smart attacking player who often draws one or two defenders. She can burst through the back line, shoot from range, and play a good ball to an open teammate. She is not only dangerous when the ball is at her feet but is also strong at using her head when the ball is in the air.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Watch List: </strong>Riley Exford (Dekalb), Jaylin Carroll (Dekalb), Charity Lewis (Dekalb), Addison Baxter (Columbia City), Skylar Olson (Huntington North), Lara Steele (Huntington North), Makenzie Fuess (Norwell), Lizzy Scott (Norwell), Sydney Keane (Bellmont), Arabelle Laurent (Bellmont), Emma Scheumann (Bellmont), [player_tooltip player_id='22268' first='Avery' last='Ledo'] (Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger), [player_tooltip player_id='22351' first='Lily' last='Haraburda'] (Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger), Malaya Blakely (Carroll), Lydia Herald (Fort Wayne Northrup), Sofia Cetrone (Homestead), [player_tooltip player_id='22230' first='Emily' last='Graham'] (Homestead), Rachel Ortiz-Bova (Carroll), Ali Snyder-Doctor (Fort Wayne Snider), Reagan Peterson (Fort Wayne Snider), Cierra Maynard (Fort Wayne Snider), Reagen Metel (Fort Wayne Concordia), Taylor Swygart (Leo), Ella Graves (Leo), Samantha Sanderlin (Leo) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->