Spring Preview: Top Kansas girls prospects for 2022 season

The girls high school scene in Kansas is dominated by a strong group in the Kansas City area. In fact, Eastern Kansas League (EKL) members swept the state titles in 2021. In most years the Kansas City area-based EKL produces four or five of the top seven-ranked teams in the state. These EKL squads are home to plenty of NCAA Division I-bound players. In fact, four of the five PrepSoccer.com preseason Player of the Year candidates are members of EKL teams. Here’s a look at top projected players for the upcoming spring high school season. <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>M [player_tooltip player_id="22419" first="Grace" last="Bartlett"], Blue Valley West, Sr., Grand Canyon</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Bartlett is a two-sport standout at Blue Valley West, soccer and volleyball. She was a finalist for the Gatorade Kansas girls soccer player of the year in 2021 after leading Blue Valley West to a Class 6A state title. Bartlett hails from a successful athletic family as two of her older brothers have been NCAA Division I college standouts and one currently is playing in USL.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>F [player_tooltip player_id="33009" first="Ashley" last="Koch"], Shawnee Mission East, Jr., Saint Louis</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">The Saint Louis commit was the Class 6A Forward Co-Player of the Year. She scored 21 goals and had 13 assists while helping SME to a 16-5 record and a state runner-up finish.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>F [player_tooltip player_id="23411" first="Chelsea" last="Wagner"], Blue Valley North, Sr., Oklahoma</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">The Oklahoma signee returned to high school soccer in 2021 and was an instant impact player. She was a first-team all-state performer. Overall, she has scored 23 goals and added 13 assists in 30 high school matches (freshman and junior years). </span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>F [player_tooltip player_id="29335" first="Lexington" last="Watts"], St. James, Sr., Kansas</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">The Kansas commit averaged nearly a goal per match while helping St. James to a mid-table finish in the powerhouse Eastern Kansas League. While an 8-7-1 regular-season record doesn’t stand out, it’s fair to note the quality of the schedule. Three of St. James’ league opponents swept the Kansas state titles, which is becoming commonplace for EKL programs. St. James, a 5A school, actually defeated 4A-1A champ and league rival Bishop Miege 2-0, and, yes, Watts scored one of the goals.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>F [player_tooltip player_id="22421" first="Sydney" last="Watts"], St. Thomas Aquinas, Jr., Vanderbilt</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Even with a change in coaches, the St. Thomas Aquinas machine rolls on. This Vanderbilt commit is a strong candidate for the top overall prospect in Kansas for the Class of 2023. Watts scored 12 goals and had eight assists and helped St. Thomas Aquinas to a 17-4 season and a Class 5A state title in 2021. </span></p> <p class="p2"><strong><span class="s1">Others to Note</span></strong></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M [player_tooltip player_id="23584" first="Taylor" last="Berman"], Blue Valley West, Sr., Arkansas</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Mackenzie Hammontree, Blue Valley, Sr., Kansas</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D [player_tooltip player_id="23514" first="Lily" last="Hendrickson"], Olathe West, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F [player_tooltip player_id="23475" first="Julia" last="House"], Shawnee Mission South, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Isabelle Joyce, Shawnee Mission West., So.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D Assa Kante, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr., Kansas</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Belle Kennedy, Washburn Rural, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Peyton Martin-Peterson, Sr., Wichita East, Sr., Jacksonville</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Hunter McWilliams, Washburn Rural, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D [player_tooltip player_id="33012" first="Olivia" last="Page"], DeSoto, Jr., Kansas</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D Sophia Ruadez, Blue Valley West, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Kendall Starcevich, Olathe West, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">GK [player_tooltip player_id="33008" first="Madison" last="Wingler"], Bishop Carroll, Sr., Kansas State</span></p>