Introducing the 2022 Wichita Eagle high school girls soccer All-Metro team
The Wichita Eagle announced its annual All-Metro girls soccer team on Monday, recognizing some of the best high school soccer players in the state of Kansas from the 2022 season.
The All-Metro first team features the top 12 players and the top coach from Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties, based on statistics, team success, postseason recognition and area coach’s feedback. Eisenhower sophomore midfielder Bella Smith was named the Player of the Year after helping lead the Tigers to their first appearance in the state semifinals.
Here is the full look at the teams:
Wichita Eagle All-Metro girls soccer first team
Abby Bachman, Eisenhower senior
No one was better on the left side of the field than the left-footed Bachman, who was given the freedom to join the attack more this season under first-year coach Roger Downing. Bachman’s pace as a left winger was unmatched and she even split time on the track team, where she helped Eisenhower win a 4x1 relay state title. Playing alongside other dangerous attackers in Bella Smith, Kaitlyn Erwin and Bri Henning, the Emporia State signee finished with eight goals and 19 assists to earn first team all-state honors and helped Eisenhower to its best season in program history with a third-place finish in Class 5A.
“She was easily the fastest girl in our league and being left-footed and running up and down that left sideline was something nobody could prepare for because no one had anyone like her,” Eisenhower coach Roger Downing said. “She was a big part of why we were successful this season.”
Kyndal Ewertz, Maize South sophomore
It didn’t take long for Ewertz to become the most dangerous striker in the area, as she was a one-player wrecking crew in her sophomore campaign that finished with 34 goals and 17 assists. In helping Maize South back to the Class 5A state semifinals, Ewertz shattered the program’s single-season record for goals and the single-game record by finding the back of the net six times. Her combination of speed, aggression and skill made her elite and she had a knack for coming up big in the Mavericks’ most important games, which has helped her net 53 goals already in her career. She’s already attracting Division I interest after a season where she was voted AV-CTL Div. I Player of the Year and earned first team all-state honors.
“Kyndal was born with a knack for goal and she has the athleticism and height that is required at the next level of soccer,” Maize South coach Rey Ramirez said. “Her ability to control the ball and dribble past defenders is second to none and she is absolutely top-notch in open space. She thrives in 1v1 and 2v2 situations and she has an amazing level of composure when she gets in front of goal, which allows her to convert on a high number of those chances. She is absolutely top-notch quality in the state.”
Karlie Kanaga, Mulvane junior
It’s no secret the attacking combination of Kanaga and Emma Kolbe have helped take the Mulvane girls soccer program to new heights. After last season’s Cinderella run, Kanaga helped power the Wildcats to another 14 wins and appearance in the Class 4-1A quarterfinals. Kanaga, who is already verbally committed to Emporia State, delivered a breakout season with 37 goals, tying the program record, to go along with 17 assists to earn AV-CTL Div. III-IV Player of the Year and first team all-state honors.
“I coach wrestling too and Karlie is one of the most fierce competitors I’ve ever coached,” Mulvane coach Jesse Myers said. “She doesn’t have the softest touch in the world, but she makes up for it by full-fledged hustle and she’s just so tenacious chasing after the ball. She’s not afraid to throw her body into defenders to try to get the ball. And the thing that stood out the most to me this season was how great of a teammate she was and how positive she stayed with our girls, whether we won or lost. She was the total package.”
Sophie Klaver, Trinity Academy senior
Even though Trinity struggled by its lofty standards against one of the most challenging schedules in Class 4-1A this season, Klaver was a force in the middle of the field for the Knights. She is a standout defender during club season and has even earned playing time for the FC Wichita women’s team, but the Belmont Division I signee still managed to produce a team-high 13 goals and four assists playing in an attacking role for Trinity this season.
“Sophie is the kind of player you want to build your whole team around,” Trinity coach Justin Kippenberger said. “She could have played any position for us and controlled the game. You know she’s never going to lose the ball. The ball sticks to her like a magnet. She always finds avenues to break free and she can take on two or three defenders and if you collapse, then she can dish it out too. She’s the type of player that when she’s on your team, you feel like you always have a chance.”
Rose Loyle, Andover junior
A young core was at the heart of Andover’s first regional championship since 2005 and Loyle played a significant role in the success. She proved to be one of the state’s most quality box-to-box midfielders, providing brilliance in the attack with 14 goals and eight assists and even better defense for the Trojans. Loyle, already verbally committed to Butler, was the team’s leading scorer and finished second in assists to earn team MVP honors.
“In my opinion, Rose is the best two-way player in our area,” Andover coach Kevin Law said. “She was dangerous when she was joining the attack or she could serve as a defensive mid and mark the other team’s better players in the midfield. She is just a complete soccer player: smart, aggressive and talented.”
Lindsey Maul, Bishop Carroll junior
After Carroll felt like she was snubbed by opposing coaches last season in all-league voting, no one could deny Maul’s arrival as one of the area’s best defenders this season. The junior center back anchored Carroll’s back line and had the speed and quality to hang with any attacker she faced. After not receiving enough votes to earn all-league last season, not only was Maul first team all-City League but also first team all-state in Class 5A on a Carroll team that won 13 games.
“In today’s game, you need to have that pace and with no question Lindsey can run with anybody in the area,” Carroll coach Greg Rauch said. “And then you mix in some killer foot skills and how hard she works and you can match her up effectively against anyone and she’s going to win those 1v1 battles.”
Makenzie Orr, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior
The standard at Kapaun has always been Caroline Kastor, the program’s all-time leading scorer who went on to become a star at KU and play in the NWSL. If not for a sophomore season robbed by the pandemic, Orr likely would have broken Kastor’s record. Instead, she topped Kastor to become the fastest player to 100 career points and finished with 120 points as a 3-year starter at Kapaun. Even with an early exit in the playoffs, Orr’s quality for the Crusaders was undeniable with 17 goals and 15 assists. The Northern Iowa signee finished her career as a 2-time All-Metro selection and 2-time first team all-state player in Class 5A, securing her place alongside Kastor as an all-time great Crusader.
“Makenzie has really been a superstar since her freshman year,” Kapaun coach Anthony Cantele said. “She’s just very technical with the ball, she doesn’t make mistakes on the ball and the biggest thing is that she makes everyone around her better and I think her stats speak to that.”
Rachel Riley, Maize South junior
An unsung hero for Maize South in its 16-win season that ended back in the Class 5A state semifinals, Riley was the glue that held the team’s back three together in coach Rey Ramirez’s first season using the new formation. Riley rose to the occasion in her junior campaign, fulfilling her promise as a lock-down defender to help the Mavericks win another regional championship and earn all-state honors (Class 5A second team) for the first time in her career.
“Rachel is a kid who loves defending and has great athleticism and is just great technically on the ball,” Maize South coach Rey Ramirez said. “I don’t know if I saw her get out-run one time this season and she does so much covering for other players. When it comes to zone defending, she is so knowledgeable and when it comes to 1v1 defending, she was able to shut down some of the best forwards in the area this season. We were able to have so much success this season because of players like Rachel Riley who did a lot of the unsung work for us.”
Haley Rogers, Maize senior
Following in a long line of elite goal-scorers at Maize, Rogers carved out her own place in history with a superb senior season at forward. The Washburn signee finished with a career-high 34 goals to go along with 13 assists to help lead the Eagles back to the Class 5A quarterfinals and 15 wins. She even etched her name in history by setting the program’s single-season record for goals scored in a game by finding the back of the net seven times in a game this season.
“What stood out to me was her technical ability and speed in the offensive third,” Maize coach Jay Holmes said. “She just has a knack for putting the ball in the back of the net. She brought such quality and enthusiasm each and every game. She was man-marked just about every game and she still found a way to come through with multiple game-winners for us. That’s one thing about her is that she never shied away from the big moment.”
Alayna Runck, Maize senior
Few defenders in the state were more intimidating than Runck, who towered over most players with her size. In her second year anchoring Maize’s back line at center back, Runck once again paired with goalkeeper Karsyn Slothower to form one of the top defenses in the area. Maize won 15 games, another AV-CTL Div. I title and Class 5A regional championship with Runck, who is signed to play in college at Butler and earned second team all-state honors this season.
“Alayna was one of the most coachable kids that I’ve ever had at Maize,” Maize coach Jay Holmes said. “She really took the time to listen and apply what we were trying to teach her to her craft and as a result improved immensely. She was really strong in the air with her size and that never used to be a strength until she started to consistently work on it. This season she won almost every challenge in the air, both on offense and defense.”
Bella Smith, Eisenhower sophomore
The most highly-recruited girls soccer player in Wichita since Maycee Bell, who now stars for North Carolina, Smith backed up the hype in her high school debut this season at Eisenhower. She was the engine in the middle of the field and played no small part in the team reaching the state semifinals for the first time in program history, winning 18 games and adding an AV-CTL Div. II championship this season. Smith was the best player on the best team in the area, racking up 24 goals and nine assists to earn first team all-state and AV-CTL Div. II Player of the Year honors in the process. After winning an ECNL national championship last summer, Smith is expected to attract Division I interest from all over the country as a top class of 2024 recruit.
“The best thing about Bella is that she made everyone around her better,” Eisenhower coach Roger Downing said. “At the end of the day, that’s why she was so good for us. Not only that, but she could shoot the ball from further out than what we’re used to doing on a regular basis. That skill really stretched the defense out for us and allowed us to use that space to our advantage.”
Madison Wingler, Bishop Carroll senior
One of the top goalkeepers to pass through Wichita, Wingler was verbally committed to Kansas State since her freshman year and starting for the FC Wichita women’s team at 15 years old. Her combination of athleticism and instincts allowed her to be superb in goal in her three years at Carroll, finishing with more shutouts (36) than goals allowed (19) in her career. During her career, Wingler finished as a 3-time first team all-state pick, a 2-time All-Metro selection and helped lead Carroll to a pair of third-place finishes in Class 5A.
“She was one of those athletes who jumped out right from the first day where you watched her play and you knew she was gifted,” Carroll coach Greg Rauch said. “Not only does she have tremendous athleticism, she was a true grind-it-out kind of kid. I can’t tell you the last time she didn’t have multiple training sessions in a week to hone her craft. I think you look at the numbers she put up in her career and it’s just pretty special.”
Roger Downing, Eisenhower coach
Eisenhower has long been knocking on the door of reaching the state semifinals, but had never broken through. That is until Downing took over. In his first season at the helm of the girls program, Downing switched to a more aggressive and free-flowing attack and the results followed: Eisenhower won 18 games, won the AV-CTL Div. II championship and finished third in Class 5A to solidify the best season in program history. Downing has had similar success with the Eisenhower boys soccer team and also coaches the Wichita Wings.
“There has always been plenty of talent here at Eisenhower, I think the girls needed a culture change and to be led in a little bit different direction,” Eisenhower coach Roger Downing said. “I generally coach my kids to what works best for them, rather than to force them to play my style and that’s what we did. I preached to the girls that my expectations all along were going to state and having fun. And that’s exactly how our season went. It was a lot of fun and we were able to win a lot along the way.”
All-Metro second team
Jasmyn Brown, Andover Central junior defender
Kendra Brungardt, Eisenhower senior defender
Kaitlyn Erwin, Eisenhower senior forward
Emmy Hedden, Goddard freshman midfielder
Payten Hendershot, Maize South senior midfielder
Destiny Hoy, Bishop Carroll senior forward
Emma Kolbe, Mulvane senior midfielder
Ava Law, Andover senior defender
Grace Long, Bishop Carroll junior midfielder
Peyton Martin-Peterson, East senior forward
Brekkyn Pierce, Maize senior midfielder
Paige Putter, Maize senior midfielder
Logan Riley, Derby senior forward
Karsyn Slothower, Maize junior goalkeeper
Carly Smith, Andover junior forward
Hannah Stipp, Circle junior goalkeeper
Kaelyn Sueper, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior defender
Rey Ramirez, Maize South coach
All-Metro third team
Ruby Aguilar, Valley Center senior forward
Katelyn Aune, Andover sophomore midfielder
Brinklee Bell, Andover junior forward
Cyerra Boyer, Derby senior midfielder
Grace Brown, Classical senior defender
Ali Coash, Valley Center junior midfielder
Morgan Dunn, Northwest senior goalkeeper
Jana Engels, Derby senior defender
Victoria Gutierrez, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior forward
Bri Henning, Eisenhower senior forward
Milan Hunter, Circle freshman forward
Anahi Ibarra-Arevalo, Northwest sophomore forward
Brooklin Lynch, Andover sophomore goalkeeper
Marissa Martinez, Goddard senior defender
Mary Metz, Andover Central junior forward
Aimee Nunez, Northwest senior defender
Olivia Oenning, Maize South sophomore midfielder
Liz Orme, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior midfielder
Hadley Ostrander, Maize South freshman goalkeeper
Izzy Sandoval, Newton sophomore midfielder
Rylie Schiffelbein, Mulvane junior goalkeeper
Cecilia Solis, North sophomore defender
Londyn Soto, Circle freshman forward
Abbi Welch, Eisenhower senior defender
Aubrey Winter, Trinity Academy senior midfielder
Porsha Zweifel, Augusta senior forward
Austin Clifton, Northwest coach
Kevin Law, Andover coach
