NEK – Hazen Union and Caledonia United (Twinfield-Cabot-Danville) led the way in First Team selections last week as several local soccer players were honored by the Mountain League for their outstanding seasons on the pitch this fall.
photo by Dorothy Hill
Junior co-captain Isabelle Gouin and sophomores Taylor Thompson and Kelsie Rivard were recognized for their stellar play as First Team selections after leading the Lady Cats to a nine-win season. It was the second consecutive selection for Thompson, who has been one of the best midfielders in the league since she stepped on the pitch as a freshman. She was instrumental once again for Hazen in controlling possession, marking top scoring opponents, and executing set pieces. Rivard made the jump to a First Team selection this season after pulling double duty for head coach Jay Terrien in the field and in goal. She was a dangerous scorer for Hazen in the midfield when not frustrating opposing goal scorers with her athleticism in net. Gouin’s promotion to First Team status was a no-brainer after her breakout junior season. The speedy striker led Hazen with a career high 20 goals that included multiple hat tricks.
photo by Dorothy Hill
Caledonia United’s Sloane Morse, Hazel Abetti, and Cora Abetti were also recognized as First Team selections after leading their team to a winning record and first home playoff match as a Division III program. It was Morse’s second straight selection after the Vermont All-Stater once again proved herself as one of the best midfielders in the state. Hazel and Cora Abetti rounded out a potent scoring attack for head coach Spencer Morse that Cora Abetti will take leadership of next fall with the graduation of her teammates.
photo by Dorothy Hill
Rounding out First Team selections were: Oxbow’s Natalie Spear, Tessa Cook, and Caleigh Bean, Enosburg’s Kailie Morrill, Rory Schreindorfer, and Vienna Wilde, Paine Mountain’s Hannah Spencer and Olivia Boyd, BFA Fairfax’s Paige Cargill, Ava Ardovino, Emma Spiller, and Mikayla Tobey, Winooski’s Ketelia Selemani, Bora Kashindi, and MooThay Lay Htoo, MVU’s Lillianna Fournier and Avery Guyette, and Richford’s Mikayla Chagnon, Kyrielle Deuso, and Adison Chagnon.
Hazen sophomores Autumn Dailey and Mya Lumsden were recognized as Second Team selections, along with Cal United’s Jorja Washburn, Eliska Siebenbrunner, Taylor Carson, and Ida Astick. Adelina Augsberger (Hazen), Ella Renaud (Hazen), Carley Mancini (Cal United), and Phoebe Crocker (Cal United) were Honorable Mentions.
BFA’s Paige Cargill took home her second straight Player of the Year honors and Spear earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for Oxbow. Caleigh Bean (Oxbow) and Mikayla Tobey (BFA) were named the top goalkeepers and Enosburg’s Natalie Reed was named Coach of the Year.
