NEK – Several top players from Hazen Union and Caledonia United (Twinfield-Cabot-Danville) were selected to the Vermont All-State roster this week, cementing their status as some of the best high school soccer players in the state.
photo by Dorothy Hill
Cal United senior midfielder Sloane Morse capped off her brilliant high school soccer career at Danville with her second consecutive All-State selection this past week. Morse’s leadership the past two seasons helped head coach Spencer Morse usher in a new era of CCSU athletics two years ago that is now the permanent cooperative membership between the three schools. As competition ramped up in a shift up to Division III and logos changed on the jersey, Morse’s play remained rock steady. She has been near the top of the scoring sheet in Danville the last four seasons and has seamlessly transitioned new faces into their style of play with her quarterbacking of the midfield. Morse helped the program earn its first ever Division III playoff win last year and host its first home playoff in the division this past fall.
photo by Dorothy Hill
Eli Russell had a breakout junior campaign for a boys Caledonia United team that not only moved up to Division III this past fall, but also won 11 games in its inaugural season as a three-school collective. His dynamic play in the midfield undoubtedly earned him his first All-State selection, spearheading a high-scoring offense that saw freshman Omar Miksic-Knibb explode for 17 goals. Russell was also a dynamic scorer for head coach Peter Stratman’s club, highlighted by a five-goal game versus Blue Mountain and a pair of braces throughout the season. Cal United won its first ever Division III playoff match this past fall and was a game away from becoming the third different program under Stratman to make the Final Four.
“Eli owned the middle for us this season and was an instrumental playmaker as an attacking midfielder. His selection is a worthy honor!” said Stratman.
Eli Russell battles Hazen Union’s Ari Jurkiewicz in their Division III first round match-up.
courtesy photo
Isabelle Gouin and Taylor Thompson led Hazen Union to a nine-win season under first year head coach Jay Terrien, and their outstanding play was rewarded with their first All-State selections. Thompson did not suffer a sophomore slump after an outstanding freshman campaign that earned her First Team honors in the Mountain League. The gritty midfielder was relentless in marking some of the top scorers in the league. She also controlled the midfield for a new look offensive Lady Cat attack that found the back of the net 38 times this past season. Gouin was on the receiving end of a lot of those Thompson passes this fall, and the junior co-captain rarely missed. Her team high 20 goals were a career high for the speedy striker and this dynamic duo looks poised to make the Lady Cats title contenders again next fall.
Local All-State selections rounding out the girls Vermont roster were Sadie Baranyay and Ella Bliss of Peoples Academy and Stowe’s Emmy Marron, Tanner Gregory, and Anna Ortiz. Rounding out the boys Vermont roster were Zander Waskuch, Quin Lynch, and Sam Schultz of Peoples Academy and Stowe’s Graham Jostrand, Cody Lilly, Wyatt Lilly, and Parker Guffey.
Coach of the Year honors went to Milton’s Cait Fogel and Green Mountain’s Jake Walker.
