2026 Clutch Sports Media All-Area Girls Soccer Team: 59 Central Illinois athletes earn honors

A memorable 2026 girls soccer season in Central Illinois featured team and individual records being set, several freshmen breaking onto the scene in big ways, and two area squads being two of the state’s best, including Morton which made its first state appearance in program history.

The Potters finished as the Class 2A state runner-up and Mid-Illini Conference champs while posting an IHSA record-long shutout streak. Peoria Notre Dame was equally as strong, going undefeated and winning the Big 12 Conference in the regular season before winning a regional title in their first year playing in Class 3A. 

Illini Prairie Conference champion Bloomington Central Catholic also won a regional plaque while fellow Twin Cities squads Normal U-High, Normal Community and Normal West added to the area’s depth. Limestone, Peoria Christian and Canton were all not far off from their best seasons in program history as well. 

Athletes from the 39 schools in the Clutch Sports Media coverage area surrounding Peoria and Bloomington/Normal were eligible for CSM’s 2026 Girls Soccer All-Area teams, which feature a total of 59 honorees.

Clutch Sports Media will also have a Girls Soccer Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, which will both be announced shortly. All of the All-Area nominees below are listed by position, then alphabetical order.

Clutch Sports Media All-Area First Team

Aubrey Balota, senior, Normal U-High - Forward

Balota leaves Normal U-High as one of the best players to ever suit up in the green and gold. The senior and Central Michigan signee was a big-time attacking force and scored her 100th career goal during her final prep campaign, becoming just the third player in Pioneers program history to reach that mark. Despite battling an injury for part of the year, she helped Normal U-High finish 16-7-1 and reach the Class 2A regional finals. Balota earned Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) first team all-state and first team all-Central State Eight Conference honors. 

Claire Ceresa, junior, Morton - Forward

Ceresa was the main focal point of Morton’s historic season, leading a lethal Potters attack with 37 goals and dishing out 25 assists. The junior recorded 12 games with multiple goals, led by a pair of 4-goal performances in the Class 2A Richwoods Regional. Noted for her playmaking ability and ability to shed heavy defensive attention, Ceresa scored a pair of goals and assists in the Potter’s Class 2A super-sectional to send them to state for the first time in program history. She earned IHSSCA all-sectional and first team all-Mid Illini honors and has committed to Illinois-Springfield to play volleyball. 

Ava LaFollette, senior, Peoria Notre Dame - Forward

LaFollette put together another staggering campaign by scoring 57 goals for the second straight year to help PND go 23-1-2 and win Big 12 Conference and Class 3A regional titles. Her 166 career goals put her No. 10 in all-time goal-scoring in IHSA girls soccer history. She added seven assists and played most games with two to three defenders on her. LaFollette earned All-Midwest Region, IHSSCA all-state and unanimous first team all-Big 12 honors. During her three years with PND after transferring from Metamora after her freshman year, the Irish did not lose a conference game. 

Abigail Chaddock, senior, Peoria Notre Dame - Midfielder

Chaddock has been a stalwart in the PND midfield over the years and helped the Irish outscore opponents 147-7 in her senior season. The Irish veteran is noted for controlling the game both on offense and defense and scored 15 goals with 19 assists. A unanimous first team all-Big 12 Conference honoree, the skilled midfielder also earned IHSSCA all-state honors for the third consecutive year and will continue her career at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

Campbell Damery, junior, Normal Community - Midfielder 

Damery controlled the game for Normal Community while leading them to a 13-9-2 season and a runner-up finish in the Big 12. The junior tickled the twine 22 times despite playing more defense this season and drawing a significant amount of defensive attention. Damery chipped in 14 assists and earned IHSSCA all-sectional and first team all-Big 12 Conference honors for the second straight season. 

Madi Greiner, sophomore, Morton - Midfielder

Morton’s big season was aided by a big splash from Greiner, who was the best attacker in a deep group of Potters midfielders. The sophomore netted 25 goals, including two in Morton’s 5-2 Class 2A super-sectional win over Waterloo, and 14 assists. She was one of few sophomores who earned IHSSCA all-state honors and also was a first team all-Mid Illini Conference selection. 

Tori Aberle, senior, Washington - Defender

Aberle anchored a Washington defense that allowed just over one goal per game and shut out 11 opponents. The Panthers veteran was a strong player in the air and could begin the attack out of the back, as evidenced by her 10 goals and two assists on the season. Aberle was an IHSSCA all-state and first team all-Mid Illini Conference selection and will play collegiately at Cedarville University. 

Abby Brooks, junior, Morton - Defender 

Morton’s defense was one of the top units in the area and Brooks led the way. Her presence on the back line helped the Potters limit opponents to eight goals all season — with just two of those coming in the regular season — and record an IHSA-record 19 consecutive shutouts. She scored one goal and added one assist, earning IHSSCA all-state and first team all-Mid Illini Conference honors. 

Violet Hynek, junior, Peoria Christian - Defender 

Hynek elevated all of her Peoria Christian teammates to help the Chargers to a 14-5-1 season and Class 1A regional championship appearance just two years after the program took a one-year hiatus. The junior defender could play like a midfielder or forward and scored 34 goals to go with a school-record 16 assists. She was the first player in Chargers program history to earn IHSSCA all-state honors and is receiving Division I college interest. 

Siena Stone, freshman, Peoria Notre Dame - Defender 

Stone helped make up an especially strong group of PND freshmen and led a defense that gave up just seven goals, including none in conference play, all season. The speedy and athletic freshman scored six goals and assisted on 12 more, earning IHSSCA all-state and unanimous all-Big 12 first team honors. Late in the season, Stone was called up to play for the USA Under-15 National Team for several games in the Netherlands. 

Rylie Bare, senior, Peoria Notre Dame - Goalkeeper

Bare was a highly-effective last line of defense for a PND squad that recorded 22 shutouts on the year. She allowed just three goals to in-state opponents with the other four coming against out-of-state powers. Bare was an IHSSCA all-sectional and first team all-Big 12 honoree.

Clutch Sports Media All-Area Second Team

Caroline Braucht, junior, Bloomington Central Catholic - Forward

Braucht was a top threat on a BCC squad that went 17-7-1 and won Class 1A regional and Illini Prairie Conference titles. The junior, who was also a 2025 Clutch Sports Media Girls Golf Second Team All-Area selection, scored 33 goals with nine assists and posted five games with three or more goals. She was an IHSSCA all-sectional and first team all-Illini Prairie Conference honoree. 

Peyton Lefler, freshman, Peoria Notre Dame - Forward

Lefler helped PND win the Big 12 title in her freshman season, scoring 25 goals and adding 14 assists for a highly potent Irish attack. She’s played for the USA’s Under-15 Olympic Development Team in Portugal and is noted for her abilities in one-on-one situations. Lefler was a unanimous all-Big 12 Conference first team selection. 

Addy Lovell, freshman, Peoria Christian - Forward

Lovell roared onto the scene in her first varsity season by being a goal-scoring machine for one of the best teams in Peoria Christian program history. She netted 39 goals and 13 assists on the year, scoring a hat trick or better in seven games, including four games with four or more goals. Lovell scored a whopping six goals in the Chargers’ Class 1A regional semifinal win over IVC on May 18 and earned IHSSCA all-sectional honors. 

Emily Clift, freshman, Washington - Midfielder

Clift helped propel Washington to a 14-5-3 season and a berth in the Class 2A regional finals in her freshman year. An active player both on and off the ball, Clift showed versatility and scored 17 goals with eight assists on the year. She earned IHSSCA all-sectional and first team all-Mid Illini Conference laurels. 

Ella Merritt-Ahanda, senior, Richwoods - Midfielder

Richwoods’ senior captain was the main cog for Richwoods, which posted its sixth straight winning season. She finished with 10 goals and nine assists on the year and the Knights won every game she scored in this season. Merritt-Ahanda earned IHSSCA all-sectional and unanimous first team all-Big 12 Conference honors.

Paige Werneburg, senior, Limestone - Midfielder

Werneburg graduates as one of the best players in Limestone program history, becoming the team’s record holder in career assists and ranking second in total points in her career. Her 22 goals, which she coupled with six assists, tied the Rockets’ single-season goals record and earned her IHSSCA all-sectional and first team all-Mid Illini Conference. Werneburg also led Limestone to its two winningest seasons, including a 12-9-2 finish in 2026. 

Mia Williams, senior, Dunlap - Midfielder

Williams spearheaded a competitive season for Dunlap, which finished 13-5-7 and reached the Class 2A sectional finals. The senior scored 13 goals to go with seven assists to earn IHSSCA all-sectional and first team all-Mid Illini Conference awards. She will continue her career at the University of Puget Sound. 

Lillian Chaddock, freshman, Peoria Notre Dame - Defender

Chaddock wasted no time making an impact for PND’s strong defense and freshmen group. Noted for her skills in stealing and retaining possession, Chaddock, who was a 2025 Clutch Sports Media Girls Cross Country First Team All-Area selection, scored two goals and four assists for the Big 12 champion Irish. She additionally earned unanimous first team all-Big 12 honors. 

Kinley Cornejo, junior, Normal West - Defender 

Cornejo was a solid presence on the field for Normal West, who finished 11-13-2 and won a Class 2A regional title. She led a Wildcats defense that posted nine shutouts on the season, including five in Big 12 Conference play. She was an IHSSCA all-sectional and first team all-Big 12 honoree. 

Cecilia Wille, senior, Normal U-High - Defender

Wille has been a mainstay on Normal U-High since the Pioneers’ state title-winning season in 2023 and helped them shut out 12 opponents on the season. Three of those shutouts came against crosstown foes, helping Normal U-High win the Intercity title. The senior earned IHSSCA all-sectional and second team all-Central State Eight Conference honors and will play collegiately at Northern Michigan. 

Kellyn Kramer, senior, Normal Community - Goalkeeper

Kramer put together a huge breakout season in her first year starting for the Ironmen, keeping the Big 12 runner-ups in many games. She brought a consistent presence to a Normal Community defense that faced several injuries during the season and finished with 13 career shutouts. She was an IHSSCA all-state and first team all-Big 12 Conference honoree. 

Clutch Sports Media All-Area Honorable Mention

Addison DeSanty, junior, Bloomington Central Catholic - Forward

Elyse Eimer, junior, Olympia - Forward

Shea Larson, junior, Peoria Notre Dame - Forward

Elly McClelland, senior, Normal Community - Forward

Avari McDermet, freshman, Canton - Forward

Sayre McReynolds, senior, Normal West - Forward 

Acosia Morris, junior, Richwoods - Forward

Brenna Phelps, senior, IVC - Forward

Gracie Alexander, senior, Washington - Midfielder

Addy Blake, senior, Morton - Midfielder

Eden Cole, junior, Pekin - Midfielder

Hannah Daly, senior, Peoria Notre Dame - Midfielder

Lana Esparza, senior, Normal U-High - Midfielder

Sophie Haynes, senior, Pekin - Midfielder

Kendall Gonzalez, senior, Normal West - Midfielder

Edie Hart, senior, Morton - Midfielder

Jiles Hilgenbrinck, freshman, Bloomington Central Catholic - Midfielder 

Dhruti Joshi, senior, Normal Community - Midfielder

Josie Kroll, junior, Dunlap - Midfielder

Payton Mathieson, junior, Normal U-High - Midfielder 

Izzy Ripka, junior, Morton - Midfielder

Norah Skalet, junior, IVC - Midfielder

Ryleigh Bennett, senior, Peoria Notre Dame - Defender

Emma Crone, sophomore, Peoria Christian - Defender

Autumn Hutchison, junior, Pekin - Defender

Mia Risinger, senior, Dunlap - Defender

Addison Sharpe, senior, Richwoods - Defender

Kuper Smith, senior, Richwoods - Defender

Khloe Stear, senior, Limestone - Defender 

Tabby Vandeschraaf, junior, Metamora - Defender 

Sydney Wowra, junior, Dunlap - Defender 

Gigi Benkert, sophomore, Bloomington Central Catholic - Goalkeeper

Cadence Covert, senior, Pekin - Goalkeeper

Rylie Freeman, senior, Washington - Goalkeeper

Adly Hilt, junior, Morton - Goalkeeper

Delaney Reynolds, junior, Richwoods - Goalkeeper

Olivia Sprecher, senior, Canton - Goalkeeper