Latest news with #SoccerPlayeroftheYear
Chicago Tribune
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
‘Amazing to watch,' Ohio State commit Callie Tumilty is the 2025 Naperville Sun Girls Soccer Player of the Year
Naperville Central forward Callie Tumilty's high school career was brief and brilliant. Those who got a chance to watch the Ohio State commit play in her senior year were treated to an athletic display rarely seen at that level. Every time she got the ball, fans knew there was a possibility she would do something memorable. That doesn't surprise Naperville North defender Emily Buescher, who has been Tumilty's club teammate since they were in third grade. 'She's the same player she was since she was little,' Buescher said. 'Now she's just bigger.' Tumilty's impact on the Redhawks in her only season couldn't have been any bigger. The 2025 Naperville Sun Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Tumilty racked up 23 goals and 15 assists in 23 games, setting the single-season program record for goals and tying the mark for points with 61. Tumilty was named the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association's player of the year and became the third All-American in program history, joining Karen Richter (1986) and Washington Spirit defender Casey Krueger (2008). Tumilty combined speed, strength and passing skills to break down defenses with regularity. She was just as likely to shoot accurately with either foot from 30 yards or more as she was to dribble through multiple defenders. Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said Tumilty combined the technical with the physical and the tactical. But that alone did not make her great. 'She has that rare trait that attacking forwards need — that short-term memory,' Adams said. 'You go at somebody, they take it away from you, and the next time you have no fear. 'She has no fear of attacking somebody, and the great thing about attacking players is they've only got to be right once in a while. She definitely has that mindset that 'I'm going to go fast, and I'm going to go at people.'' That's nothing new for Tumilty. She even displayed it when she played varsity basketball as a freshman and sophomore. 'Basically, I just want to win,' she said. 'I hate losing more than anything, so that's kind of where it comes from, and also, you're always going to make mistakes when you play a game. It's part of the game to lose the ball, and if anyone cares if you lose the ball or that you miss a shot, then it's more their problem because it's just part of the game.' Tumilty wasn't always so sanguine. 'That was hard for me to realize when growing up,' she said. 'I would always get a little bit caught on the last play, but realistically it doesn't really matter because until the buzzer beeps, you always have time to make something happen. 'That's kind of how I look at things — like there's always another chance. Obviously, it wasn't so at the Neuqua game.' The Redhawks (20-2-1) had a terrific season end in a 1-0 loss to Neuqua Valley in the Class 3A sectional semifinals on May 27. The Wildcats were the only team to beat the Redhawks this season. It was a tough pill for Tumilty and her teammates to swallow. But she made a lot of things happen, leading the Redhawks to DuPage Valley Conference and regional titles. They also won the prestigious Naperville Invitational for the first time since 2012, a special memory for Tumilty. 'The Naperville Invite really showed what team we could be, and it really brought us together because we played five top competitors that week,' she said. 'I think that we had the hardest schedule in the state by far.' Tumilty, who played club soccer for her first two years and then was out of action for 16 months following ACL surgery, relished every moment. 'I always wanted to play school soccer,' she said. 'Now that it's over, I was really grateful that I got to play. Obviously, winning state was a goal, but the fact that I got the opportunity to even play high school soccer, especially after my injury, was huge.' Everyone was glad she did. Adams was pleased to see Tumilty take his advice and use it to adapt and improve. Buescher, a Minnesota recruit who will play against Tumilty in the Big Ten, said high school soccer was better for having Tumilty participate. 'We always say she's built for high school soccer,' Buescher said. 'This is where she thrives, so it's been amazing to watch her and cheer her on.' When asked what her legacy will be, Tumilty referred to her decision to play for the Redhawks. 'That it's never too late,' she said. 'Because if you want to play high school soccer, just do it.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
JL Mann's Smith Darby wins soccer Gatorade Player of the Year
(WSPA) – JL Mann's Smith Darby has a new award to add to his growing collection. Just week's after helping the Patriots complete the program's first undefeated season to capture the first state championship in 10 years, Darby was named South Carolina's Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year. The 6-foot-4, 185 pound junior led the team with 32 goals and passed for 12 assists on the way to the perfect 25-0 season. He is a two-time 5A first team selection and was the Region 1-5A Player of the Year in 2025. Darby maintained a 3.73 GPA. The Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes high school athletes across the country who excel in their respective sport, the classroom and in their community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Pembroke Pines Charter's Logan Hall is the 7A-5A Broward Boys' Soccer Player of the Year
Logan Hall was already an established soccer standout early in his high school career. But when he transferred to Pembroke Pines Charter from St. Thomas Aquinas, Hall learned what it took to be more of a leader on the field. He applied those skills well this season as one of the key factors in the Jaguars' unbeaten march to the state final four in Class 5A. For those efforts, Hall is the Miami Herald's Broward County Boys' Soccer Player of the Year for Classes 7A-5A. Hall, a Jacksonville University signee, led Pines Charter to the state final four for the second consecutive season after going unbeaten for 20 consecutive matches and winning 18 of them. He scored 16 goals and had nine assists during that stretch. Unfortunately for Hall and the Jaguars, they were unable to cap that run with an elusive state championship after losing in the Class 5A final to perennial powerhouse Tampa Jesuit. 'My senior year went great, especially transferring in from St. Thomas, I had high hopes,' Hall said. 'Our undefeated regular season was amazing and my teammates were amazing. We wanted the ring, but hey, it is what it is.' Hall, who had played mostly center back earlier in his career, also had to adapt to a more offensive role at the top this season. It led to his more prolific scoring output and made Pines Charter one of the more dangerous teams in the state overall. Hall felt he became more of a complete player after this transition and expects to carry that knowledge to the college level. 'I learned to adapt to change, playing striker,' Hall said. 'I learned a lot about leadership and both are things that will help me at the next level. 'Being up top, you have to finish your chances. You're under more pressure, but you get a lot of the glory as well.'
Miami Herald
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
St. Thomas Aquinas' Sophie Barnes is the Broward 7A-5A Girls' Soccer Player of the Year
It didn't take Sophie Barnes too long to begin making an impact when she joined the St. Thomas Aquinas girls' soccer team as a freshman. But Barnes hadn't completely settled in at that point. Her sophomore season served as a true breakthrough for someone who became one of Broward County's most dominant players. Barnes' efforts were at the forefront of St. Thomas Aquinas' march to the Class 6A state championship game while attaining at top 10 national ranking. And so, Barnes is the Miami Herald's Broward County Class 7A-5A Girls' Soccer Player of the Year. Barnes, a forward, scored 23 goals and recorded 10 assists this season. As part of one of the more talented squads in the country, Barnes nearly led the Raiders to a 16th state championship and first since 2017, which would have added to their state-leading total. A stunning 4-3 loss in overtime to Orange Park St. Johns Bartram Trail denied Aquinas this season. But Barnes is part of a core of starters that should be able to regroup for another attempt next season. 'We fell short at the final, but the entire year up to then we dominated and only lost one match,' Barnes said. 'We always worked hard to make it to that state game. We were unlucky, but we played our best. It took a lot because we had to build our chemistry and once we did we looked good and came out with those big wins.' Barnes, who was already a talented scorer and passer entering the season, said she became a more effective striker this season after developing more familiarity and on-field chemistry with her teammates in the midfield. 'Last year, I joined in the middle of the season, but this season I clicked more with my midfielders and finished my chances much better,' Barnes said.
Miami Herald
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Gulliver Prep's Nicolas Pineros is the Miami-Dade 3A-1A Boys' Soccer Player of the Year
Repeated trips to the final four require all-around efforts. Gulliver Prep relied on a standout individual performance to make it back to the state semifinals yet again this year. Nicolas Pineros had 10 goals and 22 assists to get Gulliver to the state semis for the third straight year. As a result, he is the Miami Herald's Miami-Dade County Boys' Soccer Player of the Year for Classes 3A-1A. Pineros, the Miami-Dade County Boys' Soccer Player of the Year for Classes 3A-1A, was the latest offensive engine for Florida's premier program, handing out 22 assists to rank among the state's leaders in the category. The senior was also at his best near the end of the season, with five assists in his final six games. The Raiders fell short of winning their third consecutive state championship with a loss to Delray Beach American Heritage in the Class 3A semifinals, but still finished the year among the most accomplished teams in all of South Florida. 'It's been normal for us to go up there and win with the teams we've had lately, but you don't always get what you want and the other team just wanted it more and had a little more dog in them,' Pineros said. 'Overall, the season was great. The memories and brotherhood we created was more than we could have asked for.' Pineros, who has yet to sign with a college, had some of his most clutch performances in the postseason including a season-saving goal with a minute left in the regional semifinals to avoid losing to SLAM Miami. The tally sent the game to overtime and eventually penalty kicks where the Raiders prevailed and advanced. 'I had to learn how to take control and take charge of the team because the last few years that role fell to (former Gulliver standout) Cosme (Salas),' Pineros said. 'At the beginning I had to learn how to do that and learn a lot of valuable skills.'
