2021 Athens Banner Herald Girls Soccer All Area Team

An incredible season of Athens-area girls soccer concluded with a North Oconee state championship last week. Here's a look at the top players from the area:

Lena Cook, Clarke Central – The junior moved from fullback to goalkeeper early in the season and despite never playing the position posted 41 saves for the Gladiators, who qualified for the Class 5A state playoffs, the first time the team reached the postseason in 12 years. 

Emma Chason, Madison County – The freshman striker tallied 27 goals and set a new school record for scoring, leading the Red Raiders to the Class 4A state playoffs, just the second time in school history the team has qualified for the postseason. 

Chloe Diaz, Commerce – The sophomore midfielder averaged 9.6 points per game with 65 goals and 42 assists and was the state’s leading goal-scorer (among all classifications) as the Tigers, who spent much of the year ranked No. 1 in their classification, reached the second round of the state playoffs. 

Katherine Elliott, Oconee County – The sophomore midfielder led the team in goals with 15 and tied for second in assists with six as the Warriors advanced to the semifinals of the Class 3A state playoffs. 

Lindsey Fowler, Jackson County – The senior forward captained Jackson County and led the team in goals (16) and assists (13), earning All-Region 8-5A honors as the Panthers qualified for the state playoffs. 

Kaylie Hayes, Oconee County – The senior goalkeeper and team captain, who has committed to Erskine, recorded eight shutouts during the regular season and had a 0.71 goals against average as the Warriors advanced to the semifinals of the Class 3A state playoffs. 

Savanna Jackson, Jefferson – The junior forward led Jefferson in scoring with 18 goals and one assist as the Dragons advanced to the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs. 

Kenna Kay, North Oconee – The junior forward tallied 20 goals and 10 assists and is the school’s record-holder in goals as the Titans won the Class 4A state championship, the first state title in program history. 

Carly Lantz, North Oconee – The senior forward and team captain, who has committed to Appalachian State, tallied 14 goals and 14 assists in the regular season as the Titans won the Class 4A state championship, the first state title in program history. 

Madison Nimmons, Oglethorpe County – The senior captain, who has committed to Georgia Military College, set a new school record for goals scored in a career (109), leading the Patriots, who advanced to the quarterfinals in the Class 2A state playoffs. 

Molly Parker, Jefferson – The sophomore midfielder and defender recorded 10 goals and five assists for the Dragons, who advanced to the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs. 

Mayra Sesmas, Clarke Central – The junior forward had 17 goals and seven assists for the Gladiators, who qualified for the Class 5A state playoffs, the first time the team reached the postseason in 12 years. Named Region 8-5A’s Midfielder of the Year. 

Hannah Thompson, North Oconee – Two years after breaking her leg, the junior goalkeeper recorded 11 shutouts in the regular season as the Titans advanced to the finals of the Class 4A state playoffs for the first time in school history. 

Abby Tolbert, Commerce – The senior center back also served as a captain and sparked a defense that allowed only two transitional goals and seven overall goals (0.386 goals per game) as the Tigers, who spent much of the year ranked No. 1 in their classification, reached the second round of the state playoffs. Tolbert also scored four goals. 

Ivy Tolbert, Commerce – The freshman midfielder, who was named Class A Public’s Player of the Year by GeorgiaHighSchoolSoccer.com, finished the season with 65 goals ad 58 assists as the Tigers, who spent much of the year ranked No. 1 in their classification, reached the second round of the state playoffs. 

 

HONORABLE MENTION 

APALACHEE – Justana Smoot, Natalie Allen, Emily “Scrappy” Hale 

CLARKE CENTRAL – Andrea Matta-Castillo, Hannah Barnett, Lilli Sams, Joselin Ulloa, Evin Carvell, Ava Sims, Lilly Stevens, McKinley Campbell 

EAST JACKSON – Lissette Miranda, Catlin Bosquet, Taylor Maulden 

JACKSON COUNTY – Serenity Castillo, Kennedy Habeeb, Avery Wortel 

JEFFERSON – Abbey Eison, Carter Drake, Ella Parker, Lanie McCarty, Tara Maxwell, Julia Brooks 

NORTH OCONEE – Ashlyn Joyner, Grace Maddox, Maryn Long, Ava Caldwell, Madeline Andrews 

OCONEE COUNTY – Holly Moore, Emily Davis, Kaylie Hayes, Audrey Moon 

OGLETHORPE COUNTY – Kodie Edison, Casey Sloan, Alyssa Tank, Lourdes Tompkins 

PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN – Payton Cromer