2016 All-Area girls’ soccer: Haley bossed the midfield
Player of the year: Kimber Haley, Fort Mill
Coach of the year: Chris Quinn, Fort Mill
Kimber Haley and her teammates made Fort Mill girls’ soccer coach Chris Quinn’s job much easier. The Yellow Jackets had an excellent season - winning 21 of 26 games and reaching the 4A Upper State championship game - and were led by Haley, the standout center midfielder. She possessed an uncommon confidence on the ball and constantly took passes off her teammates to either get the team out of trouble in its defensive end, or drive forward into the opponent’s half.
Quinn let his girls do their thing, which was a smart idea given the talent in the Yellow Jackets’ lineup. Many of them return next spring, including Haley and Meredith Christopher, another player that received votes from opposing coaches for All-Area player of the year. Maybe Fort Mill can do one - or two - game(s) better than 2016.
First team
Kimber Haley, Fort Mill- junior Clemson commit was named 4A All-State and Region 3-4A player of the year after scoring 12 goals and setting up 18 others. Haley bossed the game from center midfield for the best team in the area.
Meredith Christopher, Fort Mill- one of the most dangerous players in the area - the state? - standing over a deadball, Christopher was named All-Region 3-4A after scoring 22 goals and dishing out 14 assists. The junior is committed to play in college at Elon.
Katherine Kilroy, Indian Land- senior standout was named 2A All-State for the fourth straight year after scoring 21 goals and tallying seven assists. Kilroy was also a North-South all-star selection.
Bailey Penegar, Indian Land- senior was also 2A All-State and a North-South all-star after scoring twice and assisting once from the center of a Warriors’ backline that kept 20 shutouts.
Carmen McCarter, Clover- All-Region pick and North-South all-star keeper kept 17 clean sheets for the Blue Eagles.
Selah Gaylor, Clover- All-Region 3-4A freshman striker scored 21 goals and doled out 14 assists.
Peyton Patterson, Lancaster- All-Region 3-3A senior striker/midfielder scored 42 goals and added 13 assists. Patterson recorded nine hat-tricks this spring.
Grayson Chappell, South Pointe- Region 3-3A player of the year bagged 31 goals and dished out 11 assists for the Stallions. The senior midfielder will play college soccer at Coker.
Christina Reid, South Pointe- sophomore striker made All-Region 3-3A after scoring 20 goals with seven assists.
Second team
J’menii Isaac, Clover- sophomore All-Region striker scored 14 times and added nine assists.
Haley Hocking, Clover- All-Region midfielder added some crunch in the Blue Eagles’ midfield, as well as 11 goals and eight assists.
Georgia Modla, Rock Hill- sophomore All-Region striker scored 16 goals and added four assists.
Marley Landrum, Rock Hill- All-Region 3-4A senior contributed five goals and five assists for a Bearcats team that made the state playoffs for the first time in seven years.
Kayla Bailey, Lancaster- All-Region 3-3A defender scored eight goals and added seven assists for the Bruins.
Aminah Johnson, Northwestern- talented freshman forward made All-Region 3-4A after scoring nine goals and chipping in nine assists.
Madi Gleason, Nation Ford- All-Region 3-4A center midfielder led the team in assists (5) and scored eight goals.
Kayla Dietz, Fort Mill- junior All-Region defender was a central part of the Yellow Jackets’ defense, which blanked 17 opponents and allowed less than a half goal per game.
Honorable mention
Emily Ambrose, Fort Mill; Annika Ford, Fort Mill; Lauren Glowacki, Fort Mill; Emily Gerdes, Indian Land; Lydia Plyler, Lancaster; Ashli Siggins, Northwestern; Haley Blythe, Northwestern; Jessica Garnett, Rock Hill; Mahogany Setzer, York; Jade Consalvi, York.
This story was originally published June 5, 2016 at 7:51 PM with the headline "2016 All-Area girls’ soccer: Haley bossed the midfield."