The girls soccer season in southeastern Minnesota provided plenty of team highlights, including
It also included loads of individual stars.
Here is a list and capsules of the top individual performers, with them selected to our Post Bulletin 2023 All-Area Girls Soccer Team. Those chosen have been nominated by their respective high school coaches.
School: St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
2023 stats: 23 goals, 10 assists.
Why she made the team: For the second straight year, White was named first-team All-State. The senior’s footwork is phenomenal and she has one of the best left-footed shots in the state. She’s also a real threat with either foot.
School: St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
2023 stats: 32 goals, 8 assists.
Why she made the team: Perez has a lethal blend of speed and a precise and powerful shot. The junior helped St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura to a second-place finish in the Class 1A state tournament. Perez was chosen first-team All-State and also made the All-State Tournament team.
Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo
School: Kasson-Mantorville
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
2023 stats: 28 goals, 4 assists.
Why she made the team: Awe isn’t just a great scorer, but an excellent decision maker. Her head is up and constantly analyzing what’s around her as she looks for space to exploit. Awe was named second-team All-State.
Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin file photo
School: St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura
Year: Senior
Position: Goalie
2023 stats: 101 saves, eight goals against, 13 shutouts.
Why she made the team: Gust is among the top couple of all-around athletes in southeastern Minnesota. Sadly, her season ended in the state semifinals when she suffered multiple tears in her knee, including her ACL. That cost her a spot in the championship and will force her to sit out the basketball and softball seasons. Few goalies in the state can match Gust’s range and instincts. Gust was first-team All-State for the second straight year and a Ms. Soccer finalist.
Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo
School: Century
Year: Senior
Position: Defender
2023 stats: 2 goals, 2 assists
Why she made the team: Torbenson is fast, strong, skilled and aggressive. She often brought the ball up on the outside attack and took most of the team’s free kicks. She excels at sending long balls and switching the field. Torbenson was named a Ms. Soccer finalist as well as All-State and was a three-year All-Big Nine Conference player.
Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo
School: Byron
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
2023 stats: 27 goals, 11 assists.
Why she made the team: Halder has been first-team All-State the last two seasons, scoring a total of 48 goals and notching 17 assists in that time. Halder combines elite speed with an ability to be elusive in tight spaces. She is also proficient at striking the ball with either foot.
School: La Crescent-Hokah
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
2023 stats: 32 goals
Why she made the team: Crosby finished in the top 10 in the state in goals scored, with 32. The senior forward is driven and ambitious and known as an excellent teammate.
Alex VandenHouten / Post Bulletin file photo
School: Winona
Year: Senior
Position: Midfielder
2023 stats: 15 goals, 17 assists.
Why she made the team: Quinn, then Big Nine Conference Player of the Year, a Ms. Soccer finalist and first-team All-State, is one of the top handful of soccer talents in southeastern Minnesota. A hard worker who is also unselfish, Quinn was involved in seemingly every Winona scoring opportunity.
School: Winona
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
2023 stats: 24 goals, 4 assists
Why she made the team: Also one of the state’s top sprinters in track and field, Brenengen used that speed to a lethal effect on the soccer field. She scored 24 goals and had four assists despite missing four games with an injury. A natural goal scorer, Brenengen was named first-team All-State.
Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin file photo
School: Winona
Year: Junior
Position: Midfield
2023 stats: 19 goals, 11 assists
Why she made the team: An All-State choice, Gilmer rode her versatility to greatness. She blended perfectly on the pitch with big scorers Faith Quinn and Adriana Brenengen. A versatile player, Gilmer was comfortable playing a variety of positions.
Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo
School: Lourdes
Year: Senior
Position: Midfield
2023 stats: 25 goals, 9 assists
Why she made the team: Cook is a fearless attacking midfielder who took on the majority of Lourdes’ offense. The senior has an ability to see passing lanes through traffic and can bury long shots. Cook was named All-State this season and was a Ms. Soccer finalist.
School: Byron
Year: Senior
Position: Central midfield
2023 stats: 14 goals, 12 assists
Why she made the team: Ellavsky is a strong tackler and distributor, with great vision. She was also able to carry the ball deep into the attack with penetrating dribbles. Ellavsky was named second-team All-State. The senior was the Bears’ most skilled player on the ball.
Post Bulletin file photo
School: Lourdes
Year: Senior
Position: Centerback
2023 stats: 4 goals, 2 assists
Why she made the team: A physical, fast and determined centerback, the senior was also a great distributor of the ball for the Eagles. Billmeier was often Lourdes’ set up from the back, transitioning the ball from defense to offense. The senior was second-team All-State.
Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo
School: Lourdes
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
2023 stats: 15 goals, 7 assists
Why she made the team: An extremely reliable attacker up front, Otto has a nose for the net and is excellent on breakaways. The senior was second-team All-State.
School: Century
Year: Junior
Position: Midfield
2023 stats: 5 goals, 7 assists.
Why she made the team: An All-Big Nine Conference player the last two years, Wetter is a strong presence in the middle of the field and plays equally well with either foot. She has an ability to control the ball and beat defenders one on one. Wetter also can stifle an opponent’s attack.
School: Century
Year: Junior
Position: Goalie
2023 stats: Eight shutouts.
Why she made the team: An aggressive goalie, Majorowicz also has excellent range, sees the field well and does well stopping breakaways. She makes her saves look easy by keeping her feet constantly moving. Majorowicz was named All-Big Nine Conference.
School: La Crescent-Hokah
Year: Junior
Position: Defense
Why she made the team: A sweeper, Baudek plays with rare speed. She helped the Lancers allow just 1.9 goals per game and finish 10-7 overall. She’s also considered extremely coachable.
School: Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa
Year: Junior
Position: Defense/midfield
Why she made the team: Already a three-year starter, Winkels plays with athleticism, intelligence and is versatile enough to play a variety of positions. Her ability to control possessions and initiate transitions helped advance PIZM to this year’s state tournament.
School: Kasson-Mantorville
Year: Junior
Position: Center midfielder
2023 stats: 4 goals, 13 assists.
Why she made the team: An All-HVL choice, Carrier is a student of the game, allowing her to read opposing formations and elevate the play of her teammates. She also plays with a relentlessness on both sides of the ball.
School: Winona
Year: Senior
Position: Goalie
2023 stats: 14 goals allowed during the regular season, .8 goals allowed per game.
Why she made the team: Wells was named second-team All-State for the stingy numbers she helped put up. She has an ability to come up with improbable saves.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin
School: St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura
Year: Senior
Position: Midfield
2023 stats: 5 goals, 12 assists.
Why she made the team: Omdahl was a crucial part of a team that finished one win from being state champions. Considered the “heart of our attack,” by SCLA coach Taige Puetz, Omdahl was able to hold off defenders, was great with her head in the air and an excellent distributor. Twice, she’s been named All-Three Rivers Conference.
Traci Westcott / Post Bulletin file photo
School: Lourdes
Year: Junior
Position: Defender
2023 stats: Part of a defense that allowed 0.6 goals per game, with 12 shutouts.
Why she made the team: Shedivy’s game is built around elite speed and an ability to chase down would-be scorers. Few in southeastern Minnesota have the junior’s closing speed and fearlessness.
Caledonia: Josie Foster, Jr., goalie (152 saves, 1 shutout, All-Three Rivers); Loisah Gay, So., forward (14 goals, 1 assist, All-Three Rivers).
Cannon Falls: Kenna Keller, Fr., middle back defender (blazing fast defender); Ava Hernke, Fr., center midfielder (3 goals).
Century: Sophia Tauscher, Jr., center defender (part of 9 shutouts).
Dover-Eyota: Emirson Brehmer, Sr., midfield/defense (lockdown defender, great quickness, All-Three Rivers); Miranda Palmby, Jr., goalie (allowed 10 goals during regular season); Tia Rubow, So., forward (10 goals, 1 assist).
John Marshall: Ava Adams, Sr., defense (All-Big Nine, mentor to younger players); Haili Mattson, Jr., midfield (6 goals, 2 assists, 2 game-winning goals); Brinn Kelley, Jr., forward (4 goals, 2 assists).
Kasson-Mantorville: Ella Stafford, Jr., center fullback (All-HVL); Ava Threinen, Jr., center midfielder (3 goals, 4 assists); Kylie Meyer, so., goalie (18 goals against, 155 saves, .896 save percentage, .69 goals against).
La Crescent-Hokah: Lexi Keisau, Jr., midfield (8 goals, 8 assists); Cami Esser, So., defense; Andrea Stavenau, So., midfield (shutdown defender); Maggie Crosby, So., midfield (strong weapon on team that averaged 3.3 goals per game).
Lourdes: Addison Lange, Jr., goalie (0.6 goals per game allowed, team finished 18-2-2).
Mayo: Emily Weiderholt, Jr., center midfield (great vision and touch, All-Big Nine); Evita Hansen, Jr. center defender/defensive midfield (tactical and patient, All-Big Nine); Aubrey Neff, Jr., defensive midfield (3 goals, 2 assists, great leg).
Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa: Ava Knott, Sr., goalie (70 saves, 7 shutouts, All-HVL); Caroline Sems, Fr., wing (9 goals, 9 assists).
Red Wing: Mattea Stockton, Jr., midfield (4 goals, 1 assists, All-Big Nine).
St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura: Kaylee Butson, Jr., defender (part of 13 shutouts this season, All-Three Rivers).
Stewartville: Olivia Meyer, So., striker (6 goals, 3 assists).
Triton: Camilia Medina, Jr., midfield (2 goals, 2 assists).
Winona Cotter: Abbey Gardner, Sr., defense; Lucy Fitch, Jr., defense; Ava Killian, Sr., forward (9 goals, 3 assists); Izzie Biesanz, Jr., forward (15 goals, 4 assists).
