Here are The State Journal-Register’s girls soccer players of the year and all-area team for 2026.
The list starts with the players of the year, then the rest of the all-area team in alphabetical order.
Kamryn Hoffman, Springfield High
The State Journal-Register’s repeat Large School Girls Soccer Player of the Year received a fourth straight all-state nod from the Illinois High School Soccer Association with 40 goals and 22 assists.
The University of Dayton recruit led the Senators to their second straight Class 2A regional and Central State Eight Conference titles. She departs as the school’s all-time scoring (153 goals) and assists (103) leader, the latter ranks third in IHSA history. No other player statewide had previously reached 150 goals and 100 assists.
Bailey Leach, Pleasant Plains/New Berlin
The State Journal-Register’s three-time Small School Girls Soccer Player of the Year guided the Cardinals to their best finish with second place in the Class 1A state finals to cap a dominant 26-1-2 season.
The four-time all-area honoree won her third straight IHSSCA all-state nod with 49 goals and 25 assists. She leaves as the school’s all-time scoring and assists leader. She wound up with 162 career goals and 85 assists, the former ranks 13th in IHSA history. She will play at Illinois State University.
Lydia Auble, Springfield High
The senior goalkeeper returns to the all-area team for a second straight season. She ascended to the IHSSCA all-state list with 106 saves and 12 shutouts.
Raelyn Brammer, Pleasant Plains/New Berlin
The senior forward played a pivotal role vaulting the Cardinals to their third ever state final appearance, including a goal and assist on separate corner kicks in a 2-0 supersectional win over Rock Island Alleman after drumming up the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Williamsville in the sectional final. She finished with 28 goals and 25 assists. She will play at University of Illinois Springfield.
Mia Calderon, Chatham Glenwood
The freshman defender was tabbed IHSSCA all-sectional. She chipped in 10 goals and eight assists.
Leah Grussenmeyer, Lutheran
The senior midfielder was named IHSSCA all-sectional for a second straight season. She pitched in three goals and three assists. She will study at University of Louisville.
McKenna Harmon, Litchfield
The sophomore supplied two goals to lift the Purple Panthers to their first ever sectional title in a 3-1 win over Alton Marquette. She finished with 37 goals and 21 assists.
Ella Hohenstein, Taylorville
The senior forward earned IHSSCA all-sectional honors with 15 goals and two assists. She will cheer at University of Illinois.
Emma Johnson, Sacred Heart-Griffin
The senior midfielder was voted IHSSCA all-sectional and dished up seven goals and five assists.
Mary Jane Keller, Rochester
The senior midfielder and IHSSCA all-state honoree manufactured 16 goals and 13 assists. She will play at Ball State University.
Chloe Law, Litchfield
The senior racked up 50 goals and 33 assists to lift the Purple Panthers to the Class 1A supersectionals. She joins Springfield High’s Karmyn Hoffman as the first players to reach 150 goals and 100 assists in a career. She ended with 164 goals and 103 assists, both rank among the top 10 in IHSA history (the latter ties Hoffman for third). She will play at Lincoln Land Community College.
Leilah Link, Athens
The junior defender generated IHSSCA all-sectional honors. She posted five goals and six assists.
Brooklyn Lowder, Rochester
The senior forward raked in IHSSCA all-sectional laurels with 21 goals and four assists.
Bridget Lyons, Springfield High
The senior midfielder is a four-time SJ-R all-area and IHSSCA all-sectional honoree. She summoned 14 goals and 15 assists. She will play at University of Illinois Springfield.
Addie Maddox, Springfield High
The sophomore midfielder makes her second straight SJ-R all-area and IHSSCA all-sectional appearance. She recorded 16 goals and 18 assists, including two goals in a 2-0 win over Chatham Glenwood for the CS8 title.
Kendyl Mirabile, Williamsville
The senior midfielder and IHSSCA all-sectional honoree ushered 18 goals and 18 assists. She departs as the school’s all-time assists leader with 87, which ranks near the top 10 in IHSA history.
Ella Plumb, Williamsville
The sophomore midfielder was named IHSSCA all-sectional for a second straight season with 44 goals and 18 assists.
Emma Sabatka, Pleasant Plains/New Berlin
The sophomore goalkeeper was voted IHSSCA all-sectional with 23 shutouts. She totaled seven saves in the state finals.
Grace Sabatka, Pleasant Plains/New Berlin
The senior midfielder heralded a commanding presence and contributed 22 goals and 19 assists for a second straight appearance on the SJ-R all-area and IHSSCA all-sectional lists. She will play at Southeast Missouri State University.
Alaina Stock, Rochester
The senior midfielder and IHSSCA all-sectional honoree summoned seven goals and 11 assists.
Callie Wagner, Pleasant Plains/New Berlin
The junior midfield/forward engineered 29 goals and 26 assists en route to the Class 1A state finals.
Angel White, Riverton
The senior defender was named IHSSCA all-sectional. She had two goals.
Caroline Willenborg, Pleasant Plains/New Berlin
The senior midfielder and IHSSCA all-sectional pick scored the go-ahead goal in a 2-0 supersectional win over Rock Island Alleman and finished with 24 goals and 11 assists. She will play at Rockhurst University.
Kinsley Zellers, Chatham Glenwood
The junior defender picked up IHSSCA all-state accolades. The Miami (Ohio) University commit dialed up 12 goals and three assists.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: See the SJR’s 2026 girls soccer Players of the Year, All-Area team
Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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By Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register | USA TODAY Network
