High school soccer has begun in Ohio and Kentucky.
The Enquirer has previewed the top players in the area in various ways. To wrap up the previews, The Enquirer is ranking the top 25 overall girls soccer players in the 2026 preseason.
25. Morgan McDonald, Holy Cross
As a sophomore, McDonald was the unquestioned focal point of Holy Cross’s offense. She scored 22 goals in 21 games, leading the team by a wide margin and earning a spot on the Ninth Region first team. McDonald will once again lead the Indians in 2026, looking to make a deeper postseason run alongside all but one member of the 2025 team.
24. Averie Layman, Batavia
The returning Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference-American Player of the Year, Layman was an all-around offensive force for Batavia. She scored 30 goals with 12 assists, leading the Bulldogs to an American Division co-title. Layman was named to the Division III all-state team in 2025.
23. Taylor Spille, Oak Hills
The junior led the team last year with 18 goals and 10 assists as the Highlanders finished 13-3-3 and second in the Greater Miami Conference. She was first-team all-league and all-district.
22. Aubrey Blakely, Summit Country Day
On Summit’s undefeated run to the state championship, Blakely established herself as a solid second option behind All-American Mia Stevens. Blakely finished second on the team with 18 goals in her freshman season, adding nine assists as well. She was named to the second-team All-Miami Valley Conference and will be a critical piece of a potential fourth straight state title for the Silver Knights.
21. Ella Cook, Little Miami
Cook led the Little Miami defense en route to an Eastern Cincinnati Conference championship. The senior led the Panthers to an 11-5-4 record and anchored a defense that posted 13 shutouts, earning her ECC Defensive Player of the Year honors. She was also an all-district team selection who will have a chance to repeat her DPOY performance this season.
20. Alyssa Dewey, Mariemont
Dewey was a dynamic weapon for a dangerous Mariemont offense in 2025. She had 14 goals and 20 assists, helping the Warriors to a 16-4 record. A returning all-district selection, Dewey returns alongside Mariemont’s leading scorer Addy Zawaly, in what should be the top offense in the Cincinnati Hills League.
19. Bella Heile, Badin
A multi-sport star who was the Enquirer’s co-player of the year in flag football, Heile is a standout defender on the pitch. She helped Badin reach the Division III state title game in 2025 as the Rams put up 11 shutouts. Heile earned an All-Southwest District selection for her performance.
18. Josie Hyden, Cincinnati Country Day
Hyden is a versatile weapon for Cincinnati Country Day. An elite defender who still put up 10 goals and five assists on offense, she was selected by the United Soccer Coaches to the All-Central Region team. Also a first-team All-Ohio selection, Hyden is a Valparaiso University commit.
17. Julia Stegman, Notre Dame Academy
Stegman earned Ninth Region first-team honors as she led the Pandas to a 15-5-2 record. She scored six goals with five assists as Notre Dame went undefeated against Ninth Region foes in the regular season.
16. Taylor Hamilton, Mount Notre Dame
Hamilton is making a return for the Cougars in her junior year after not playing for her high school as a sophomore. The midfielder is committed to the University of Missouri and plays club ball for Cincinnati United Premier GA Gold. With her return to high school soccer, Hamilton figures to be one of the top scoring threats not just in the Greater Girls Catholic League but in Greater Cincinnati.
15. Ava Bush, Ross
Selected in May to attend the U.S. Soccer Talent ID Center, she was a freshman last season, scoring 18 goals with 11 assists in just 15 games. Earning first-team All-Southwestern Buckeye League, she helped the Rams to a 17-3-1 record and a SWBL title.
14. Lilah Beers, Madeira
Beers held down a relentless Madeira defense in 2025. The Amazons were a brick wall, posting more shutouts (16) than goals allowed (14). Beers earned an all-district selection as Madeira won the Division V state championship.
13. Kendall Hanlon, Western Brown
The No. 1 scorer in the SBAAC last season, Hanlon poured in 31 goals for Western Brown in 2025. The all-district honoree led the Broncos on a 15-game winning streak, earning a share of the American Division title.
12. Allie McCauley, Indian Hill
A future Wright State University Raider, McCauley hauled in accolades in 2025. The reigning CHL co-player of the year was also a first-team all-state and United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region selection. McCauley led an Indian Hill defense that racked up 15 shutouts while allowing just 11 goals.
11. Anabelle Wiesemann, Harrison
A recent transfer from Franklin County (Indiana), Wiesemann provides a massive injection of offense for the Wildcats. She set Franklin County records for goals in a season as a freshman with 32, then broke her own record with 44 goals last season. While she may see a bump in competition in her new setting, Wiesemann has proven she has the talent to be a top scorer in Cincinnati.
10. Kara Buck, Seton
The only sophomore to crack the GGCL all-conference first team, Buck was also an all-district selection in 2025. She finished with 133 saves, allowing just nine goals with 10.5 shutouts in her second straight standout season.
9. Kylie Smith, Bishop Brossart
En route to a 10th Region championship, Smith cemented herself as one of the top scorers in the region and the entire state. She secured a first-team All-Kentucky selection after scoring 38 goals to lead Northern Kentucky and set a new school record. Smith will have the Mustangs in contention for the state tournament again in 2026.
8. Estelle Murphy, Sycamore
Murphy caught fire in 2025, leading the GMC in scoring. The forward knocked in 24 goals, earning an All-Ohio nod as a top five scorer in Division I. Murphy could well remain atop the GMC with several of her challengers graduating, and Sycamore should expect another impressive showing.
7. Nohea Harper, Sycamore
The Aviators didn’t lack for young talent in 2025, with Harper once again playing a key role. The midfielder was an all-district pick last season and has scored 17 goals through her first two seasons. With Sycamore bringing a lot of talent back from last year’s 11-6-2 squad, Harper should be even more dangerous in 2026.
6. Poppy Wakefield, Springboro
A top-ranked recruit and Kansas State University commit, Wakefield led Springboro to a 16-3-1 record before a hard-fought loss to Seton in the regional tournament. She had seven goals and a team-leading eight assists last year for the Panthers. The first-team all-league player out of the Greater Western Ohio Conference has also played for the Panama national team in international youth competitions.
5. Lauren Vaughn, Seton
Vaughn led the Saints with 10 goals and six assists in 2025, propelling Seton to the Division I title game. The Austin Peay State University commit earned All-Ohio honors and is one of the reasons Seton will be a top contender for a 2026 state championship.
4. Parker Evans, Mason
A future Hawkeye at the University of Iowa, Evans led a Mason defense that forced 13 shutouts to just 11 allowed goals. She also put in five goals and four assists as the Comets went 13-4-2 and won the Greater Miami Conference. Evans was named to the first-team All-Southwest District in 2025.
3. Ava Bergman, Anderson
Anderson senior Ava Bergman is a Robert Morris commit and a returning all-district player who returns as the offensive leader for the Raptors. She scored 11 goals and 14 assists in 2025, pushing Anderson to a 14-5-4 finish. The all-district player will take on an even bigger role in 2026 with fellow Raptors star, All-American Nina Brandon, out for the season
2. Abigayle Penote, Summit Country Day
A University of Cincinnati commit, Penote was an important contributor to Summit’s state championship in 2025. She scored 10 goals and added six assists, earning all-district honors. With many of the top scorers from last season’s run departing, she’ll put up much bigger numbers in 2026.
1. Addy Zawaly, Mariemont
Zawaly, a University of Wisconsin commit, was an All-American honoree in 2025. She scored 20 goals and had 11 assists to lead Mariemont to a 16-4 record. Besides being an All-American, she was an All-Ohio selection and the CHL Co-Player of the Year.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Enquirer ranks Cincinnati’s top 25 preseason girls soccer players
Reporting by James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
