CLASS 4-1A GIRLS SOCCER PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2026
 

MACY ANKENBAUER, BISHOP SEABURY

Bishop Seabury found its engine in the middle of the field last spring — and it just happened to be a freshman. Now a sophomore, Ankenbauer returns after a breakout debut season in which she did a little bit of everything for the Seahawks from her center midfield spot. Ankenbauer tallied 20 goals and dished out 17 assists in 2025, earning first-team All-Kaw Valley League honors while helping Seabury to an 11-4 record and a trip to the regional championship match. 
  

KYLIE BOURNE, EUDORA

Eudora’s attack got a major boost last season from then-freshman Bourne, who quickly emerged as one of the Cardinals’ most dangerous playmakers. Now a sophomore forward, Bourne returns after a 5-goal, 7-assist debut campaign in which she showed a knack for creating opportunities as much as finishing them. Bourne hit her stride midway through the season and delivered one of the top single-game performances in program history, dishing out a school-record four assists against Maranatha. Her vision and ability to set up teammates became a key piece of Eudora’s offense as the Cardinals put together a historic 11-win season. With Eudora capturing its first regional title and reaching the state quarterfinals, Bourne is poised to take on an even bigger role. 

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CARSYN BROXTERMAN, HAYDEN
 
Broxterman helped lead Hayden to a runner-up finish in Class 5A last season as they finished with a 13-8-0 mark after falling 2-1 to Bishop Miege in double-overtime in the state championship match. Broxterman is a four-year starter for the Wildcats at forward and last year led Hayden in goals scored with 20 as well as assists with 9, including an assist on the Wildcats’ lone goal in the state title match. Broxterman was a first-team All-Class 4A selection as well as earning first-team All-Centennial League and All-City honors.
 

GRACE BUELL, CIRCLE
 
Buell, a junior, transferred from Augusta to Circle, where the Thunderbirds were 6-0 and outscoring opponents 45-2 midway through the first week of April. She helped Augusta win 18 matches over her first two seasons and reach the Class 4-1A quarterfinals her freshman year as an All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV second-team midfielder. Buell received All-4-1A and all-league honorable mention last spring for the Orioles. 
  

PAYTON CHAPPELLE, EUDORA

Eudora will lean on the steady presence of Chappelle as it looks to build off a historic 2025 campaign. Chappelle finished last season with 9 goals and 3 assists, but her impact stretches far beyond the stat sheet as a true center midfielder who controls tempo, connects play and does the little things that often go unnoticed. A two-year contributor with 12 career goals and 5 assists, Chappelle has been a key piece in Eudora’s rise, helping the Cardinals to a program-best 11-6-2 record, a third-place finish in the Frontier League (4-2-1), and the school’s first-ever regional championship. 
 

CAMI COLLUM, BALDWIN

Collum is poised for a breakout as she steps into a full-time striker role this season after showing flashes of her potential a year ago. Despite missing half the season with an ankle injury, Collum still produced two goals and four assists and earned both all-Frontier League and all-state honorable mention honors. Now healthy, she is expected to be a key piece in the Bulldogs’ attack as they look to build off last year’s 8-9-1 season, which included a third-place tie in the Frontier League and a trip to the regional championship match. 
 

LILA EDWARDS, LOUISBURG

Edwards is back as a key piece of a Wildcat back line that was among the best in Class 4-1A a season ago. An honorable mention all-state selection, Edwards is one of two all-state returnees anchoring a defense that allowed just 14 goals during a 16-5 campaign and earned the No. 1 seed in the state playoffs. A steady and reliable presence in the back, Edwards played a major role in helping Louisburg secure a fourth-place finish at state. With her experience and leadership, she will once again be counted on to lead a defensive unit that sets the tone for the Wildcats’ championship aspirations. 
 

KATE GUERRY, KANSAS CITY CHRISTIAN

Kansas City Christian found a steady presence in net last season in Guerry, who made an immediate impact in her first year on the pitch. The Panthers’ goalkeeper showed poise beyond her years, recording more than 70 saves while allowing just seven goals all season. Guerry’s ability to come through in big moments was on full display in the postseason. She delivered in the regional championship shootout, saving two penalty kicks to help Kansas City Christian advance to the state quarterfinals. She finished the year with eight clean sheets in 15 starts. A first-team All-Kaw Valley League selection, Guerry enters the new season as one of the top returning goalkeepers in the league and a key piece for a Panthers squad looking to build on its postseason run. 
 

KAHLAN HARRIS, LOUISBURG

Harris wasted little time making her presence felt at the varsity level, turning in a standout freshman campaign that helped power the Wildcats to one of their best seasons in program history. Harris finished second on the team with 13 goals and added 10 assists, proving to be a dynamic scoring threat and playmaker up top. Her efforts earned her second-team All-Frontier League and all-state honors as she played a key role in leading Louisburg to a 16-5 record, a No. 1 seed in the postseason and a fourth-place finish at the Class 4-1A state tournament. Now entering her sophomore season, Harris gives the Wildcats a proven offensive weapon with big-game experience, and she will once again be counted on to help lead a team with state-contending expectations.  
 

LAILA HERNANDEZ, WICHITA CLASSICAL
 
Hernandez, a senior, earned All-Class 4-1A honorable mention at forward last season after helping the Saints post an 8-10 record. She scored eight goals and added three assists. A three-year starter and midfielder for this year’s Saints, Hernandez “has a great shot and holds the ball well in the midfield,” Classical coach Justin Kenas said.
 

ELLIE HERRERA, MCPHERSON
 
The Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association was impressed enough by Herrera’s freshman season to vote her the Class 4-1A Goalkeeper of the Year. Displaying high-level agility from the start, Herrera helped McPherson post an 11-6 record, making 112 saves while allowing 20 goals. Herrera posted nine shutouts to earn All-4-1A first-team and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV second-team honors. The Bullpups will look for more leadership from Herrera this spring as she works with a young back line.
 

 
REESE HUSCHER, HAYDEN
 
Huscher teamed with fellow returning senior Carsyn Broxterman to give Hayden a strong 1-2 punch in its offensive attack and the duo helped lead Hayden to the Class 4A state championship match. The Wildcats fell 2-1 in double-overtime to Bishop Miege in the title match, ending the season 13-8-0. Huscher was second on the team in both goals and assists to Broxterman, scoring 13 goals and adding 6 assists, tied with fellow returning senior Ella Foster. Huscher earned first-team All-Centennial League and All-City honors and was a second-team All-Class 4A selection.
 

 
PAIGE JACKSON, BISHOP MIEGE

Jackson made an immediate impact during the Stags’ latest state title run a season ago. As a freshman, Jackson played a key role in helping Miege secure its ninth consecutive Class 4-1A championship, highlighted by an overtime victory against Hayden. Jackson finished her debut season with 10 goals and eight assists. Her efforts earned her second-team all-state honors—an impressive accomplishment for a first-year player in one of the state’s premier programs. Now entering her sophomore campaign, Jackson is poised to take on an even larger role for the Stags as they look to extend their historic dominance.
 

IZZIE KAMER, BISHOP MIEGE

A holding midfielder committed to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Kamer has totaled eight goals and four assists in her career, but her true value comes in controlling the pace and structure of the Stags’ attack. As a steady presence in the midfield, she helps connect the back line to the attack while also providing defensive stability. Kamer will try and help the Stags to their 10th straight state championship. 
 

ELLE KEHL, PAOLA

In a season filled with challenges for a brand-new program, Paola’s Kehl quickly emerged as a bright spot. Thrust into action behind a first-year Panther squad, Kehl was tested early and often — and responded with one of the most impressive individual performances in the state. She piled up 184 saves on the year, the second-most in Kansas, consistently keeping Paola competitive despite the program going winless in its inaugural season. With a year of experience now under her belt, Kehl’s growth and shot-stopping ability give the Panthers a strong foundation in net as the program looks to take its next steps forward. 
 

 
KYIA KELLY, ROSE HILL
 
Kelly, a senior team captain, has been Rose Hill’s top goal scorer over the past three seasons and continues to lead the Rockets’ top line. After scoring 12 goals and helping Rose Hill reach the state semifinals for the first time in over a decade as a sophomore, Kelly scored 23 goals and added nine assists last spring as the Rockets returned to the Class 4-1A semis and finished third. Kelly earned all-state first-team honors and was voted to the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV first team for the third time. Kelly was an all-state second-team pick in 2024. 
 

KAMBREA KERR, EUDORA

Kerr returns to the Cardinals’ midfield as a key piece after an injury-shortened sophomore season. Limited to just nine games a year ago due to a knee injury, Kerr is now fully healthy and poised to make a major impact in the center of the pitch. Kerr has already produced 14 career goals and eight assists, including eight goals and four assists last season. Her ability to control possession, distribute the ball and contribute offensively gives Eudora balance in the midfield as it looks to build off a historic 2025 campaign. The Cardinals finished 11-6-2 last season — setting a school record for wins — while placing third in league play and capturing the program’s first regional title before falling to Louisburg in the Class 4-1 A state quarterfinals.
 

ELSA KOLBE, MULVANE
 
The Wildcats are playing Kolbe as an attacking midfielder and forward this season after she scored 19 goals and had 14 assists last spring as a freshman. Her goal total was second to Brittani Peschel’s 35 as Mulvane tallied 79 goals in its 12-7 campaign. Kolbe was selected to the All-4-1A and All-Ark-Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV second teams at forward. “Elsa has a great view of the field and a feel for the game,” Mulvane coach Jesse Myers said. “She can serve the ball from either side and does a good job of pressing the defense to regain possession as well.”
 

TAYLIN KRAFELS, BUHLER
 
Krafels, a junior, is starting in the Crusaders’ midfield this season after playing along the back line as a freshman and sophomore. She helped Buhler set a school record for shutouts last season as the Crusaders finished 12-6. “Taylin brings an extreme competitiveness to our team,” Buhler coach Randall Rank said of his team captain. “She sees the field well and is very good at communicating to our team.” Krafels was All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV second team and all-state honorable mention a year ago.
 

BRODIE KUHN, MCPHERSON
 
The Bullpups have leaned on Kuhn’s defensive skills throughout her career, but have transitioned her to center mid to showcase her passing and goal-scoring abilities. A senior who has started since her freshman year, Kuhn had a goal and an assist last season while earning All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV recognition for the third time, the latest as a first-team defender. “Brodie is the ultimate utility player,” McPherson coach Chris Adrian said. “She is so athletic and has a high soccer IQ, which allows us to use her anywhere on the field.”
 

BRIAR LICHLYTER, AUGUSTA
 
Lichlyter, a junior striker, scored 14 goals and added three assists last season, and leads the Orioles in goals so far this spring. A three-year starter, she helped Augusta win a regional title as a freshman, then earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV second team as a midfielder last season. “Briar is patient on the ball, directs traffic and confidently holds up between the lines allowing our shape to form,” Augusta coach Matt Childers said. 
 

NATALIE LOVING, TONGANOXIE

Loving returns as one of the area’s most dynamic playmakers after a record-breaking sophomore campaign. The attacking midfielder piled up 19 goals and 18 assists last season, earning first-team all-league and all-state honors while rewriting the Chieftains’ single-season records for both categories. Loving’s ability to both finish and create makes her a constant threat in the final third, and she enters the new season already with 24 career goals and 26 assists. She played a key role in leading Tonganoxie to a 9-8-1 record and a narrow postseason exit, falling in a penalty shootout in the regional championship to Kansas City Christian. 
 

 BECCA LULLOFF, MCPHERSON
 
Lulloff has been one of the Bullpups’ top goal scorers the past two seasons, helping McPherson finish third in Class 4-1A two years ago as a sophomore and post an 11-6 record last season. She earned All-4-1A first-team accolades last spring after scoring 15 goals with five assists. Lulloff has been an all-league second-team selection each of the last two years. “She is excited to be playing and embracing her role as a leader,” McPherson coach Chris Adrian said. “We anticipate another strong season from Becca.”
 

LAUREN MCCART, BALDWIN

A second-team All-Frontier League selection a year ago, McCart emerged as a full-time varsity starter and quickly established herself as one of the team’s most reliable and hardworking players. McCart finished her junior campaign with three goals and seven assists and was named honorable mention all-state, but her value extends far beyond the numbers. Known for her relentless motor and leadership qualities, she has already been voted a team captain and will be counted on to guide a young Bulldogs squad through a deep and competitive Frontier League schedule. 
 

MADI MCCOOL, BUHLER
 
McCool, a junior, is in her third year as a Crusader starter, playing midfielder and forward the last two seasons. A team captain who is adept at winning battles for ball possession, McCool was selected to the All-Class 4-1A and Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV second teams a year ago. “She competes every day with a high work rate,” Buhler coach Randall Rank said. “We lean on her to do a lot for us.”
 

ISABELLA MCGAUGH, BISHOP MIEGE

McGaugh is back as another key piece for a Stags program that continues to define consistency at the highest level. After helping lead Miege to its ninth straight state championship last season, McGaugh brings experience and versatility to a lineup that saw the departure of eight starters due to graduation. An honorable mention All-Eastern Kansas League selection, McGaugh has totaled 11 goals and 16 assists in her career, showing her ability to both finish and create in the attacking third. She figures to play an important role as the Stags chase yet another title. 
 

 
OLIVIA MCGAUGH, BISHOP MIEGE

McGaugh returns as one of the most dynamic playmakers in Class 4-1A after playing a key role in the Stags’ run to a ninth consecutive state championship. A first team all-state selection as a sophomore after earning second team honors as a freshman, McGaugh has already built an impressive résumé with 11 goals and 23 assists in her career. A second team All-Eastern Kansas League pick, McGaugh’s vision and ability to create scoring opportunities make her a central piece of Miege’s attack. Whether setting up teammates or finishing chances herself, she has consistently delivered, including during the Stags’ title win over Hayden. 
 

AUBREY MOORE, ROSE HILL
 
Moore entered her senior season as a team captain and defensive leader for the Rockets. A four-year starter, she inherited a brighter spotlight as the anchor of the back line after the graduation of Class 4-1A Defender of the Year Nevaeh Kelly. Moore, a center back, had two assists last season, earning all-state second team and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV first team at defender.
  

BRITTANI PESCHEL, MULVANE
 
Peschel had a dynamic freshman season last year for Mulvane, scoring a team-high 35 goals to go with 11 assists as the Wildcats overcame a 2-4 start to finish 12-7 and earn a spot in the Class 4-1A quarterfinals. Peschel earned All-4-1A and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV first-team honors. The Wildcats are using Peschel as an attacking midfielder and forward. “She has a good feel for when to fall back and help win possession on defense,” Mulvane coach Jesse Myers said.
 

 
GRACE PRESCOTT, MCPHERSON
 
Described by Bullpups coach Chris Adrian as “the engine of this team,” Prescott provides a strong senior presence for McPherson. A three-year starter, Prescott, a center midfielder, scored 14 goals and added seven assists in the Bullpups’ 11-6 season. A high-effort player, Prescott is coming off an all-state and all-league first-team season. “She’s put in a ton of work in the offseason and will be one of the best players in 4-1A this year,” Adrian said.
 

KYLIE SCHWANKE, MULVANE
 
Schwanke, a senior defender, has started since her freshman year for the Wildcats. That experience will be important as Mulvane works to replace the rest of its back line. An All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV second-team pick who received all-state honorable mention in 2025, Schwanke’s intangibles bring a lot to the Wildcats. “She does a great job of communicating during the match and off the pitch as well,” Mulvane coach Jesse Myers said. “She is definitely the anchor of our defense.” 
 

AUDREY SEARL, BALDWIN

Searl returns after a record-setting debut season in net, emerging as one of the Frontier League’s top shot-stoppers. In her first year playing the position, Searl piled up a school-record 171 saves while anchoring a young defense that was tested throughout the season. Despite the inexperience in front of her, she earned second team all-state honors along with all-Frontier League honorable mention recognition. Now with a year of experience under her belt, Searl looks to build on that strong foundation as she focuses on improving her save percentage and climbing the program’s shutouts list. 
 

FAITH SEWELL, LOUISBURG

Sewell returns as a cornerstone of the Wildcats’ defense after helping anchor one of the top back lines in Class 4-1A a season ago. A center back, Sewell is one of two all-state returners on a unit that powered Louisburg to a 16-5 record, a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs and a fourth-place finish at the state tournament. Sewell played a key role in a defensive group that surrendered just 14 goals all season, consistently shutting down opposing attacks and setting the tone from the back. A second-team All-Frontier League and all-state selection, she brings experience, physicality and leadership into her senior campaign as the Wildcats look to build on last year’s deep postseason run.  
 

EVIE ZAUDERER, WICHITA CLASSICAL
 
Zauderer has been a key part of Classical’s lineup since her freshman season. Now a junior, Zauderer, a midfielder, led the Saints with six assists and added three goals in 2025. She is one of two Classical returnees who earned All-4-1A honorable mention last season, joining senior forward Laila Hernandez.