By Sports Editor Andrew Simonson
With many amazing moments to show for it, another fantastic girls soccer season has ended.
After a thrilling journey to the state championship, the Briarwood Christian Lions became the most successful girls soccer program in the history of the state and brought the championship home to Shelby County. While Thompson achieved its first playoff victory since 2013, Spain Park, Helena, and Calera earned area crowns, and Indian Springs and Westminster OM joined them in Huntsville following exceptional seasons.
Each of those runs was powered by exceptional plays by players on each of those teams as well as others. This made it a close competition to make the girls’ soccer All-County Team this season.
This year’s team, which once again features some of the greatest players in the state, gathers the best of the best from each of Shelby County’s AHSAA soccer teams.
These are the All-County Team picks for this year.
First Group
Forward: Helena, Kate Hendrix, junior. With 27 goals and seven assists in 24 games, including eight during a scorching two-match span in area play, the All-Metro Second Team honoree kept up her goal-scoring rampage.
Both Indian Springs and Pelham were named to several All-County teams, including the Panthers’ Claire Robinson, Lacey Lambert, and Marley Barfield, and Shelby County Golden Boot winner Ashna Mehra, Caitlyn Yang, and Kennedy Doyle for Springs. (Photo by Andrew Simonson, reporter)
Ashna Mehra, a sophomore from Indian Springs, is the forward. With 45 goals and 15 assists in 20 games, Mehra led Springs to the Class 5A Final Four and was selected to the All-Metro First Team, earning her the Shelby County Golden Boot.
Forward: Thompson freshman Luna Montiel-Duenas. As Thompson advanced to the second round, Montiel-Duenas maintained her status as one of the Warriors’ top goal scorers, finishing her third varsity season with 33 goals and 20 assists. She was selected for the Second Team of the All-Metro B-Division.
Reese Oldfield of Spain Park used her lightning-fast speed to propel the Jags to an area title run and earn a spot in the All-County First Team. (For Jeremy Raines, the reporter)
Forward: Spain Park’s Reese Oldfield, junior. Oldfield scored goals and gave the Jags numerous chances with her lightning-fast pace on the wings. The Mississippi State recruit made the All-State Team, All-Metro A-Division First Team, and North-South All-Star Game with 38 goals and seven assists.
Forward: Helena Baileigh Rumage, junior. Rumage averaged almost a goal and an assist per appearance with 26 goals and 20 assists in 24 games, capping off an All-State performance from 2024. She was also selected to the North-South All-Star team and the All-Metro B-Division First Team.
Forward: Spain Park’s senior Addy Soehn. With 15 goals and 15 assists, Soehn was the driving force behind the Jags’ attack and was selected to both the All-State Team and the All-Metro A-Division First Team.
Midfielder: Briarwood Christian’s senior Taylor Leib. The Shelby County Player of the Year eventually achieved her team’s aim of winning a state championship by scoring 40 goals for the Lions once more. In addition, the Clemson recruit was named to the Super All-State First Team and won the Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and All-Metro A-Division Player of the Year awards.
Midfielder: Spain Park’s Morgan Anthony, Jr. In addition to being one of the county’s best defensive midfielders, Anthony contributed two goals and five assists, earning a spot on the All-Metro A-Division First Team.
Brooklynn Barnett, senior, Briarwood Christian, is a midfielder. This season, Barnett returned to CDM to support the squad, but her goal-scoring output hardly decreased. She made the All-State Team and All-Metro A-Division Second Team with 15 goals and 14 assists.
Dia and Luna Montiel-Duenas, Charli Gantt, Natalie Gonzalez, and Guilia Wekesa were among the five girls soccer players selected by Thompson for the All-County First and Second Teams. (For Jeremy Raines, the reporter)
Thompson, Dia Montiel-Duenas, senior, midfielder. As the Warriors’ primary playmaker, Montiel-Duenas concluded her remarkable career with yet another outstanding offensive campaign. She earned a berth on the Super All-State Second Team with 29 goals and 25 assists.
Midfielder: Oak Mountain sophomore Kati Anne Shepherd. When Shepherd was on the field, she created plays that advanced the offense, making her the Eagles’ most valuable player. With 25 goals, 16 assists, and honors to the Super All-State Second Team and All-Metro A-Division First Team, the sophomore had again another outstanding season.
Midfielder: Indian Springs sophomore Caitlyn Yang. Her 30 goals and team-high 20 assists made the All-Metro Second Team pick an important member of the Springs offense. With four goals and two assists versus Elmore County in the quarterfinals, she also had one of the season’s best performances.
Defender: Oak Mountain sophomore Marley Brown. The defense gave in just 10 goals throughout Brown’s tenure, making her one of the best defensive defenders in the entire area. She made the Super All-State Second Team and the All-Metro A-Division First Team with 10 goals and seven assists, but her achievements went beyond that.
Defender: Indian Springs’ Kennedy Doyle, senior. With another outstanding season on the backline, including in the quarterfinals, Doyle completed her illustrious career. The All-Metro B-Division First Team also appointed her a co-captain.
Saylor Eighmy, junior, Briarwood Christian, is the defender. During a season-ending eight-game winning streak, Eighmy took charge of the defense and assisted the Lions in flipping a switch in the closing minutes to give up just three goals. From the centerback position, the North-South All-Star also contributed two goals and an assist.
Defender: Thompson sophomore Charli Gantt. Gantt was one of the top two-way defenders in the state, frequently locking down top attackers while racking up 23 goals and 20 assists for her own docket. She consequently made the All-Metro A-Division Second Team and Super All-State Second Team as a mere sophomore.
Defender: Chelsea’s Laura Russell, junior. Russell’s persistent ability to track opposing attackers and stop risky plays helped her have a breakout season. Her on-ball prowess earned her a goal, an assist, and choices to the Super All-State First Team and All-Metro A-Division Second Team.
Spain Park’s Gianna Thornton, senior, is the defender. Thornton was a big playmaker from the backline as the All-Metro A-Division First Team selection and defensive captain netted five assists and two goals while overseeing 11 clean sheets and allowing just 20 goals.
Goalie: Pelham sophomore Marley Barfield. While the Panthers struggled on the field in 2025, Barfield did her part to extend matches by racking up a county-high 95 saves and secured four clean sheets. Opposing coaches took notice and made her an All-Metro B-Division Second Team selection.
Goalkeeper:Lailie Parvin, senior, Westminster OM. As the lone senior on the Knights, Parvin provided crucial veteran leadership in her team s Final Four run. She was also one of the top goalkeepers in the region and secured an All-Metro B-Division First Team spot for her success.
The Second Group
Forward:Mae Caroline Cherry, freshman, Oak Mountain. Even as just a freshman, Cherry played a key role in the Eagles attack with seven goals and 15 assists in the 24 matches that she appeared in.Forward:Reece Collier, senior, Calera. Collier was one of the most dynamic goal scorers in the county and was a key reason why the Eagles secured the Class 6A, Area 5 championship and reached the second round. She also picked up an All-Metro B-Division First Team selection.
Forward:Lacey Lambert, senior, Pelham. Lambert was limited to just 11 appearances before an injury ended her high school career, but the former North-South All-Star selection and future West Alabama signee scored seven goals and added five assists in a more direct role this season.
Forward:Taylor Matthews, sophomore, Briarwood Christian. Matthews continued her growth into one of the most exciting young attackers in the county as she earned 12 goals and nine assists in 20 appearances, including the game-tying goal in the state championship. The All-State pick also made both of her penalty kicks in the playoffs.
Forward:Zabdy Perez, junior, Montevallo. Not many scored goals in bunches better than Perez. Of her 18 goals, she finished with four hat tricks, including two in area play. She also earned 21 assists across her 21 appearances in her first season in Class 5A.
Forward:Vale Richie, junior, Westminster OM. Just like she has in the past two seasons, Richie powered the Knights attack with a team-high 25 goals while also earning nine assists. The Westminster striker also received All-State Team and All-Metro B-Division Second Team honors.
Midfielder:Elle Cherry, junior, Oak Mountain. Cherry helped Oak Mountain s offense throughout the season with 12 goals and eight assists in 23 appearances. The junior is already committed to Covenant College.
Midfielder:Nathalie Gonzalez, sophomore, Thompson. Still just a sophomore, Gonzalez once again had a key role in the Warriors attack and came away with 11 goals and 18 assists from the midfield.
Midfielder:Natalie Peacock, junior, Chelsea. The Hornets captain made the All-State Team and All-Metro Second Team thanks to her 12 goals and four assists in 20 matches. She was also Chelsea s main penalty kick taker and scored four of her 12 goals from the spot.
Midfielder:Ellie Rushing, freshman, Briarwood Christian. Rushing displayed skill in the midfield to start 20 of Briarwood s 22 games as just a freshman. She earned five goals and five assists, and she converted penalty kicks in both of Briarwood s playoff shootouts, including in the state title match.
Midfielder:Syndi Salazar, sophomore, Montevallo. Salazar played every minute for the Bulldogs in 2025 and was a key part of the team s buildup. She finished with four goals and nine assists in 20 matches.
Midfielder:Mackenzie Varden, sophomore, Westminster OM. Varden made an impact as an underclassman for the Knights with 14 goals and five assists. She also finished with 15 tackles and 12 clearances on the year.
Defender:Yazmin Chavez, junior, Montevallo. Chavez was an essential part of the Bulldogs defense that had many spectacular showings, including 10 clean sheets on the year and a pair of valiant efforts to get to full time against Indian Springs. She earned three goals and three assists for the season.
Defender:Stella Dasilva, junior, Chelsea. Dasilva excelled as a two-way piece for the Hornets as her defensive skills were about as essential as her role in the attacking build-up. The All-Metro Second Team selection earned six goals and four assists across 20 appearances.
Defender:Addison Foxworth, junior, Helena. The All-Metro selection used her spot as a wingback to contribute to the attack, and she walked away with 10 goals and five assists, including the game-winning goal against Pell City.
Defender:Ava Morrison, sophomore, Westminster OM. Morrison was one of the top defenders in Class 4A as she secured 62 clearances and 17 tackles. She also earned two goals and an assist while making the All-State Team for Class 4A.
Defender:Claire Robinson, junior, Pelham. A true jack-of-all-trades, Robinson played all over the pitch for the Panthers, even in goal, and earned 12 goals and four assists. However, it was her defense that gave her an All-Metro B-Division First Team selection.
Defender:Guilia Wekesa, senior, Thompson. The Warriors captain helped hold down the back line as a veteran leader, and the Auburn-Montgomery signee secured eight goals and five assists on the season.
Goalkeeper:Morgan Pritchett, senior, Spain Park. Pritchett earned clean sheets in 11 of the 21 matches that she played, and she allowed just 20 goals on the season for a 0.95 goals-allowed average.
Goalkeeper:Madeline Reilly, freshman, Oak Mountain. Having to step into goal as the starter for the first time as a freshman, Reilly held up admirably against Class 7A competition and allowed just 18 goals in 24 appearances for a 0.75 goals-allowed average. She earned 13 clean sheets in 2025.
Honorable Mention:Mallon Sigler, Briarwood Christian. Catherine Walker, Briarwood Christian. Brianna Collier, Calera. Jackie Martinez, Calera. Gabi Guillen, Chelsea. Madz Blumstein, Helena. Ava Garner, Helena. Faith Harrell, Oak Mountain. Natalie Bunch, Pelham. Anna McDonald, Pelham. Fatima Martinez, Montevallo. Aby Torres, Montevallo. Kaelyn Cardenas, Shelby County. Ellie Garcia, Shelby County. Isabella Grubbs, Shelby County. Addison Bayne, Spain Park. Mia Morgan, Thompson. Megan Townsend-Maynor, Thompson. Cameron Carter, Westminster OM. Miller Grace Waites, Westminster OM.
