Aspart of the Enquirer’s efforts to preview the 2024 high school soccer season, the Enquirer will look at the top players to watch this season. In addition to a previouslypublished list of top seniors, midfieldersandforwards, goalkeepers will come later this week.
Defenders don't get the glory of scoring goals, but they do the grunt work of preventing goals. Often, they work in obscurity, and while there are advanced metrics in professional soccer, at the high school level, their main statistics are the number of goals their team allows.
Any good defender would tell you that limiting goals is a team effort, but here is a list of top 10 defenders to watch. Players are listed alphabetically by last name. Be sure to weigh in by voting in a poll at the bottom of the story. The poll is open until noon Monday, Aug. 12.
Boys soccer
Jacob Gagnon, East Central – The senior led a Trojans team that allowed only six goals all season as they finished 17-2-1.
Donovan Gray, Cincinnati Country Day – The senior was first-team all-league in the Miami Valley Conference and all-district for the Nighthawks, who were 8-7-2.
Seth Kaiser, Lakota East – The senior helped a defense that allowed 31 goals with five shutouts, as the Thunderhawks finished second in the Greater Miami Conference. He was first team all-league.
Chris Maradiaga, Ryle – The senior led a Raiders defense that allowed 18 goals in 25 games, helping Ryle to the Kentucky state semifinals. Ryle posted 16 shutouts.
Gavin Money, Mason – The junior helped a Comets defense that allowed 27 goals and posted seven shutouts while placing third in the Greater Miami Conference. He was first-team all-league.
Adam Schwab, St. Xavier – The senior returns from a defense that allowed 1.1 goals per game and posted seven shutouts, helping the Bombers to a 14-6-1 record and the DI regional finals.
Jake Snyder, Roger Bacon – The midfielder/defender was first-team all-Miami Valley Conference and an all-district selection. He had two goals and seven assists on offense.
Jose Stefano, Moeller – The junior is the only returning starter on the back line for the Crusaders, helping them set a state record with 23 consecutive shutouts and only two goals allowed for the 2023 season.
RJ Smith, Milford – The senior helped an Eagles defense that posted five shutouts and had a 10-7 record. He had a goal and three assists on offense, and was first team all-Eastern Cincinnati Conference.
A.J. Turkelson, Waynesville – The senior helped the Spartans reach the Division III state semifinals. He helped lead a defense that allowed 31 goals and posted 11 shutouts. He posted two goals and an assists on offense.
On the radar
Austin Miles, Georgetown; Chris Price, Simon Kenton; Brayden Strong, Wyoming
Girls soccer
Makayla Berger, Beechwood – The senior helped the Tigers post five shutouts and allow 1.5 goals per game, and was named first team all-region.
Anna Black, East Central – The senior led the Trojans to a 17-2-1 record as they allowed only 10 goals all season. She was an all-league selection in the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference.
Braelyn Even, Badin–The versatile multi-sport talent plays center back for Cincinnati United Premier during club season and named to the United Soccer Coaches of America All-Great Lakes Region team. For the Rams, she had 10 goals and 14 assists on offense while helping the team post nine shutouts and a 14-5-3 record which included the Greater Catholic League-Coed championships.
Kendall Graves, Highlands – The senior defender anchored the back line for the Bluebirds, who allowed less than a goal per game in going 17-3-3 last season.
Hope Isenogle, Seton – The senior helped the Saints allow 27 goals and post 10 shutouts on their way to the Division I state semifinals.
Aubree Labazzo, Lawrenceburg – The junior led a Tigers defense that allowed only 14 goals as they went 19-2-1 for the season. She was the defensive player of the year in the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference.
Shelby Piepmeier, Harrison - The senior is the reigning Southwest Ohio Conference player of the year after leading the Wildcats to a 13-4-1 record and the league title. She was a defender and also scored nine goals.
Bree Reder, Summit Country Day–A team captain this fall, she led the SCD back line last season as a sophom*ore for the Silver Knights, who won the Ohio Division II state championship. Her 2023 accolades included being an All-American, first team All-Ohio and all-region, Southwest Ohio Player of the Year as well as league and district first-team honors.
Corinne Westbrook, Madeira – The senior helped the Amazons to the Cincinnati Hills League championship and a 12-6-4 overall record. She led a backline that posted 11 shutouts and she was first team all-CHL and all-district.
Haylie Yeazell, Lakota East – The senior helped the Thunderhawks post eight shutouts and posted two goals and two assists on offense. Lakota East finished fourth in the Greater Miami Conference, and Yeazell was first team all-league and all-district.
On the radar
Kaelyn Alderman, Goshen; Allyvia Canham, Mason; Sophie Ferguson, South Dearborn; Lizzie Fight, Milford; Annie Kleeman, St. Ursula; Ella Lehmkuhl, Holy Cross; Mady Linenkugel, Oak Hills; Harlee Mason, New Richmond; Payton Oberjohann, Seton; Kelsey Offutt, Lawrenceburg; Isabella Peters, Hamilton; Kate Riedmiller, Dixie Heights; Amy Waligura, Anderson.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here are the top 10 defenders in Greater Cincinnati high school soccer
