photo by: Journal-World Sports Staff

The 2022-23 Journal-World All-Area Teams.

All-Area selections are made by the Journal-World sports staff.

• Coach of the Year: Andrew Ising, Baldwin

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Baldwin head girls soccer coach Andrew Ising enlisted Sandra Chapman (back left) and Lora Rimmer (right) to provide his team with recovery sessions this season. The Bulldogs finished fourth in the Class 4A state championship last month.

Coach Andrew Ising led Baldwin to a 14-6-0 campaign that slotted the Lady Bulldogs fourth in Class 4A-1A competition. After a 1-3 start, Baldwin won seven consecutive matches between March and April before ultimately grabbing the top seed at the state championship.

• Player of the Year: Perla Bäckberg, Baldwin

Perla Bäckberg, a junior forward, traveled to Kansas from Sweden as part of an exchange program. She was the cornerstone of the Lady Bulldogs’ offense, setting a single-season scoring record with 35 goals. She also eclipsed the previous assist record with 20 goal-shares.

• Jayla Erpelding, Eudora

photo by: Contributed

Jayla Erpelding, Eudora

Jayla Erpelding broke the school’s record for single-season goals (17) and added seven assists during her junior season. She went on to become the career goal leader among any soccer player at Eudora, boy or girl.

• Jaden Brooks, Eudora

Jaden Brooks took a tremendous step for the Lady Cards in her second year, finishing the season with five goals and seven assists. Described as a “solid finisher and dangerous in the attack” by Eudora coach Darren Erpelding, Brooks will return as a key contributor for Eudora next spring.

• Sofia Gonzales, Bishop Seabury

Sofia Gonzales (11)

Senior forward Sofia Gonzales scored 11 total goals and tallied eight assists through 14 games during her final year as a Seahawk. She closed out her high school career as a team captain fighting through multiple injuries and chronic muscle cramps and was named First Team All-Conference.

• Josie Kim, Bishop Seabury

Josie Kim

Josie Kim anchored Seabury’s defense this season, snagging First Team All-Conference honors and finding a way to notch five goals and four assists while playing deep. Seabury coach Ivo Ivanov considers Kim’s speed, skill and tenacity “indispensable” throughout her second year.

• Bailey Smith, Baldwin

Bailey Smith broke out as a key contributor for the Lady Bulldogs during her junior campaign, racking up 15 goals and the school’s single-season record of 22 assists. Rarely pulled out of position, Smith was added to the All-Frontier League First Team.

• Cree Stewart, Lawrence High

Cree Stewart

Passing 500 career saves last year, Cree Stewart was a must-have for LHS coach Joe Comparato this season. Named Second Team All-Sunflower League, Stewart is slated to attend UMKC in the fall where she’ll continue her soccer career.

• Ella McCleary, Free State

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Free State junior Ella McCleary kicks the ball in a soccer game against Lawrence High on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

Ella McCleary served as a team captain on defense during her season, registering two goals along the way. She was voted Second Team All-Sunflower League and Most Valuable Defender by the Free State program.

Honorable Mention: Nora Prather (Baldwin); Alyssa Reichard (Baldwin); Makenna Blanchat (Baldwin); Fisayo Afonja (Baldwin); Alex McBride (Baldwin); Shelby Roberts (Free State); Kate Foust (Free State); Stella Comparato (Lawrence); Helena Gutierrez-Gibbs (Seabury); Lauren Grauberger (Eudora).