As we did earlier in the week with football, with the start of the girls soccer season right around the corner, with cleats set to hit the pitch, it’s time to start to take a look at what the 2022 season might hold.
The Genesee Region League will come back with a pair of sectional winning teams as Byron-Bergen and Notre Dame both came away with blocks last fall. The Bees would advance to the state semifinals, while the Fighting Irish won their second straight and will be looking for three in 2022.
The GR will also return its top two players from a year ago in Byron-Bergen freshman Mia Gray, who was the Division I Player of the Year, and Notre Dame senior Autumn Mathisen, who was the Division II Player of the Year.
The Livingston Conference will also be returning a load of solid players, led by longtime Warsaw star Chloe Hubbard, one of the highest scorers in all of Section V in 2021.
Here is a look at a handful of players to watch this season:
(Players are in alphabetical order and are just a sampling of the talent in the area)
Samantha Bates, Holley — Junior, Midfielder — A two-time Genesee Region League All-Star, Bates led the way for the Hawks last season with 18 goals and five assists. Bates helped lead Holley to a second-place finish in the GR divisional standings.
Mia Gray, Byron-Bergen — Freshman, Midfielder — One of the many bright young talents around and one of many of the Bees’ stars returning, Gray was named the Genesee Region League Division I Player of the Year last season. She had a spectacular season as she finished with 27 goals and 18 assists for a total of 72 points. Gray was a key factor in leading Byron-Bergen to a sectional block and into the state tournament.
Maylee Green. Notre Dame — Senior, Sweeper — Another two-time Genesee Region League All-Star, Green was the top defender for the Fighting Irish as they captured their second straight sectional title. Green had one goal and three assists last season but her importance was that she paced a defense that allowed just 17 goals. The Irish finished with the best record in program history at 15-3-2, recorded with 11 shutouts and were the GR Division II champions.
Mackenzie Hagen, Byron-Bergen — Junior, Forward — Yet another of the young Byron-Bergen stars, Hagen earned her first league all-star selection as a sophomore. Hagen was the second-leading scorer on the team when she put together a huge fall with 21 goals and four assists. Pulled up to the varsity squad in eighth grade, she was one of many key factors that led the Bees to the state semifinals.
Chloe Hubbard, Warsaw — Senior, forward — Entering her fifth varsity season, Hubbard put together another impressive season in 2021 as she finished with 31 goals and 20 assists. Hubbard’s 31 goals were good for a tie for fifth in all of Section V and tops in the Daily News coverage area, while her 20 assists had her in a tie for third in the section. For her career, Hubbard has already put up a monstrous 83 goals and 55 assists with a year left to go.
Camryn London, Albion — Sophomore, forward/midfielder — Finished second on the Purple Eagles last season with seven goals and 10 assists. One of the top returning offensive threats in the Niagara-Orleans League, London helped Albion to an 11-5 overall mark last season, including a 5-3 in a tough league schedule.
Autumn Mathisen, Notre Dame — Senior, Striker — The longtime Notre Dame starter earned the GR Division II Player of the Year honor last season when she scored 18 goals to go with 11 assists. A two-time Genesee Region League All-Star, Mathisen holds the Notre Dame record for most goals in a season and is primed to help lead the Irish to a third straight sectional crown.
Bridget McMaster, Geneseo — Senior, forward — One of a few returning stars for the Blue Devils, McMaster will be relied upon more this season after finishing with five goals and three assists last fall. One of the top LCAA teams year in and year out, Geneseo finished at 15-4-1 last season.
Emily Parker, Wheatland-Chili — Junior, Midfielder — This two-time league all-star has been a varsity mainstay for the Wildcats and she still has another season to go after this. Last fall she led the Wildcats with 13 goals to go with a pair of assists, while she was a member of the teams in recent seasons that perennially were in the state tournament.
Caitlin Ryan, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba — Junior, Forward — The GR softball player of the year in 2022, Ryan earned her first league soccer all-star selection last fall. Ryan led the Hornets with 12 goals last season to go with six assists, while she also had four game-winning goals. A starter on the varsity team since eighth grade, Ryan was a big part in leading OAE to a 9-7-1 record.
Mary Claire Rollins, Geneseo — Senior, forward — Grabbed an Livingston Conference All-Star selection last fall when she finished with 10 goals and seven assists for the Blue Devils. With Morgan Wolcott and McMaster, Rollins will be a big part of a Geneseo team that is always in the mix for a sectional title.
Skylar Savage, Attica — Senior, Striker — A team captain as a junior, Savage picked up her first GR All-Star selection in the fall. A prolific scorer, she led the Blue Devils with 18 goals in 2021 to go with three assists, while she finished with three hat tricks. A varsity member since she was a freshman, Savage helped lead the Blue Devils to as many wins last season as they had in the previous three combined, while they also finished second in the division,