The Gadsden Times has released its 2026 All-Area girls soccer team, a tribute to the athletes who turned the pitch into a showcase of skill and determination.
Player and Coach of the Year
Leading the honors, Kinlee Montgomery of Glencoe was crowned Player of the Year after a staggering 46-goal performance in just eleven matches, a milestone that underscored her offensive dominance. Her brother, Landon Montgomery, guided the Glencoe squad to an area championship and a second consecutive second-round playoff run, earning him the Coach of the Year award.
The first team features a constellation of talent, including Ava Haygood, who added 41 goals, Raegan Brooks with eight goals and six assists, and Lilly Ostendorf, who contributed 13 goals and eight assists. Other standouts such as Mallory Tucker, Ella Willis, Elyn Cantrell, Payton Gray, Ava Hardman, Chloe Wood, and Emma Lloyd rounded out the lineup with decisive contributions on both ends of the field.
Second team and honorable mentions
A second team of emerging forces includes Fiyin Oguntuyo and Ashton Zemo, while additional recognitions went to Melanie Cantor, Amelia Cornelius, Tiffany Garcia, Isabella Segura, Caitlyn Chapman, Emily Salazar, Izzy Warren, Sarah Wildman and Ella Jennings, who impressed as a goalkeeper. Honorable mentions also highlighted promising players from Boaz, Cherokee County, Collinsville, Gadsden City, Guntersville and Southside, signaling depth across the region.
The accolades reflect a season of milestones, from record-breaking scoring feats to defensive excellence, and set the stage for these young athletes to continue shaping the future of girls soccer in Alabama.