Celebrating the 2026 All‑Upstate Girls Soccer Honorees
The 2026 All‑Upstate girls soccer season concluded with a wave of accolades, and none shone brighter than Eastside’s Emmy Rikard, who was crowned Player of the Year after posting 106 saves and 18 shutouts in Class 5A‑D2 competition.
Rikard’s reliability between the posts set the tone for a team that finished the campaign with a strong defensive record, and her performance earned her the top spot among a field of talented seniors.
Other standouts included Hillcrest junior forward Natalie Perry, who contributed 15 goals and 11 assists, and Wren senior forward Madison Stanley, who erupted for 40 goals and 23 assists, drawing attention from several collegiate programs.
Greenville’s Kate Tiller, a senior forward, also received Class 5A‑D2 All‑State honors, while St. Joseph’s Catholic senior Lola Kelly earned a place on the Class 3A All‑State team, highlighting the depth of talent across classifications.
Midfielders Bella Spadavecchia of Wade Hampton and Kate Villiger from J.L. Mann were similarly recognized on the Class 5A‑D1 All‑State list, alongside Eastside’s Lydia Parker, who helped shape the midfield dynamics for her squad.
Defensive honors went to Christ Church juniors Grace Harrell and Sophia Mahfood, while Daniel’s Charlie Perry secured a spot on the Class 4A All‑State team, underscoring the region’s balanced excellence.
Beyond individual statistics, the honorees share a common thread of commitment to both athletic and academic pursuits, with several already pledging to continue their careers at institutions such as Furman, Southern Wesleyan, Wofford and Campbell University.