The Observer‑Dispatch and Times Telegram have launched a poll that will crown the top returning girls soccer player from the Mohawk Valley for the 2026 season. The competition draws on the nine athletes who earned all‑state honors last fall, a group that includes several underclassmen who have already begun to shape expectations for the upcoming campaign.
Stars of the Class of 2025
Among the contenders, Leah Bray of Herkimer stands out after a breakout season in which she netted 45 goals and secured a third‑team all‑state nod. In goal, Allyson Brennan of Sauquoit Valley posted a stellar record, helping her team shut out eight opponents while earning second‑team all‑state recognition as a junior.
Other notable performances include Maddie Truax of New Hartford, who led Section III in assists and tied for 11th in points, and Elizabeth Rayhill of New Hartford, who contributed 22 goals and 13 assists while also earning second‑team all‑state honors. Devyn Roy from Clinton added 23 goals and 10 assists, landing a second‑team Class B selection.
The poll also highlights the achievements of Maryna Harrod from Frankfort‑Schuyler, who recorded 13 goals and 15 assists as a sophomore and received a fourth‑team all‑state nod, and Abbey Hope of Hamilton, whose 14 goals and 15 assists helped the team finish as Class C sectional runners‑up. Abby Jones of Richfield Springs/Owen D. Young played a pivotal role in the program’s first-ever Section IV championship, earning second‑team all‑state accolades.
Additional standouts include Leila Selimovic of West Canada Valley, who scored 29 goals and added seven assists to claim a second‑team Class C selection, and Faith Zylinsky of Holland Patent, a second‑team Class B honoree. The poll remains open until noon on Friday, August 28, with results to be published on TimesTelegram.com and UticaOD.com later that day.