Northwest Herald All-Area Girls Soccer Team: A Season of Stars
The 2026 Northwest Herald All-Area Girls Soccer Team honors the most impactful players from across the region, recognizing their contributions to high school soccer this season.
Addison Schaffer of Crystal Lake Central emerged as the area’s most prolific scorer and playmaker, finishing the year with 41 goals and 31 assists. Her leadership helped the Tigers finish 22‑2 and capture the IHSA Class 2A state championship.
Rylie Mensik from Dundee‑Crown continued her dominant run, earning All‑FVC and All‑State honors for the second straight year. She closed her high school career with 74 goals, the most in school history.
Other standouts included Liz Smith of Johnsburg, who paced the Skyhawks with 35 goals and eight assists; Ava Gertz of Prairie Ridge, who topped her team with 20 goals; and Peyton McMahon of Crystal Lake Central, the senior midfield captain who contributed nine goals and five assists. Julie Silva from Harvard added 33 goals and 10 assists to secure All‑State recognition, while Itzel Martinez of Huntley logged over 1,200 minutes of defensive work with three goals and two assists. Charlie Eastland of Johnsburg scored both of her team’s goals at the state tournament and finished the season with 21 goals and 11 assists. Kira Stavropoulos of Crystal Lake Central concluded her career as a four‑year varsity player and three‑time state placer, celebrating championships in 2024 and 2026. Avery Suess of Huntley collected All‑FVC and All‑Sectional honors and was part of three consecutive regional title teams, and Kenzie Lorkowski of Burlington Central posted 211 saves with eight shutouts, earning All‑Sectional honors for the third time.
The breadth of talent on this year’s list reflects the strong soccer culture nurtured by schools such as Crystal Lake Central High School, Dundee‑Crown High School, Johnsburg High School, Prairie Ridge High School, Huntley High School, Harvard High School, and Burlington Central High School, each of which fields competitive programs that develop players who go on to compete at the collegiate level at institutions including Loyola University, University of Dubuque, Indiana State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Lake Forest College, and Louisiana Tech University.
Legacy and Future
As these athletes move beyond high school, their legacies will be measured not only by statistics but by the standards they set for future generations. Their achievements underscore the importance of community support, coaching excellence, and the schools’ commitment to athletic development.