Oregon’s top high school girls soccer players: Meet the state’s best forwards

Who are the top forwards in Oregon girls soccer this season?

By René Ferrán

This week, we’re taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Oregon high school girls soccer. Our third list focuses on the forwards.

How the lists were compiled: Coaches were contacted and encouraged to nominate players for these lists. Many coaches declined to respond; thus, these lists are not comprehensive. Let us know about any other players you think should be added.

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F Esmeralda Arenas, McMinnville, So.

Arenas led the Grizzlies in scoring as a freshman with 12 goals to make the all-Pacific first team. Coach Karly Mingus praised her ability to thrive under pressure and attack a defense without hesitation. “Esme is a powerful force that many teams have had a hard time stopping,” Mingus added.

F Diana Barnell, Cascade, So.

Barnell made the all-Oregon West second team as a freshman and scored two goals with four assists as the Cougars opened the season 3-3.

F Elise Broberg, Forest Grove, Jr.

Broberg one-upped big sister Sophia last season by making the 6A all-state first team, scoring eight goals and leading the Vikings in assists to help them reach the state semifinals for the first time.

F Alexis Cockerill-Gonzales, Sheldon, So.

Cockerill-Gonzales joined the Irish last fall from the Thorns Academy program and had an immediate impact, making the all-Southwest first team and receiving an invitation to the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team Regional Identification Center. “She is probably the most dynamic player in the league,” coach Phil Larsen said. “She has played numerous roles for us and is impactful in each one.”

F Morgan Dorsey-DuQuesne, West Salem, Sr.

Dorsey-DuQuesne has come on as an attacking presence this fall for the Titans. She has nine goals this fall through Oct. 6

F Morgan Duke, West Salem, Jr.

Duke, the younger sister of all-league M Lauren Duke, sat out last season with a broken leg after making the all-Mountain Valley first team as a freshman. She has a team-high 13 goals through Oct. 6.

F Brooke Fairbanks, South Medford, Jr.

Fairbanks was a first-team all-Southwest selection last season, when she had seven goals and four assists. She’s off to another strong start this season with five goals and an assist during the Panthers’ 7-3-1 start. Coach Alicia Stormberg talked about the strong bond between Fairbanks and best friend Natalie Scheuneman, who she said “are attached at the hip and extremely competitive with each other. Since one is a center back and one a striker, they love to go 100% at each other every practice and keep tallies of who wins the 1v1s.”

F Tressa Geyer, Pleasant Hill, Jr.

Geyer scored a team-high 13 goals last season in earning second-team all-Mountain Valley honors and leading the Billies to their first league title since 2017. She had four goals in their first six games this fall. Besides voting her team offensive MVP last season, her teammates have also nicknamed her “Shep” because of her leadership role in FFA, where she raises … sheep.

F Ava Gill, Sutherlin, Sr.

Gill played for the Bulldogs in her first two high school years but sat out last fall. She returned this season, and coach Miguel Carrillo has credited her with the team's strong start not only offensively — 54 goals during a 9-1 start — but also defensively, allowing just five goals. “A true teammate and passer, showing speed and endurance,” he said.

F Amyrah Hill, The Dalles, Jr.

Hill has broken out this season, scoring a team-high 12 goals with three assists through the Riverhawks’ first nine games to lead them to a 4-3-2 start. She had five goals and two assists in earning all-Intermountain honorable mention last fall. “Amyrah does a great job of finishing around the goal, but I'm most impressed with how she looks to set up teammates to attack on goal,” coach Colby Tonn said.

F/M Julia Hoesly, La Salle Prep, Fr.

Hoesly entered the starting 11 from Day 1 as a freshman this fall and has gotten stronger every game. “Great technical skill on the ball and an energy level that can't be taught,” coach Andrew Frazier said.

F Emily Johnson, North Eugene, Sr.

Johnson made the all-Midwestern honorable mention list last season, when she had three goals and seven assists for the league co-champs and 5A semifinalists. This fall, she honors her club teammate Lyla Lauderbach, who died in a car crash in early September, by wearing mismatched shoes and purple pre-wrap at every game. Highlanders coach Brandy Wormdahl said that the loss of her friend “has fueled a drive inside of Emily that has brought her game to another level. It is as if this tragedy has motivated Emily rather than derailed her senior season. I am very proud of how strong, driven, and what a great leader she has been for our team. I know that this is a defining moment in her life, and it will help her as she faces other challenges in the future.”

F Savannah Leahy, Sherwood, So.

The Bowmen experienced growing pains during the nonconference portion of the schedule after graduating 15 seniors from their Pacific Conference championship team. However, Leahy gained valuable experience during that time that helped them open conference play 3-0 and improve to 5-4-2 overall. “Savannah has a lot of talent and is a valuable contributor in our offense,” coach Natasha Cohen said.

F Lane Lee, Beaverton, Fr.

As Beavers coach Jennifer Kirwan described Lee, she put freshman in quotation marks because “her individual skill level and situation awareness far exceed her age. She is overall an amazing player and wreaks havoc on defenders. I have never in my life seen a freshman compete at the level Lane competes.”

F Annika Leighton, Sheldon, Fr.

Leighton, like Irish classmate Kendall Quinney, played for the Eugene Timbers in the Girls Academy League over the summer before becoming an instant starter for Sheldon this fall. “Anni has come in and made an immediate impact and bolstered our attacking ability,” coach Phil Larsen said.

F Charlotte Long, Catlin Gabel, Sr.

Long played alongside first-team 3A/2A/1A all-state striker Kendrick Dahlin last fall and got caught in her shadow despite recording 16 goals and 10 assists, receiving second-team all-district honors. This fall, she already had eight goals and nine assists to help the Eagles start the season 9-1. “Charlotte is a gifted finisher with both feet and can score from distance or inside the box,” coach Chris Dorough said. “You know you always get Charlotte's best effort.”

F/M Maya Loudd, Tualatin, Sr.

Loudd is listed as an attacking midfielder, where she was a first-team all-Three Rivers and second-team 6A all-state selection a year ago, but the University of Washington commit has started at striker most of the season and even started at center back as a freshman. She is one of seven Oregonians on the High School All-American Game preseason watch list. “I can put Maya anywhere and know that she is going to excel,” Timberwolves coach Kalé Dwight said. “Maya is very quiet on our team. She is a captain and leads by example.”

F Olivia Lukrofka, Grant, Sr.

Lukrofka suffered a shoulder injury last year that sidelined her during the COVID spring 2021 season and most of last fall, but she came back toward the end of the PIL schedule and contributed to the Generals' run to the 6A title. This year, the University of San Francisco commit has been the team's main scoring threat, scoring four goals with two assists in their first six games.

F/D Julie Magana, Riverside, Jr.

Magana earned her nickname during the COVID-shortened spring 2021 season, when she colored her hair bright blue and was impossible to miss on the field. Combine that with her speed and tendency to run faster than she can dribble, tripping over the ball, and “Sonic” was born. Last fall, Sonic had five goals and 10 assists to help the Pirates reach the 3A/2A/1A quarterfinals. “She has become an essential part of our team and can easily adjust to any position her team needs her to play,” coach Yvonne Torres said.

F Mya Mauch, Henley, Jr.

Mauch has stepped out of the shadow of graduated Skyline player of the year Ryane Mattox this fall, leading the Hornets in scoring through their first six games with four goals.

F Eliza Nisly, Amity, Fr.

Nisly roared out of the gate to start her career with three hat tricks and a brace (11 goals) in her first four games to go with four assists. “She is fast with excellent touch on the ball,” Warriors coach Andrew Dyer said. “Her eagerness to learn and be a great teammate just adds to her accomplishments on the field. Eliza is a great competitor but also one of the nicest players you will meet.”

F Kendra Parsons, Sutherlin, Jr.

Parsons did not play soccer for the Bulldogs until this season, instead playing volleyball, softball and track as a sophomore — she anchored the 3A state champion 1,600-meter relay and medaled in the 100 and 200. However, she'd played club ball with several of her current teammates and came out this fall, immediately displaying her speed and skill. “She is the complete package,” coach Miguel Carrillo said. “I'm looking for her to explode in the next couple of games.”

F Lottie Preston, Mazama, Sr.

Preston is the Vikings’ offensive leader, able to score from anywhere on the field. “Lottie just has a feel for the game, and she has grown to be a leader of our team,” coach Dennis Garcia said.

F Kendall Quinney, Sheldon, Fr.

Quinney joined the Irish this fall after playing for the Eugene Timbers FC team in the Girls Academy League, and that experience paid off right away. She has started every game during their 9-0-1 start and been a productive playmaker for an attack that averaged over three goals per game.

F Kate Ratanaproeksa, Grant, So.

Ratanaproeksa — or “Kate Rad” to her friends and teammates — has started every game for the Generals since Day 1 as a freshman, scoring a goal in Grant's overtime win over Beaverton in last year's 6A final. “She's a workhorse, tremendous at winning second balls,” coach Manolis Tjuanakis said. “She has the ability to get up the field, hold the ball and defend. She's definitely a player to keep an eye out for.”

F Frances Reuland, Lincoln, Fr.

It didn't take long for Reuland to have an impact with the Cardinals, scoring five goals with five assists in their first eight games, when they went 6-2. “She is only a freshman but is growing into a major piece of the team's offense,” coach Lainey Hulsizer said. “We are really excited to watch the growth she makes as a player within the program.”

F Claudia Rose, Jesuit, So.

Rose established herself as one of the state's top strikers as a freshman, when she scored 13 goals and garnered second-team all-Metro honors in helping the Crusaders win a fifth consecutive league title. This fall, she has seven goals and a team-high five assists as part of their 12-0 start. Coach Steve Fennah described her as “a strong forward with an excellent first touch. A great finisher.”

F Hana Sawan, Mountainside, Sr.

Sawan, the younger sister of current University of Portland standout striker Nedya Sawan, is a four-year varsity player for the Mavericks who made the all-Metro second team last fall. She was injured earlier this season but has two goals and two assists while facing regular double- and triple-teams. “She has been able to find her open teammates and created a lot of scoring opportunities for them,” coach Travis Schoonover said.

F/M Kennedie Shuler, Barlow, Sr.

Shuler showed immense potential as a freshman, when she had 13 assists and was a first-team all-Mt. Hood selection. However, following the COVID-shortened spring 2021 season, she took last year off to focus on basketball. After leading the Bruins to the 6A state tournament and committing to Oregon State over the summer, Shuler returned to the soccer pitch this fall — much to coach Jay Jacobsen's delight. She has scored a team-high eight goals with five assists through Oct. 6. “She is one of the best athletes to ever come through Barlow and this program,” Jacobsen said. “Her work ethic is what makes her stand out to me. She is one of the top players in the state.”

F Rainey Simmons, Thurston, Sr.

Simmons was an all-Midwestern honorable mention selection last season who lists her primary position as forward, but coach Benton Canaga loves her versatility, noting she also plays midfield and defense and is equally skilled with the right and left foot.

F Katya Tercek, Barlow, So.

Tercek, an honorable mention all-Mt. Hood selection last fall, has the potential to be the next Division I player to roll through the program. She had six goals and five assists through Oct. 6. “Kat is a special player. She will do anything to help the team be successful,” coach Jay Jacobsen said. “She has an extremely high ceiling, and I'm really excited to see her grow over the next few years.”

F Ella Weathers, Sherwood, Sr.

Weathers was a second-team all-state selection for the Bowmen last fall, when they won the Pacific Conference title and reached the 6A quarterfinals. “Ella brings leadership to the team and is one of our most skilled players,” coach Natasha Cohen said. “She is creative up top and a force to reckon with.”

F Hailey White, Tigard, Jr.

White made the all-Three Rivers honorable mention list as a sophomore, and she also started in left field for the state champion softball team in June. This fall, she had three goals and an assist in September. “She has next-level speed and athleticism,” coach Scott Eggleston said. “When she has the ball at her feet, she is always looking to go to goal.”

F Adelaide Wilson, Banks, Fr.

Wilson joined Banks with plenty of club experience and had an immediate impact, scoring twice in her first five games. “Her future in our program is endless,” coach Oscar Munoz said.

F Kimara Witham, Banks, So.

Witham led Banks in scoring last season and earned first-team all-Cowapa honors. The team dropped to 3A this fall into a district that includes two-time state champion Catlin Gabel and last year's Cowapa champion Valley Catholic, and she has led an attack that's scored 24 goals during a 6-4-1 start. “Kimara is the perfect example of a talented player with and without the ball,” coach Oscar Munoz said. “Her game and vision are instrumental to our program, with plenty of club soccer experience, good technical and tactical skills, plus a positive voice and supporting partner to her teammates.”