Allegany County rivals Mountain Ridge and Allegany placed four each on the All-Area girls soccer first team, Fort Hill nabbed three spots and eight schools were represented.
The number of players on the first and second teams for each school is determined by the final area sportswriter poll.
Mountain Ridge (14-3-1) edged Allegany (12-1-2) for the area championship, recording three first-place votes and 23 points to the Campers’ two top votes and 22 points.
Three more Western Maryland Athletic Conference squads filled out the final three spots in Southern (10-6-1) with 13 points, Northern (10-6) with 12 points and Fort Hill (5-10) with three.
The top team is awarded three spots on the All-Area first team, and Nos. 2-5 are given two.
Award winners, chosen at a meeting of the area’s head coaches, are automatically placed on the first team and don’t count against a school’s first-team allotment.
Allegany had two top award winners, Player of the Year Myia Miller and Offensive Player of the Year Madalyn Bucy.
Mountain Ridge’s Lyla Robison was the Defensive Player of the Year, and Fort Hill’s Jemma Stafford captured The Sports Shoppe Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
The individual award winners were featured in separate stories in the Times-News throughout last week.
They’re joined on the first team by Fiona Ruddell, Norah Patterson and Allie Knieriem of Mountain Ridge, Brilynn Beatty and Ellena Nelson of Allegany, Emily Sweitzer and Jayden Weaver of Southern, Ainsley McHenry-Sorber and Abby Nelson of Northern, and Sadie Hamilton and Allie Hipp of Fort Hill.
The second team was made up of Abby Malone and Myla Bernard (Mountain Ridge), Surae Stewart and Harper Farrell (Allegany), Sydney Scott and Hailey Harsh (Southern), Lakyn Farris (Fort Hill), Megan Weaver (Frankfort), Della Knight (Hampshire), Carlee Staggs (Keyser) and Sophia Yoder (Northern).
The honorable mentions were Desirae Hilton (Allegany), Kylee Rice (Fort Hill), Karina Metz (Frankfort), Evalette Lease (Hampshire), Kailynn Burns (Keyser), Kylah Farris (Mountain Ridge), Jenna Bowser (Northern) and Reeslyn Sisler (Southern).
Here’s more on the first team, presented in alphabetical order by school:
Brilynn Beatty, Allegany
Beatty’s stats speak for themselves, as the junior goalkeeper surrendered just five goals and posted 11 shutouts — including nine straight to begin the season.
Beatty and Allegany didn’t allow a goal during the entire month of September.
“Bri started off the season quiet and unsure of the new coaching staff, formations, and play style,” Allegany head coach Andy Farrell said. “By the end, she was one of the most vocal and the energy of our team. Her consistency and calmness under pressure set her apart from every other goalie in the area.”
Farrell credited his keeper’s communication and commitment to team as Beatty’s best traits.
“Bri commanded the box and communicates at a high level, giving our entire team confidence,” the first-year coach said. “Every time we scored a goal, Bri ran to congratulate the entire team. She’s an elite goalkeeper who raises the level of every player around her.
“She plays, what I believe, to be the hardest position on the field. With our strong defense, she spent a lot of time having the ball played back to her feet; that is where we began our offensive attack and she thrived in that arena.”
Ellena Nelson, Allegany
A three-time All-Area performer, Nelson formed a stout central defense along with area Player of the Year Myia Miller at CDM for the WestMAC champion Campers.
Nelson used her size and physicality to win balls in the air and step in passing lanes, which, in conjunction with Beatty’s solid play in goal, helped Allegany’s defense allow an area-low 0.33 goals per game.
The senior was All-Area first team in 2023 and was second team last year.
Her solid play at center back allowed Allegany to play a flat-three backline, in contrast to the usual four defenders used in local girls soccer.
“Ellena was the backbone of what I believe was the best defense in the area,” Farrell said. “Ellena captained a rotating group of defenders that only allowed three goals all regular season. One was a direct kick, and one she was not in the game when it occurred.
“Ellena showed up every practice and game ready to work and ready to lead. Her leadership was showcased when we realized our defense had not given up a penalty kick attempt all season. They played composed. They played confident.
“Ellena made plays that kept us in close games and always led with passion and positivity. The main takeaway from the season we had, was it was too short. Being a first-year coach, only having one season with Ellena made me realize how important players like her are, and, unfortunately, how rare it is to find someone as coachable and talented.”
Sadie Hamilton, FH
Following a solid freshman campaign, Hamilton took a step forward as a sophomore, leading Fort Hill in both goals (11) and assists (eight).
The attacking midfielder’s best performance may have come against Northern on Sept. 30, when Hamilton scored two goals and assisted on another to help the underdog Sentinels force overtime. The Huskies prevailed 5-4.
“Sadie picked right back up where she left off from her freshman season, remaining central to our attack,” Fort Hill head coach Dave Neff said. “She’s so confident with the ball at her feet, so difficult to contain and is just as likely to score on her own as she is to send a killer pass to a teammate.
“We asked Sadie to start shooting more often this year, which helped push defenses back, as well as creating more second chance balls. There were many instances where Sadie didn’t have the goal or assist, but she got the attack started and into a scoring position.
“Sadie is a player who should be in the running for a Player of the Year award in each of the next two seasons, and I’m excited watch her lead this team.”
Allie Hipp, FH
Hipp’s speed helped Fort Hill spread the field, and the junior winger finished second on the team with eight goals and added an assist.
Hipp and Hamilton will form a consistent scoring duo up top for a Fort Hill squad with heightened expectations next season.
Neff highlighted Hipp’s motor and aggressive play style as key attributes.
“She’s been a great asset to the team,” Neff said. “She rarely comes off the field, has a nose for collecting second-chance balls and finishing and really improved this season on limiting her number of touches before quickly firing off a shot inside the 18-yard box.
“She was also happy to contribute in the midfield as we rotated our front and midfield lines. Regardless of where she was on the field, she worked hard and played aggressively. I expect Allie to be a team leader and a major contributor again next year in her senior season.”
Fiona Ruddell, MR
Ruddell moved from forward to the midfield this season, and the change helped solidify the center of the field for Mountain Ridge.
The junior was second on the Miners in goals (15) and led the squad in assists (11). Ruddell played a greater role as a distributor, helping three other Mountain Ridge players score double-digit goals (Knieriem, Armstrong and Bernard).
Ruddell is a three-time All-Area performer, winning Offensive Player of the Year last year and making the second team in 2023.
“Fiona Ruddell was the backbone of the midfield, she did everything she was asked to do and more,” first-year Mountain Ridge head coach Jon Miller said. “Her ball skill and knowledge of soccer is amazing. Combine that with physical play and speed, and she is a dominant force anywhere on the field.
“Fiona was tasked with playing multiple positions at times as well, and she did so with no questions asked. Halfway through the season, the formation was changed and we added a midfielder. Fiona worked day in day out to help the younger midfielder grow. Fiona works hard day in day out to better herself, conditioning, ball skills and overall game knowledge.
“Fiona played a huge role in the success the team had this season. We are super excited to have her back for another season. Not only is she talented on the soccer field, she excels in the classroom as well.”
Norah Patterson, MR
After making the All-Area second team last year, Patterson capped her career with a first-team honor.
The senior midfielder scored 13 goals and added four assists for 30 points.
Patterson shined in a defensive midfield role, but she affected both sides of the field as a set-piece standout.
“Norah Patterson was one of two captains for the 2025 season,” Miller said. “Norah is a true leader, she worked hard everyday at practice, led by example. Younger players looked to her for guidance, and she was fully engaged in every single practice and game.
“Norah found her spot as a defensive mid. She fit the role perfect, she was also one of the key players in set pieces. Very talented young lady, her soccer skill and knowledge played a huge part in the success the team had this season.
“Norah would play any position asked of her without question, always working to better herself on the field. Not only is she talented on the soccer field, she excels in the classroom as well.”
Allie Knieriem, MR
The other of Mountain Ridge’s captains, Knieriem repeated on the All-Area first team after garnering a team-high 16 goals along with six assists.
The senior forward, who received an honorable mention in 2023, recorded three hat tricks.
“Allie is a true leader, she worked hard everyday, led by example,” Miller said. “Younger players looked to Allie every game. Allie worked hard on finishing the ball everyday at practice, shooting penalty kicks, which showed by her end-of-year stats.
“Allie also played several different positions anytime she was asked without question. Very talented young lady, her soccer skill and knowledge played a huge part in the success the team had this season. Not only is she talented in soccer, she excels in the class room.”
Ainsley McHenry-Sorber, Northern
McHenry-Sorber led the area in assists for the second year in a row, following up an area-record 26 in 2024 with a 20-goal, 20-assist campaign.
The junior midfielder’s 20-20 season is the fourth in local history. Mountain Ridge’s Sydney Snyder had 27 goals and 21 assists in 2023, and Northern’s Adria Graham achieved the feat twice in 2008 (33 goals, 20 assists) and ‘09 (36 goals, 24 assists).
McHenry-Sorber, a repeat first-teamer, moved into third in all-time assists with 54, 14 behind Graham for the record with a season to go.
“That speaks to her vision and ability as a playmaker and her legacy as a top midfielder in the area,” Northern head coach Nate Sorber said. “She has an exceptional soccer IQ, reads the game at a very high level and consistently makes the players around her better.
“Under constant focus of her opponents, she controlled the tempo of matches, had a hand in the vast majority of our goals and was the engine that made things run.”
Along with Nelson, McHenry-Sorber had to pick up her goal-scoring output following the graduation of Emma Hostetler, who scored 104 goals in Accident before continuing her career at Frostburg State.
The midfielder was up to the challenge.
“This year we relied on Ainsley’s finishing much more, and she embraced that role in a big way,” coach Sorber said. “Her consistency, composure, and leadership in big moments were exceptional — including securing golden goal points twice during the season — as she impacted every phase of the game for us.”
Abby Nelson, Northern
Nelson led the area with 29 goals and was second in goals per game at 1.82, and her 62 points were also an area-high.
The senior forward, along with Bucy and McHenry-Sorber, joins a list of 24 players in area history who have garnered at least 60 points in a single season.
Nelson, who was honorable mention All-Area last year, helped Northern to three straight 10-win campaigns, a program first in more than a decade. The senior had 105 points over the past two seasons.
“Abby is a senior who emerged as one of the most prolific players in the area and one of the top finishers and versatile athletes our program has seen,” coach Sorber said.
“As a senior captain, Abby’s leadership and competitive edge were invaluable for our team. She played with physicality, fearlessness and a relentless work rate, and she thrived in high-pressure moments in front of goal. She will leave very big shoes to fill as a dominant finisher up front for the Huskies.”
Emily Sweitzer, Southern
In her first high-school season, the freshman midfielder was an integral part of Southern’s midfield on a team that advanced to the region championship game.
Sweitzer was involved in 17 goals, scoring nine and adding eight assists.
“Emily is a very talented player and she had a terrific freshman season,” Southern head coach Devin Smith said. “She created a lot of goals and goal-scoring opportunities for our team with her great foot skill and vision on the field.
“Emily has lots of soccer knowledge and makes those around her better. What is really awesome about Emily is her work ethic and drive. Whether it’s conditioning, drills, or games — she works hard and pushes herself to be the best she can be. Emily is a joy to coach.”
Jayden Weaver, Southern
Known more for her excellence on the hardwood, where the Rams are back-to-back state runners-up, Weaver helped lead Southern to an upset victory of previously unbeaten Allegany, 2-1, by scoring the golden goal in overtime in the region semis.
The triumph helped secure the Rams their first 10-win campaign since 2017, which was also their last winning season.
Weaver, who was second-team All-Area in 2024, tallied 13 goals and five assists.
“Jayden is a strong, competitive player and uses her speed well,” Smith said. “Her competitiveness stands out in 50-50 battles, willingness to make long sprints and becoming a better threat in the air. She will do anything for her team.
“Jayden had a good scoring year and scored some big-time goals like her overtime goal in the playoffs. Jayden wants the ball in big moments. She always has a great attitude and is a tremendous athlete at our school.”