This is the first of three stories unveiling the 2024 Bosshardt Realty All Area Soccer Teams. Click here to read about the big and small school boys teams and the big and small school girls and boys coaches of the year.
In a historic season for the P.K. Yonge girls soccer team, more honors are coming their way.
The Blue Wave advanced to their first final four in school history in the 2023-24 season. While P.K. Yonge lost 3-0 to nationally ranked Montverde Academy in the Class 3A state semifinals in Auburndale, there was plenty to be proud of for head coach Rebecca Schackow and her Blue Wave.
And the Bosshardt Realty All Area girls soccer team is no different, as five P.K. Yonge players represent the small school squad.
Junior forward Faith Hardy leads the way on the small school team. Hardy once again was among the area’s leading scorers with 39 goals as the captain for the 16-4-3 Blue Wave.
“She is the offensive player of the year for our team every year,” Schackow said. “Faith gets better with each year. She’s constantly working to be the best striker she can be for our team. She scores for us when it matters most and is selfless and humble. Faith sacrifices for her teammates and dreams about greatness for our team and does whatever she can to help us achieve it.”
Junior Mae Dodd is the Blue Wave representative in the midfield. Dodd finished second for P.K. Yonge in goals with 10 and her 10 assists were also second for the Blue Wave.
“Mae is a tough, confident player who will not back down from any challenge,” Schackow said. “She has great endurance and stamina and shows up ready.”
The defender positions are both from P.K. Yonge. Junior Emma Mansfield and senior Marleigh Schackow. Mansfield contributed eight goals and four assists in 2023-24 for the Blue Wave.
“Emma is a dependable and strong player who is up for any challenge,” Schackow said. “She fights through challenges and is a force on our team, and is reliable and versatile.”
Coach Schackow’s daughter, Marleigh, was the only senior starter on this year’s P.K. Yonge team. She was third on the team with nine goals and added four assists.
“Marleigh is the captain, leader and glue of our team,” Rebecca Schackow said. “She brings out the best in everyone on our team and anchors our team and helps us achieve great things. She is a smart player, very brave, and the best aerial player on our team, and also creative and smart.”
The fifth and final P.K. Yonge member of the small school team is sophomore goalkeeper Norah Pancoast. You must have a big-time goalie to win in soccer, and Pancoast delivered with 66 saves while allowing only 11 goals for a .670 GAA (goals against average) and 10 shutouts.
“Norah is a talented and dedicated player who is willing how to learn how to improve each day,” Rebecca Schackow said. “She works hard every session and defies the odds and always strives for excellence.”
Newberry and Williston were next on the small school team with two representatives apiece.
Newberry finished with a winning record at 11-9-1 and just missed out on the regional playoffs after losing to. P.K. Yonge in the District 4-3A semifinals. The Panthers are represented by two midfielders, senior Vanessa Weaver and sophomore Peyton Cremeans.
Weaver finished second on the team with 17 goals and led the Panthers in assists with 14.
“This is a well-deserved spot on the All Area small school team.” Newberry coach Ellie Chenoweth said. “Vanessa is a four-year captain that has put her heart and soul into this team. She was always ready to show up as a leader for our team on and off the field. I was very impressed by her last season at NHS and she will be greatly missed next year!”
Cremeans led Newberry with 18 goals and added six assists.
“Peyton is one of our underclassmen who consistently leads our team in goals scored and possession during a game,” Chenoweth said. “I have already seen growth and development in the two years she has played at NHS. Peyton puts in a lot of work outside of games and regular practice which contributes to her success on the field. She is a playmaker and will always find a way to make something happen for our team.”
Williston also had a successful season with an 11-5 record and just missed out on the state playoffs as they lost 3-2 to Keystone Heights in the District 4-3A semifinals. Sophomore midfielder/forward Julia Murphy and junior forward Yari Mujica represent the Red Devils.
Mujica was one of the area leaders in goals with 41.
“Yari has grown a lot this season and she became consistent in wanting to improve,” Williston coach Carrie Murphy said. “She played well with her team and also grew in her confidence knowing she was faster than most defenders she faced. She was relentless until the goal was scored.”
Murphy led the Red Devils with 29 assists while adding five goals.
“Julia is fast on the wing and has a great cross,” said Murphy. “She likes getting the thru ball and connecting to Yari and other teammates. She passes well, but also has a great shot from distances that takes her opponent by surprise.”
The rest of the small school team consists of Branford junior midfielder/forward Savannah Creech and Keystone Heights junior forward Kiersten Shaw. Creech had 20 goals and five assists for the 8-7-3 Bucs, while Shaw was also one of the area leaders in goals with 34 for the Indians, who were 12-7-1 and made it to the 3A playoffs before being ousted by P.K. Yonge in the opening round.
The All Area soccer big school team is a little more evenly distributed.
Gainesville is tied with Columbia for the most selections with three despite just missing out on the 6A playoffs with an 11-4-2 record.
All three players are seniors, midfielder Emma Ferrell, forward Evy Malone and defender Olivia Witt.
Malone led the Hurricanes in goals and assists with 19 and 11, respectively,
“Evy was our leading scorer, and the player other teams focused their defense on,” Gainesville coach Jeremy Witt said. “She has been a starter for four years and has been tops in points for our team for three straight years.”
Ferrell was second on the team with eight goals and also second with seven assists.
“Emma scored the most game-winners for GHS this season from the wing/midfield position,” Witt said. “She could also play and started for all three years at GHS. Emma was either first or second in goals the last two years.”
Witt added five goals and two assists as a defender.
“Olivia has been starting center back since her freshman year,” Witt added. “She sat out her sophomore year recovering from a torn ACL. Olivia would always defend the other team’s top defenders and was captain of the defense. She is always the smallest player on the field, but the toughest to go against.”
Columbia matches Gainesville with three selections. The Tigers were 9-4 but missed out on the state playoffs after a loss to Clay (Green Cove Springs) in the District 2-5A final.
Junior midfielder Mia Brasel led Columbia with 14 goals and added five assists. Sophomore forward Zoe Bulock was right behind Brasel with 12 goals and also had five assists.
The third Columbia representative is junior goalkeeper Penelope Wheeldon. Wheeldon finished with 55 saves, a .522 GAA, only six goals allowed and seven shutouts.
Santa Fe won the District 2-4A title and advanced to the state playoffs. Two Raiders players represent the big school team.
Junior forward Haidyn Smith led Santa Fe with 13 goals and 10 assists.
“Haidyn Smith typically plays forward and led our team in goals and assists this season,” Santa Fe coach Matt Kramer said. “She is very tenacious and an extremely hard worker.”
Senior defender/midfielder Boone was right behind Smith with 11 goals and nine assists.
“Maggie Boone isn’t just a great player but a wonderful student,” Kramer said. “She has one of the highest GPAs on the team. She plays center midfield and is an extremely well-rounded player.”
Buchholz also places two players on the big school team with senior forward Zoe Torres and junior midfielder Abby Bowen.
Torres led the Bobcats and was one of the area leaders with 27 goals and added six assists. Bowen scored four goals and had a team-high 12 assists for a Buchholz team that finished with a 7-11-2 mark.
The final member for the Big School All Area girls soccer team is sophomore defender Alaira Handy of Suwannee. Handy scored a team-high 14 goals as a defender for the Bulldogs, who finished with a 7-11-2 record.
GIRLS – SMALL SCHOOL (2A-3A)
Goalkeeper – Norah Pancoast, P.K. Yonge (Sophomore)
Defender – Emma Mansfield, P.K. Yonge (Junior)
Def/Midfielder – Marleigh Schackow, P.K. Yonge (Senior)
Midfielder – Peyton Cremeans, Newberry (Sophomore)
Midfielder – Vanessa Weaver, Newberry (Senior)
Midfielder – Mae Dodd, P.K. Yonge (Junior)
MF/Forward – Julia Murphy, Williston (Sophomore)
MF/Forward – Savannah Creech, Branford (Junior)
Forward – Faith Hardy, P.K. Yonge (Junior)
Forward – Kiersten Shaw, Keystone Heights (Junior)
Forward – Yari Mujica, Williston (Junior)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Bell – McKinnley Downing (Sr.), Addison Lunn (Jr.), Mae Collett (Sr.), Taylor Futch (8th)
Branford – Samantha Ray (So.), Kayleigh Wardle (So.), Emma Soride (So.), Wren Wilkerson (So.)
Fort White – Anndersn Fuller (So.), Marlee Hunt (Fr.)
Keystone Heights – Halea Lam (So.), Aspen Krohn (Jr.), Ella Hutchins (Sr.)
Newberry – Eileen Wickens (Jr.), Kennedy Price (Sr.), Jordyn Witt (Jr.)
Oak Hall – Aubrey Loftus (7th), Lola Murfee (Fr.)
P.K. Yonge – Elliott Pancoast (Jr.), Paulina Cervantes (So.), Ellie Cervantes (So.), Lily Tomlinson (8th), Sydnie Colaw (Jr.)
Trenton – Navaeh Pogue (Jr.), Billeigh Largent (Sr.), Hailey Blankenship (Sr.), Jessica Alvarado (Sr.)
Williston – Hailee Yuen (Sr.), Angelyn Rayes (Fr.), Esperanza Duran (Jr.)
GIRLS – BIG SCHOOL (4A-6A)
Goalkeeper – Penelope Wheeldon, Columbia (Junior)
Defender – Olivia Witt, Gainesville (Senior)
Defender – Alaira Handy, Suwannee (Sophomore)
D/MF – Maggie Boone, Santa Fe (Senior)
Midfielder – Mia Brasel, Columbia (Junior)
Midfielder – Abby Bowen, Buchholz (Junior)
Midfielder – Emma Ferrell, Gainesville (Senior)
Forward – Evy Malone, Gainesville (Senior)
Forward – Zoe Bulock, Columbia (Sophomore)
Forward – Haidyn Smith, Santa Fe (Junior)
Forward – Zoe Torres, Buchholz (Senior)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Buchholz – Skyler Fellenz (Sr.), Katherine Boyd (Sr.), Claire Tanner (Jr.), Mimi Fisher (Sr.)
Columbia – Niki Sossie (Jr.)
Eastside – Mandela Marsh (Jr.)
Gainesville – Alaina Block (Sr.), Alli Maze (Sr.)
Santa Fe – Vana Zaldivar (Jr.), Riley Baker (Sr.)
Suwannee – Layla Merola (Jr.), Kayla Federick-Woods (Jr.)