P.K. Yonge dominates girls soccer All Area team

The 2022-23 season was another banner showing for the P.K. Yonge girls soccer team.

The Blue Wave went 14-5-1, winning the District 4-3A title with a 6-1 win over Keystone Heights, then defeated Episcopal (Jacksonville), 4-1, and Florida High (Tallahassee) 3-0 to get the right to host a region final matchup with Bolles (Jacksonville).

While P.K. Yonge fell in a late 3-2 loss and came up short of a state semifinal appearance, Blue Wave coach Rebecca Schackow could be proud of another successful season for her team.

And that season has helped P.K. Yonge dominate the inaugural Bosshardt Realty Mainstreet Daily News All Area Small School Girls Soccer team.

Of the 11 players on the girls squad, six come from P.K. Yonge. Leading the way is sophomore forward Faith Hardy. Hardy was second in the area in goals with 37 and ended up with 13 assists for 87 total points.

“Faith goes above and beyond the call of duty to achieve excellence in her personal growth and development, hoping to contribute to the success of the team in any way she can,” said Schackow.

“She is a true team player and competitor, and she has a curiosity for the game and loyalty to her teammates that pushes her to improve and keep improving. She has a great first touch and a powerful shot on goal. It’s always a treat to see Faith in action.”

Two midfielders, sophomore Mae Dodd and senior Chloe Westbrooks join Hardy on the team. Westbrooks was second on the Blue Wave team with 11 goals and 28 total points, with Dodd adding three goals and eight assists.

“Chloe, a co-captain of the team, led us to accomplish great things this season with her competitive spirit and tenacity,” Schackow said. “She is unafraid of any challenge and loves to fight hard for a victory. She is a fun player to watch, always full of surprises, and so tough.

“Mae is an extremely versatile player. She plays many positions well and is always ready to compete at the highest possible level. She is fit, fierce, and committed to help our team find success and be the best we can be,” Schackow added.

Senior defender Madison Buss was the defensive leader of this P.K. Yonge team. She is joined on the All Area squad by another Blue Wave teammate in junior defender/midfielder Marleigh Schackow.

“A passionate player and loyal captain, Madison led our team as we faced our toughest schedule to date,” Schackow said. “She always shows pride in our team and cares for each player in important ways. Madison has a strong aerial game and is brilliant with set pieces.”

“Marleigh is the anchor of our team,” Schackow said. “She is a strong and gifted player, trustworthy on and off the field, selfless, dependable, and confident. Her creativity and vision on the field help us create great opportunities to attack.”

The final P.K. member is freshman goalkeeper Norah Pancoast. Pancoast faced 88 shots on goal and came up with 73 saves. P.K. Yonge had 11 shutouts in their 20 games.

“Norah is such a hardworking and determined player,” Schackow said. “She faces many challenges as a young goalkeeper on a varsity team, and yet remains reliable, resilient, and strong.”

Keystone Heights has three representatives on the team. The Indians finished 19-6 and lost in the opening round of the 3A playoffs at Bolles.

Keystone Heights sophomore forward Kierstan Shaw led the area in goals with 71. Shaw also added 19 assists for 161 total points.

Junior forward Ella Hutchins was second on the Indians team with 31 goals and added 20 assists.

The third member of the team from Keystone Heights is senior midfielder Kendall Gagnon.

The final two members of the squad come from Williston. Sophomore forward Yari Mujica led the Red Devils with 22 goals. She is joined by freshman midfielder Julia Murphy.

There is more balance on the inaugural Bosshardt Realty Main Street Daily News All Area Small School Boys Soccer team.

Five teams have two representatives apiece, led by Williston’s junior forward Jace Pavao and junior midfielder Jamalle Wolfe.

The Red Devils were 15-3-2 and won the District 4-3A title with a 2-1 win over Trinity Catholic (Ocala) before falling in the opening round of the 3A playoffs, 5-2, to Bolles (Jacksonville).

Wolfe led Williston with 15 goals and tied with Pavao in assists with 14. Pavao was third on the Williston team with 11 goals.

It was quite a year at Bell as well as the Bulldogs captured the District 2-2A title with a 2-1 win over Oak Hall. Bell hosted an opening round playoff game against Harvest Community (Jacksonville) but came up short 2-0 to finish with a 12-3-1 record.

Senior midfielder Kaleb Williams and freshman defender Brandon Aguilar represent Bell on the All Area squad.

“Kaleb has a motor that won’t quit,” Bell coach Douglas Beard said. “He wanted our program to succeed and has carried the younger players forward by working hard at every training session. And there is no “offseason” for Kaleb. Every year he has returned as the squad’s most improved player.

“Brandon was voted team captain even though he is a freshman if that tells you anything about his character. He is a central part of our youth movement, as nine of the 11 starters who won the district championship were underclassmen. He has anchored our backline for two years now and has athleticism and soccer IQ well beyond his years.”

Sophomore midfielder Eli Hunter and junior forward Griffin Welter are the two representatives from Newberry. Welter led Newberry and was second in the area in goals with 25 and added 11 assists. Hunter had 12 goals and 14 assists for the Panthers, who finished 10-11 and missed the postseason.

“Griffin is our striker and has great ball control at top speed,” Newberry coach Jon Doles said. “His ability to burst through the opposing backline helped to create a lot of opportunities in front of the frame, both for himself and others.”

“Eli’s play on right Mid/Wing helped our team to stretch our opponents and create gaps for passing,” Doles added. “Eli has great technical skills and his height and length help him generate a lot of power when he has the opportunity to shoot.”

Next up are junior forward Connor Bass and junior goalkeeper Colt Patterson of Fort White. The Indians finished 11-9-2 and just missed the playoffs after a 1-0 loss to Williston in the District 4-3A tournament.

Bass led the Indians and the area with 32 goals while Patterson had 209 saves with a goals against average of 1.95.

“Bass had 32 goals this season which is by far the most goals ever at Fort White,” Fort White coach Steven Lopez said. “Connor had a wonderful season and helped lead the team to its first winning season in over a decade. He is an overall remarkable athlete determined to be the best.

“Colt is a multi-sport athlete who had 209 goals and two saves as a keeper this year. He’s definitely a game changer who works hard keep his stats steady and on par with satisfaction.”

Next up are two players from the Keystone Heights. Senior forwards Logan Spence and Skylar Kedgley both led Keystone Heights with 21 goals apiece, with Spence adding 14 assists and Kedgley chipping in with 10 assists for an Indians team that finished 10-5-4 and missed out on the postseason after a loss to Fort White in the District 4-3A tournament.

The final member of the All Area squad is senior midfielder Simon Noguerol of P.K. Yonge. Noguerol led the Blue Wave with 14 goals and 10 assists.

“Simon Noguerol is widely regarded as one of the best players in the region,” P.K. Yonge coach Jose De Leon said. “He is a complete soccer player, the whole package. Simon is a versatile, highly talented midfielder who I can use as a winger, second striker, or even more defensively. People come to games to see Simon perform.”

GIRLS – SMALL SCHOOL (2A-3A)

Goalkeeper – Norah Pancoast, P.K. Yonge (Freshman)

Defender – Madison Buss, P.K. Yonge (Senior)

Def/Midfielder – Marleigh Schackow, P.K. Yonge (Junior)

Midfielder – Kendall Gagnon, Keystone Heights (Senior)

Midfielder – Chloe Westbrooks, P.K. Yonge (Senior)

Midfielder – Mae Dodd, P.K. Yonge (Sophomore)

Midfielder – Julia Murphy, Williston (Freshman)

Forward – Faith Hardy, P.K. Yonge (Sophomore)

Forward – Kierstan Shaw, Keystone Heights (Sophomore)

Forward – Ella Hutchins, Keystone Heights (Junior)

Forward – Yari Mujica, Williston (Sophomore)

Honorable mentions:

Bell – Faith Leffler (Sr.)

Branford – Wren Wilkerson (8^th)

Dixie County – Hannah Keen (So.), Mehalina Hobbs (Jr.)

Fort White – Kiera Tracy (Sr.), Anndersn Pyfrom-Fuller (Fr.), Elisa Nixon (Jr.)

Keystone Heights – Aspen Krohn (So.), Elizabeth Waughon (Sr.)  

Newberry – Eileen Wickens (So.), Vanessa Weaver (Jr.), Emily Roland (Sr.), Taylor Carr (So.)

P.K. Yonge – Paulina Cervantes (Fr.), Ellie Cervantes (Fr.), Elliot Pancoast (So.), Taylor Hass (Fr.)

Trenton – Clare Watson (Sr.), Billeigh Largent (Jr.), Carly Holder (Fr.)

Williston – Amelia Smith (Fr.), Esperanza Duran (So.)

BOYS – SMALL SCHOOL (2A-3A)

Goalkeeper – Colt Patterson, Fort White (Junior)

Defender – Brandon Aguilar, Bell (Freshman)

Midfielder – Eli Hunter, Newberry (Sophomore)

Midfielder – Kaleb Williams, Bell (Senior)

Midfielder – Jamalle Wolfe, Williston (Junior)

Midfielder – Simon Noguerol, P.K. Yonge (Senior)

Forward – Griffin Welter, Newberry (Junior)

Forward – Connor Bass, Fort White (Junior)

Forward – Logan Spence, Keystone Heights (Senior)

Forward – Jace Pavao, Williston (Junior)

Forward – Skylar Kedgley, Keystone Heights (Senior)

Honorable mentions:

Bell – Jamie Delapaz-Valencia (Fr.), Edward Martinez (So.), Michael Martinez (Fr.)

Fort White – Colby Blake (Sr.), Garrett Daughtry (Sr.), Jared Hopkins (Jr.)

Keystone Heights – Micah Wiley (Sr.), Carson Eatmore (Sr.), Aaron Wiley (So.)

Newberry – Edgar Valasquez (Sr.), Jonathan Navedo (Sr.)

Oak Hall – Thomas Gibson (Fr.), Thomas Cummings (Sr.), Emanuel De Melo Cameli (Jr.), Chase Robinson (7th)

P.K. Yonge – Sean Hubbard (Sr.), Cole Griffith (Sr.), Ciaran Foley (So.)

Trenton – Giovanni Cicerone (Sr.)

Williston – Miguel Gutierrez (Fr.), Logan Navarro (So.), Eddie De La Cruz (Jr.)