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Northwest Herald

McHenry County-area girls soccer players receive 2026 IHSSCA All-State, All-Sectional awards

Addison Schaffer (Crystal Lake Central), Rylie Mensik (Dundee-Crown), Julie Silva (Harvard) earn All-State honors, Lindsay Gertz (Prairie Ridge) named Section 6 Coach of the Year

Crystal Lake Central's Addison Schaffer (right) out races Belvidere North's Madison Moore to the ball during the IHSA Class 2A Crystal Lake Central Sectional final girls soccer match on Friday, May 29, 2026, at Crystal Lake Central High School.

Crystal Lake Central's Addison Schaffer (right) races Belvidere North's Madison Moore to the ball during the IHSA Class 2A Crystal Lake Central Sectional final girls soccer match at Crystal Lake Central High School. (Gregory Shaver/Gregory Shaver )

By Russ Hodges

The Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) has released its 2026 All-State and All-Sectional award winners. Below are each of the girls soccer players from area schools who earned recognition for their academic and athletic achievements this season.

All-State Field Player

Addison Schaffer, sr., F, Crystal Lake Central, Rylie Mensik, sr., F, Dundee-Crown, Julie Silva, so., MF, Harvard

Coach of the Year

Lindsay Gertz, Prairie Ridge, Section 6

All-Sectional

Ali Kowall, sr., D, Burlington Central; Kenzie Lorkowski, sr., GK; Burlington Central, Malaina Kurth, sr., F, Cary-Grove; Ava Santucci, jr., D, Cary-Grove; Peyton McMahon, sr., MF, Crystal Lake Central; Ellie Starnes, so., MF, Crystal Lake South; Ashling Otte, sr., D, Dundee-Crown; Liz Aquino, jr., MF, Harvard; Itzel Martinez, jr., MF, Huntley; Maizie Nickle, sr., F, Huntley; Avery Suess, jr., D, Huntley; Kylie Deegan, so., MF, Jacobs; Charlie Eastland, jr., MF, Johnsburg; Elizabeth Smith, sr., F, Johnsburg, Kiley Brady, jr., MF, Marengo; Maggie Hanson, jr., MF, Marengo; Macy Noe, jr., GK, Marengo; Natalee Henkel, jr., MF, Marian Central; Ava Gertz, jr., F, Prairie Ridge, Violet Woodin jr., D, Prairie Ridge; Maddie Seyller, jr., MF, Richmond-Burton; Serena Banushi, jr., F, Woodstock North; Abigail Ward, jr., D, Woodstock North

All-Sectional Honorable Mention

Callie Gates, fr., F, Burlington Central; Prisilla Gonzalez, sr., MF; Cary-Grove, Ainsley Kemp, sr., GK Cary-Grove; Kira Stavropoulos, sr., D, Crystal Lake Central; Delaney Ranum, fr., MF, Crystal Lake South; Annie Magan, sr., MF, Burlington Central; Madelyn Peralta, jr., MF, Dundee-Crown; Clare Leib, so., MF, Jacobs; Myah Broughton, jr., F, Marengo; Rut Navarrete, jr., GK, Marian Central; Emily McPherson, jr., D, Prairie Ridge; Addison Sell, sr., D, Richmond-Burton; Gabriella Mazzanti, so., MF, Woodstock North

All-Sectional Academic

Kendall Grigg, Burlington Central; Julia Valaitis, Cary-Grove; Peyton McMahon, Crystal Lake Central; Abigail Maher, Crystal Lake South; Lexi Benitez, Dundee-Crown; Jarithsie Mercado, Harvard; Hailey Brandlin, Huntley; Avery Maloney, Jacobs; Elaina Moss, Johnsburg; Regan Heimsoth, Marengo; Addie Schug, Marian Central; Lilly Bailey, Prairie Ridge; Blake Frericks, Richmond-Burton; Ava Caldwell, Woodstock North

All-Sectional Sportsmanship

Lauren Meyer, Burlington Central; Taylor Hamann, Cary-Grove; Ella Bechler, Crystal Lake Central; Madelynn Landa, Crystal Lake South; Coral Peralta, Dundee-Crown; Jarithsie Mercado, Harvard; Marina Reicher, Huntley; Ava Nisi, Jacobs; Jacquelyn Douglas, Johnsburg; Regan Heimsoth, Marengo; Kiera Conlon, Marian Central; Sierra Greenwell, Prairie Ridge; Nicole Mendlik, Richmond-Burton; Czaria Baez, Woodstock North

PremiumGirls SoccerHigh School SportsBurlington Central PrepsCary-Grove PrepsCrystal Lake Central PrepsCrystal Lake South PrepsDundee-Crown PrepsHuntley PrepsJacobs PrepsPrairie Ridge PrepsHarvard PrepsJohnsburg PrepsMarengo PrepsRichmond-Burton PrepsWoodstock North PrepsMarian Central PrepsMcHenry County Front Headlines

Russ Hodges

Russ started working with Shaw Media in August 2025 after over nine years as sports editor of the Rochelle News-Leader. Russ covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald and high school football for Friday Night Drive.