Watch list: 50 high school girls soccer players in the Lafayette area

LAFAYETTE — High school girls soccer in the Lafayette area is heating up after the regular season kicked off this week.

A new generation of players on the rise with a new class of underclassmen ready to show their skills along with seniors primed to guide their teams to long runs in the IHSAA Sectional and State playoffs.

But who are the best players in the area and which schools do they attend?

Here's a full list of athletes who made the top 50 watch list along with 11 selected to the Journal & Courier Preseason All-Area team.

More: Who has your vote for 2024 Journal & Courier Preseason Girls Soccer Player of the Year?

Let's meet the top 50 girls soccer players in the Lafayette area:

Avery Hardebeck, Benton Central

Hardebeck proved herself to be one of the area's top scorers and skilled passers after scoring 14 goals and aiding with 10 assists in 2023. Hardebeck returns for her senior year was named a first-team All-Hoosier Conference selection.

Ruth Moser, Harrison

Moser possesses elite footwork and has the ability to score goals from beyond 10 yards out and create opportunities for her teammates with her passing and knowledge of space. Moser, now a senior, scored 14 goals, dished a team-leading 16 assists and was named third-team all-state honoree along with first-team all-district, first-team All-North Central Conference and academic all-state recognition.

Jessica Hale, Southmont

Hale scored 24 goals, delivered two assists and earned first team All-Sagamore Conference honors. Hale now a senior was named the Crawfordsville Journal Review Player of the Year in 2023.

Dylan Kastens, West Lafayette

Kastens has made herself a well known presence as a two-sport athlete for the Red Devils. Whether it's not the pitch or the court, Kastens suffocates teams with her pressure. The returning senior defender managed to score two goals with three assists and was named All-Hoosier Conference and academic all-state. Kastens returns for her senior year after she helped West Lafayette deliver 12 shutouts in 2023.

Ryane Clawson, Harrison

The senior goalkeeper helped the Raiders post seven shutouts while sharing time with 2023 graduate Katie Choate. Clawson made 60 saves last season.

Abigail Sprunger, Faith Christian

The junior defender provided the Eagles with a strong supply of pressure in 2023. Sprunger led Faith Christian to 11 shutouts in 2023 along with a sectional championship win over Central Catholic.

Chauncey Keller, Benton Central

The returning senior for the Bison scored 11 goals in 2023. Keller was named a Journal & Courier All-Area honorable mention.

Malavika Sujith, West Lafayette

Sujith gave West Lafayette an offensive boost in 2023 and will be relied upon heavily to produce goals in 2024. Sujith scored 11 goals and added 11 assists her junior year and earned All-Hoosier Conference and was named an academic all-state honoree.

Josey Hall, Harrison

Hall as a defender is skilled with the ball and creates runs for scoring opportunities with her touch. Hall delivered five assists and netted a goal during her sophomore year for the Raiders looking to defend their Class 3A Sectional Championship.

Johanna Haste, Faith Christian

Haste scored 26 goals and emerged as one of her team's offensive leaders. The Eagles add midfielder Hannah Bolton who has recovered from a knee injury in 2023. Haste was a Journal & Courier All-Area honorable mention in 2023.

Addie Wallar, Central Catholic

Wallar was another underclassmen who shined during her freshman year and helped the Knights reach the Class 1A Sectional Championship in 2023. Wallar scored 15 goals and crossed six assists for Central Catholic. Wallar was a Journal & Courier All-Area honorable mention last season.

Lafayette area girls soccer watch list

• Hannah Voll, Harrison, midfielder, senior, 11 goals in 2023.

• Hannah Bolton, Faith Christian, midfielder, junior

• Sarah Switzer, Central Catholic, goalkeeper, sophomore, 185 saves in 2023.

• Bailey Pattee, Faith Christian, defender, junior, three goals and 11 assists in 2023.

• Kalea Washington, McCutcheon, defender, senior.

• Emily Welborn, Faith Christian, midfielder, freshman.

• Riley Gardner, Crawfordsville, midfielder, senior, 11 goals and 11 assists in 2023.

• Gabrielle Rush, Faith Christian, midfielder, senior, two goals and two assists in 2023.

• Olive Budreau, Benton Central, midfielder, sophomore, four goals and three assists in 2023.

• Casey Schuessler, Central Catholic, forward, junior, six goals and one assist in 2023.

• Chloe Lucas, Twin Lakes,- goalkeeper and forward, senior, two goals and one assist, 255 saves in 2023.

• Jenah Moffatt, McCutcheon, defender, senior.

• Sophia Lapiedra-Davis, Lafayette Jeff, midfielder, sophomore.

• Mia Maxwell, Harrison, midfielder, junior, two goals in 2023.

• Cypress Collaco, Lafayette Jeff, midfielder, senior, three goals in 2023.

• Haley Wagner, McCutcheon, defender, senior.

• Aleah Szymanski, Harrison, midfielder, sophomore, five goals and 11 assists in 2023.

• Piper Burke, Lafayette Jeff, forward, freshman.

• Bree Johnson, West Lafayette, goalkeeper, senior, three saves in 2023.

• Andrea Salazar, Twin Lakes, defender, sophomore.

• Jackie Hall, Central Catholic, defender, senior, one goal and four assists in 2023.

• Anna Sophia Gallardo, Harrison, midfielder, senior, six goals in 2023.

• Caroline Novak, Crawfordsville, defender, junior, eight goals and 11 assists in 2023.

• Ella Smith, North Montgomery, goalkeeper, senior.

• Sonia Castro, Lafayette Jeff, midfielder, junior, two goals and two assists in 2023.

• Ryleigh Scheumann, McCutcheon, midfielder, junior.

• Paige Yarger, North Montgomery, defender, sophomore.

• Irene Serrano, Twin Lakes, defender, sophomore.

• Maddie Moore, McCutcheon, forward, senior.

• Courtney Bennett, North Montgomery, midfielder, sophomore.

• Grace Robinson, Faith Christian, forward, senior, 20 goals in 2023.

• Rachel Garcia, Frankfort, midfielder, seven goals and two assists in 2023.

• Aaliyah McLean, McCutcheon, midfielder, junior.

• Taylor Hudson, North Montgomery, forward, junior.

• Kelly Ramirez, Twin Lakes, midfielder, junior, one assist in 2023.

• Reece Kerkhoff, Benton Central, midfielder and defender, senior.

• Yolanda Mares, Twin Lakes, forward, junior, 11 goals in 2023.

• Kelsey Leming, Harrison, midfielder, senior.

• Ava Nunan, North Montgomery, midfielder, senior.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: IHSAA girls soccer: Top 50 watch list for Lafayette area