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BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
If you blink, you might miss Ava McCune. She is that fast.
She would score a goal, and then she would score another, expeditiously dribbling the ball downfield and beating another helpless opposing goalkeeper.
A Culver team that was missing a goal-scoring assassin after Giselle Villegas graduated and left for IU South Bend and took her 49 goals with her has a new assassin in McCune.
And McCune, who was third in the state with 45 goals, is our RTC4 Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
In the process, McCune has made history: She is the first freshman, girl or boy, to win Player of the Year in any sport since these awards started in the 2020-21 school year.
McCune is also the headliner for our All-RTC girls soccer team.
We would like to thank area coaches for communicating their scores and statistics with us, and we thank them for sharing their insights on their teams with us.
Having said that, this list is ours and ours alone, and we take full responsibility.
Morgyn Barcus Audrey Wagner Bria Rensberger Leah Pizzuto
All-RTC4
Ava McCune (Culver) – McCune could have scored even more if that was asked of her, but she tended to set up her teammates when they had big leads over overmatched opponents. She not only has great speed but footwork and balance as well.
Morgyn Barcus (Argos) – Barcus was an outstanding player with eight goals and three assists, but she could play either end of the field and was a team leader.
Audrey Wagner (Rochester) – Wagner scored 13 goals, even though she received a lot of defensive attention from opponents. She also accomplished this even though she played defense for much of the season. She combined speed and strength with experience to excel for the much improved Lady Zs.
Samantha Umbaugh (Argos) – Umbaugh had three goals on the season and was a consistently dangerous scoring threat.
Avarie Hines (Argos) – Hines was a force as a defender for the Lady Dragons, and she frequently took on the challenge of marking the top opposing scoring threats.
Amiyah Williams (Culver) – Williams, a senior, was a top defender for the Lady Cavaliers, often clearing the zone and getting the counterattack going.
Maddy Hamilton (Culver) – Hamilton, a senior, was like the point guard for a good basketball team. She protected the ball and fed the top scorers, typically McCune, and led the team with 15 assists. She probably sacrificed some of her own offense for the good of the team.
Bre Hamilton (Culver) – Maddy’s younger sister stepped up as a goal scorer this year and finished with 11 goals, second on the team.
Leah Pizzuto (Argos) – Pizzuto, a sophomore, was another quick midfielder in the Lady Dragon attack.
Katie Schouten (Culver) – Schouten was the top area goalkeeper, stopping 62 shots.
Bria Rensberger (Rochester) – Rensberger led Rochester with eight assists, and she was a strong ballhandler through the middle of the pitch.
Honorable mention
Elaina Conklin (Argos)
Taylor Navara (Rochester)
Alexis Gasanovas (Culver)
Hayna Willis (Argos)
Eliana Andrzejewski (Culver)
Mylee Heinzmann (Rochester)
Skyla Mitchell (Rochester)
Ava Stackhouse (Argos)
Maleah Johnson (Culver)
Izzy Hook (Rochester)
Ivy Stackhouse (Argos)
RTC4 Girls Soccer Players of the Year
2020: Lilly Hines (Argos)
2021: Lilly Hines (Argos)
2022: Lilly Hines (Argos)
2023: Giselle Villegas (Culver)
2024: Ava McCune (Culver)
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