Steve Millar’s top 10 girls soccer teams and 25 players to watch in the Southland for the 2026 season

Lockport looks to make some noise again, but Providence brings back a bunch from powerhouse team. 1. Lockport (18-5): Junior midfielder Yuridia Hernandez (Bowling Green), who has scored 22 goals over her first two seasons, is ready to become the Porters’ go-to player on offense. Senior defender Hayden Spodarek (Wisconsin-Parkside) is coming off all-state season. Senior forward Julianna Reyes and senior goalkeeper Olivia Luecke return, while some talented freshmen are ready to contribute. 2. Providence (22-1-2): The Celtics return nearly all key contributors from team that has won back-to-back sectional championships in Class 2A. Senior forward Maggie Wolniakowski scored 23 goals last season and senior midfielder Alyssa Thulin (Lewis) followed with 16. Sophomore forward Lydia Arrigoni and sophomore midfielder Gabby Tylka are rising talents, while junior Alexa Thompson anchors the defense. 3. Andrew (15-6-2): The Thunderbolts return seven starters. Senior midfielder Emily Crotty (Illinois-Chicago), who scored 15 goals last spring, is an experienced leader and should be one of area’s top players. She’s surrounded by fellow seniors, including midfielder Maxine Arvanetes, forward Olivia Nelson and defenders Katerina Berchos and Brooke Ramirez. 4. Lincoln-Way Central (17-4): New coach Breanna Bembenek has seniors ready to lead all over the field, including defender Taylor Watt (Millikin), midfielder Sydney Zale and goalkeeper Flynn Meyer, who were all key parts of the Knights’ run last year to sectional final. Junior midfielder Jules Rafacz is coming off big season. 5. Lincoln-Way East (19-4-1): The Griffins were hit hard by graduation and potential returnees deciding to play club. Senior defenders Ava Feigl (Belmont) and Emma Lukin (Benedictine) are the lone returning starters, so success should start from the back. Senior midfielder Rylan Malachinski looks to step up, along with junior forwards Ximena Hernandez and Alina Puri. 6. Lemont (17-7): A young but talented group looks to send longtime coach Rick Prangen out in style in his final season. Junior midfielder Gabriela Kuruc finished with 23 goals and 27 assists in earning all-state honors last spring. Fellow juniors Alexandra Chrisman and Ava Bergeson add to strong midfield, as does Ava’s older sister, Chase, the team’s senior leader. 7. Lincoln-Way West (10-8): Midfielder Kate Kinsella (Wisconsin-Platteville), forward Jaiden Hughes and goalkeeper Cora Franczyk are experienced seniors ready to lead the way. Then there’s a youth movement, with five sophomores — including returning starting defender Quinn Smith — and five freshmen expected to contribute. 8. Marist (11-9-2): The RedHawks bring back some scoring punch, including junior midfielder Mia Sherry (13 goals), sophomore forward Sofia Wilson (nine goals) and senior midfielder Viviana Corona (six goals). Senior Addison Woodward anchors defense, where she will get help from senior Julia Skol returning to high school soccer after two-year absence. 9. Eisenhower (11-7-2): The Cardinals return nine starters, including senior forward Tania Frausto (South Suburban College), who tallied 17 goals and 13 assists. Junior goalkeeper Angie Gallardo is strong in net and expected to play in the field at times. Senior midfielder Annaliyah Ortiz is another force. 10. Mother McAuley (10-12-2): Moving this season to Class 2A, the Mighty Macs look to do some postseason damage behind the senior trio of midfielders Calli Edwards (Carthage) and Emily Kovar and forward Quinn Arundel. Edwards scored 27 goals last season, while Arundel had 23 in her first year of high school soccer.