By Ben Fields
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON —
Teams facing Shady Spring had one primary mission.
Stop Lindsey Thompson.
Only the best teams could do it. The junior blasted 38 goals this season, and has been recognized as a first-team all-stater by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
Thompson, a three-year starter, honed her skills by playing AAU travel ball on both girls and boys teams. She can play just about anywhere on the field.
“Lyndsey is the kind of player coaches love to coach,” Shady Spring’s Rachel Kincaid said. “She is willing to play where you need her, and her skills are developed in all the positions on the field.”
Thompson also had 11 assists and played tough defense, but she was strongest when she neared the net. She reached her 100th career goal in the sectionals.
“Lyndsey can be very mesmerizing with her moves,” Kincaid said. “Her ballhandling skills are ridiculous. She’s put a lot of time in becoming the best player she can be.”
Her Shady Spring teammate Brooke Cogar earned second team honors on defense.
Also a three-year starter, Cogar has had many runs on defense which led to goals by the Tigers.
Woodrow Wilson defender Savannah Barajas earned first team honors, while midfielder Sarah Akers is on the second team.
Barajas, a senior and third-year starter, has good ball skills and a knowledge of the field. She was the leader of the Woodrow defense, which had seven shutouts.
Akers, who moved up from defender, not only ran the Flying Eagles’ attack from her center-midfielder position, but also excelled on corner, direct and penalty kicks. She is a junior and three-year starter.
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Buckhannon-Upshur’s Emily Godwin captains the all-state first team.
Godwin had 32 goals and 30 assists as a senior this season, and the Buccaneers made a trip to the state tournament.
“She’s one of those players who comes along once in a coaching career,” said Tom Hasbrouk, who has coached boys soccer for 24 years and girls for 10. “She’s probably one of the most complete athletes I’ve ever coached.
“Left foot, right foot, she strikes the ball equally well without even thinking about it,” he said. “The biggest thing I can say about her is how humble she is with her teammates, and I think that’s evident in the 30 assists.”
Godwin is joined on the first team by teammate and senior defender Lauren Cvechko.
Winfield’s Jayne Lawman made first team forward as a sophomore. She scored more than 30 goals, including the game-winner to beat Huntington High in the regional final, and the game-winner in the state title match against George Washington.
Generals senior Erin Midkiff also made the first team as a defender, while senior forward Emily Cole was named captain of the second team.
Other first team forwards include Charlie Lucente of George Washington, and Maggie Snively of Morgantown.
In the midfield, first team selections included Thompson, Makayla Schmidt from Morgantown and Haley Claudio of George Washington.
Huntington senior Braddick Price is also on the first team as a defender.
Michelle Newhouse of Capital and Erica Yohn of Morgantown represent the keepers on the first team. Newhouse was also named player of the year by the West Virginia Coaches Association, while Yohn was named keeper of the year.
— Register-Herald Sports Writer Dan Stillwell contributed to this story.
CLASS AAA ALL-STATE
GIRLS
FIRST TEAM
Goalies
Michelle Newhouse, Capital, sr.
Erika Yohn, Morgantown, jr.
Forwards
Maggie Snively, Morgantown, jr.
Charlie Lucente, George Washington, sr.
Jayne Lawman, Winfield, soph
Midfielders
Emily Godwin, Buckhannon-Upshur, sr., captain
Lyndsey Thompson, Shady Spring, jr.
Makayla Schmidt, Morgantown, jr.
Haley Claudio, George Washington, sr.
Defenders
Lauren Cvechko, Buckhannon-Upshur, sr.
Braddick Price, Huntington, sr.
Erin Midkiff, Winfield, sr.
Savannah Barajas, Woodrow Wilson, sr.
SECOND TEAM
Goalies
Oliva Miller, George Washington, soph
Kelsey Hinzman, Buckhannon-Upshur, sr.
Forwards
Emily Cole, Winfield, sr., captain
Brooklyn Waddell, Buckhannon-Upshur, sr.
Brittany Minor, Hurricane, sr.
Midfielders
Sarah Akers, Woodrow Wilson, jr.
Summer Wheatley, Huntington, sr.
Ashley Grove, Wheeling Park, sr.
Kelsie Burns, Huntington, sr.
Defenders
Jessica Inman, Princeton, sr.
Brooke Cogar, Shady Spring, jr.
Kiersten Barnholt, Jefferson, sr.
Kelsey Hibbs, Morgantown, jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Kiersten Barnholtz, Jefferson; Kristen Bolinger, Preston; Andrea Breeden, George Washington; Mazie Cheesebrough, Morgantown; Carly Collins, Wheeling Park; Rebekah Cook, Woodrow Wilson; Katie Crowder, Capital; Elizabeth Custer, University; Michaela Hinerman, Brooke; Ashton Holiday, Greenbrier East; Meghan Horan, Wheeling Park; Cheyenne Hudson, Brooke; Sydney Jacobson, Huntington High; CeCe Jebbia, Wheeling Park; Emily Lane, Woodrow Wilson; Karli Lousis, Oak Hill; Brittany Maphis, Hampshire; Kristin Minger, Brooke; Taylor Morton, Hurricane; Hannah Myers, St. Albans; Kylie Nelson, Washington; Annie Oar, Martinsburg; Jade Oar, Shady Spring; Brianne Ovalle, Oak Hill; Rachel Ranson, Jefferson; Emily Rhodes, Spring Valley; Tory Shackleford, Huntington; Hannah Smith, Spring Valley; Becca Spencer, Spring Valley; Hannah Stankus, Buckhannon-Upshur; Amy Stewart, Spring Valley; Bri Swecker, Elkins; Hannah Thompson, Hurricane; McKenna Warnick, Preston; Shae West, Greenbrier East; Kaitlyn Workman, Preston
