MADISON TOWNSHIP — She was heralded as the best girls soccer player in Richland County before she stepped on a pitch for her first varsity match and Madison’s Taylor Huff somehow outperformed those impossibly high expectations.
All Huff, the 2017 Richland Source Girls Soccer Player of the Year, did was lead Madison to the Final Four for the first time in school history. The Rams fell to Mentor Lake Catholic 1-0 in the Division II state semifinals earlier this month.
Huff was selected the Ohio Cardinal Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the North Central Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year. She was an All-Ohio first team selection, the only freshman to earn a spot on the first or second team in any of girls soccer’s three divisions.
“She’s a hard worker and she had a great season,” said Taylor’s father, Madison coach Zac Huff, after the Rams (21-2) were eliminated by Lake Catholic. “She would be the first to tell you she couldn’t have done what she did without the help of her teammates.”
Huff scored a team-high 34 goals to go with 21 assists. She scored four goals in her high school debut, a 4-2 win over Richland County rival Clear Fork.
“We didn’t have an answer for her,” Clear Fork coach Brittany Bechtel said at the time. “She is ranked where she is nationally for a reason.”
Huff plays for Medina-based Internationals Soccer Club. She was selected as one of the top 11 players at the Elite Clubs National League national training camp in Portland, Oregon in late-July.
All that national experience paid dividends for the Rams. Madison won its first district title since 1997.
“Our team chemistry is the best,” Huff said after Madison beat Wapakoneta in the regional semifinals. “It’s amazing to play with this group of girls.”
Hayley Huff, Madison: The older sister of Player of the Year Taylor Huff, the senior midfielder was an OCC and NCOSSCA Division II first team pick. Hayley Huff scored 13 goals and led the Rams with 25 assists.
Tara Andrews, Madison: A four-year OCC first team selection, Andrews scored 15 goals and added 13 assists for the Rams. She was an NCOSSCA first team pick in Division II.
Mackenzie Mullins, Madison: A senior, Mullins was a brick wall in goal for the Rams. The 5-foot-11 volleyball convert made 90 saves and recorded nine shutouts.
Julia Litt, Madison: The sophomore defender was a big reason why the Rams allowed just five goals in seven postseason games. Litt was an OCC first team pick and a NCOSSCA Division II second team selection.
Bria Meisse, Ontario: The runner-up in All-Richland Source Player of the Year balloting, Meisse scored 36 goals and added 15 assists for the Warriors (15-5). The junior forward was an All-Ohio first team pick in Division II and was runner-up to Taylor Huff in NCOSSCA Division II Player of the Year voting. She was selected to the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference first team.
Alexis Bise, Ontario: The junior midfielder earned a spot on theAll-Ohio second team and the NCOSSCA Division II first team after scoring 17 goals to go with a team-best 25 assists. an All-MOAC first team pick, Bise scored a pair of goals as the Warriors beat Madison 3-2 in the regular season. It was Madison’s only regular season loss.
Alan Reed, Ontario: The sophomore forward had 12 goals and 10 assists for the Warriors, including the game-winning goal in a 3-2 win over Madison. Reed was selected to the NCOSSCA first team in Division II and the All-MOAC first team.
Gabby Stover, Lexington: A rugged sophomore defender, Stover was an OCC and NCOSSCA Division II first team pick. In addition to her defensive responsibilities, Stover scored seven goals and had four assists for Lady Lex (12-5-1).
Lacee Bethea, Lexington: A sophomore, Bethea was Lexington’s leading scorer with 17 goals and nine assists. She was an OCC and NCOSSCA Division II first team selection.
Nikki Schuster, Ashland: A senior forward, Schuster had seven goals and six assists for the Arrows (11-7). Ashland finished as OCC runner-up behind Madison and advanced to the Division I district tournament. Schuster was the NCOSSCA Division I Player of the Year and an OCC first team pick.
Lexi Farrell, Ashland: A junior, Farrell was selected the OCC Defensive Player of the Year. She was an NCOSSCA Division I first team selection and the anchor of a defense that recorded eight shutouts.
Kaylin Helinski, Clear Fork: The junior forward led the Colts (13-4) with 34 goals and 10 assists. Helinski was an All-Ohio second team pick in Division II and an NCOSSCA Division II first team selection. She was a member of the All-MOAC first team.
Ashtyn Patrick, Mansfield Christian: A senior forward, Patrick scored 22 goals for the Flames (14-4). Patrick was an All-Ohio second team pick in Division III and an NCOSSCA Division III first team selection.
Nikki Weber, Loudonville: The Redbirds (13-3-3) advanced to the Division III district final thanks in large part to Weber, who scored 36 goals and added 12 assists. The junior forward was an All-Ohio second team pick in Division III and finished as runner-up in NCOSSCA Division III Player of the Year balloting.
