BELLVILLE — Melodie Blubaugh’s future lies on the basketball court, but she left an indelible imprint on the Clear Fork soccer program.
The North Central Ohio Player of the Year, Blubaugh led the Colts to a berth in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014. Clear Fork fell to Ottawa-Glandorf 1-0 in the Division IV regional semifinals.
Blubaugh, who recently committed to play basketball for Mount Vernon Nazarene next year, scored 29 goals and added 20 assists.
The senior forward was the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference and the North Central Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Division IV Player of the Year. She was selected to the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association All-Ohio team and landed a spot on the prestigious United Soccer Coaches All-Region team.
Blubaugh is the centerpiece of an All-North Central Ohio team the includes two other all-region honors and six All-Ohioans. Here’s a look at the all-area team:
Addi Pittman, Ontario
A junior forward, Pittman took on a bigger scoring load after an injury to fellow junior Hattie Yugovich. Pittman scored a team-high 29 goals, including a pair in Ontario’s 2-1 win over Lexington in the district final. She was an OSSCA Division III All-Ohioan.
Emily Thomas, Lexington
Lady Lex won its first Ohio Cardinal Conference title since 2009 thanks in part to Thomas. The senior forward scored a team-high 11 goals and added a team-best 10 assists. Thomas was selected to the OCC first team and the NCOSSCA first team in Division III.
Hattie Yugovich, Ontario
A late-season knee injury short-circuited another sensational season for Yugovich. The junior midfielder scored 19 goals and added a team-leading 15 assists as the Warriors won a district title for the first time since 2016. Yugovich joined Blubaugh on the USC all-region team and was a OSSCA Division III All-Ohioan. She was selected the NCOSSCA Division III Player of the Year.
Zoe Borowicz, Lexington
A sophomore midfielder, Borowicz was Lady Lex’s second scoring option behind Thomas. She had nine goals and added four assists. Borowicz was selected to the OCC first team and was an OSSCA Division III All-Ohioan.
Amelia Hunt, Ashland
The junior midfielder was Ashland’s top facilitator, registering a team-best seven assists to go with four goals. Hunt was an OCC first-teamer and a NCOSSCA first-team pick in Division III.
Annaleise Norris, Mansfield Senior
A senior midfielder, Norris led Senior High with 11 goals and 12 assists. She was selected to the OCC first team and the NCOSSCA first team in Division III.
Brinley Barnett, Clear Fork
A junior midfielder, Barnett teamed with Blubaugh to form one of north central Ohio’s most dangerous scoring tandems. Barnett scored 16 goals and added six assists. She was a MOAC first-team pick and a NCOSSCA first-teamer in Division IV.
Lily Cline, Crestview
The Cougars allowed two or fewer goals in 14 of 17 matches thanks in part to Cline, a senior defender. She scored three goals and was selected to the OSSCA All-Ohio team in Division V
Ashtynn Wine, Clear Fork
A junior defender, Wine helped the Colts reach the Division IV regional semifinals. She was the backbone of a defense that surrendered 17 goals in 20 matches. In addition to her defensive responsibilities, Wine had nine goals and four assists. She was selected to the MOAC first team and the NCOSSCA first team.
Erin Hope, Mansfield Christian
A senior defender, Hope was the anchor of a Mansfield Christian side that allowed 18 goals in 18 matches. She was selected to the OSSCA All-Ohio team in Division V and the USC all-region team.
Sadie Mills, Ashland
The Ohio Cardinal Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Mills made 87 saves in goal and notched seven shutouts for the Arrows. The senior was selected to the NCOSSCA first team in Division III.