Girls Soccer: All-State Selections for 2017

By Brandon Gould and Evan Slavit | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

Who were the top players in the state in 2017?

There were a lot of memorable moments this season and a lot of players stepped up big-time when their numbers were called. NJ Advance Media has looked at the best of the best and selected its 2017 All-State teams. Scroll through to see who made 1st Team, 2nd Team and 3rd Team All-State this year.

THIRD TEAM ALL-STATE

Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

Natalie Bond, Westfield, Sr.

• Midfielder
• Bond is going to Stanford next season to play lacrosse, but the senior i's one heck of a soccer player as well. The midfielder made plays all over the field and was a leader in the middle of the field after moving up from defense. Bond scored her first career goal this season against Gov. Livingston and added 10 more along the way for Westfield, including two in a come-from-behind win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 3-2, in the North 2, Group 4 semis.

Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media

Sara Brocious, Eastern, So.

• Defender
• The sophomore was the leader on defense for Eastern, which finished the year with a 21-0-2 record. Brocious was the top defender on a back line in front of senior keeper Mikayla Ronczka that helped record 14 shutouts this season. Eastern only gave up 12 goals overall in 23 games this season.

CAN'T-MISS: NJ.com's full girls soccer postseason honors for 2017

Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media

Christina Cernuto Somerville, Sr.

• Forward
• The senior found the net 40 times this season and scripted a whole new chapter in the offensive record books for the Somerset County squad. Somerville fell, 4-3, in overtime in the sectional playoffs to Middletown South and Cernuto had all three goals in that game. The Middletown South defense only let up four other goals in the rest of the state tournament and shut out previously unbeaten Northern Highlands. Cernuto finished the year with seven hat tricks, but her most impressive game might have been a one-goal outing that allowed Somerville to earn a 1-1 tie with Watchung Hills.

Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

Mya Daniels, Long Branch, Sr.

• Forward
• Daniels was one of the best scoring threats in the state and finished the year with 38 of Long Branch's 54 goals this season. The Rutgers commit had some of her best games of the season with four goals apiece against Shore and Ranney, outscoring Frankie McDonough and Abby Boyan in those games. Daniels also came through with a score in a 1-1 tie that pushed Long Branch's first round playoff game with Burlington Township into penalty kicks.

FEATURED: Ridge's Erin Keefe is the NJ.com Player of the Year

Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

Kaylee Donnelly, Watchung Hills, Jr.

• Goalkeeper
• The junior proved once again that she is one of the hardest goalies in the state to score on. Donnelly's best game of the season came in early September as she stopped 11 shots and helped Watchung Hills earn a 1-0 victory over eventual Group 4 champion Ridge. Watchung Hills went through a rebuild this season, but Donnelly and defender Jessica Carrieri helped keep the team relevant as the offense got up to speed.

David Gard | For NJ Advance Media

Hailey Gutowski, Cinnaminson, Sr.

• Midfielder
• The senior came on strong down the stretch and was the difference-maker as Cinnaminson won the South, Group 2 title. Gutowski scored the game-winner in overtime of that game and finished the postseason with six goals and an assist for Cinnaminson, which pushed eventual Group 2 champion Wall into penalty kicks in the state semis. The senior ended her season year with career-bests in goals (21) and assists (19).

MUST-SEE: Wall is the NJ.com girls soccer Team of the Year | Top 50

Amanda Marzullo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Kayla Lee, Colts Neck, Sr.

• Midfielder
• Lee was named an All-American this season and helped keep Colts Neck afloat during an injury plagued-season for the Cougars in 2017. The senior came back this season for one last ride with the Shore Conference school and finished the year with 10 goals and six assists during the regular season. Lee missed the playoffs with a broken collarbone.

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Frankie McDonough, Shore, Jr.

• Forward
• Teams tried to mark McDonough and make life miserable for her on offense, but the junior never let it bother her on the way to a career-high 35 goals in 2017. The forward was just as good when she passed the ball though, sending out 22 feeds that led to goals this season on the way to Shore's third straight Group 1 title. McDonough paired with Hannah Birdsall and Julia Eichenbaum to make up one of the most feared offensive trios in the state.

READ: All-Olympic Conference girls soccer final rankings and postseason honors

Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media

Kelli McGroarty, Eastern, So.

• Midfielder
• McGroarty was the centerpiece on an offense that was dynamic all year with senior Madison Tyree and freshman Riley Tiernan around her. The sophomore midfielder led the team with 20 goals and 12 assists during a 21-0-2 season. Tiernan ended the year with 17 goals and 13 assists alongside McGroarty, while Tyree moved up to offense this year and finished her final season at Eastern with eight goals and 11 assists.

Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

Carly Roche, Allentown, Sr.

• Midfielder/Defender
• The senior was a duel threat for Allentown on offense, sending out 11 assists and scoring 14 goals for the team on its way to the program's first-ever Group 3 title. Roche finished with three goals and three assists in the state playoffs, including the game-winning score against Middletown South in the state final. The senior also showed off her versatility in the state playoffs, shifting back on defense to help slow down Toms River East's Jillian Conklin in Central, Group 3 final and Ocean City's Faith Slimmer in the Group 3 semis.

READ: All-CVC girls soccer final rankings and postseason honors

Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Medi

Breana Winder, Washington Township, Sr.

• Defender
• The senior was one of the constants this season for Washington Township, which went out and won its first ever sectional title this season. The defense held opponents to 15 goals all season and only gave up eights goals during the regular season. Winder was a captain this season and when Washington Township had a chance to make it a one-goal game in the Group 4 semis, the Minutemaids let the senior step up and take the penalty kick that made it 4-3.

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Medi

Amanda Attanasi, Washington Township, Fr.

• Forward
• The freshman was electric this season for Washington Township and almost single-handedly brought her team back from a 4-1 deficit against Freehold Township in the Group 4 semifinals. Washington Township fell short, 5-3, in that game, but Attanasi scored twice and drew the foul that led to her team's other goal - a penalty kick that found the net. The forward finished her rookie year with 29 goals for Washington Township.

Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

Cheyenna Cook, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr.

• Defender
• Cook was a senior leader on a back line that turned Bridgewater-Raritan into one of the best teams in the state this season. The American commit and the rest of the defense held opponents to just seven goals this season and that defensive unit held eventual Group 4 champion Ridge scoreless on two occasions this year, including a clean sheet in a 2-0 win in the Somerset County final.

George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

Claudia Dipasupil, Northern Highlands, Jr.

• Midfielder
• Dipasupil's numbers don't jump off the page, but she's one of the most talented offensive players in the state. The University of Tennessee commit ended the year with 11 goals and 11 assists for Northern Highlands, which won its seventh straight sectional title this season. Dipasupil had her best game of the year against Ridge, with a goal and an assist in the 3-0 regular season win.

SEE: All-Big North Conference girls soccer final rankings and postseason honors

Keith Muccilli | For NJ Advance Media

Olivia Homan, Northern Highlands, Jr.

• Defender
• The junior was one of the leaders on a defense that only gave up five goals all season and propelled Northern Highlands to its seventh straight sectional title. The Highlanders fell, 1-0, in the Group 3 semifinals, but its defense was once again strong in that game, only letting up a couple of shots on goal. Northern Highlands has a strong junior class that will be the foundation of this program next season.

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Jenna Karabin, Wall, Sr.

• Forward
• Karabin took over as the focal point of the Wall offense after Amy Paternoster went down with a foot injury in the Shore Conference quarterfinals. The senior scored 12 goals after taking over as the No. 1 option on offense and finished the year with 30 goals and 13 assists. Her twin sister, Lauren, came through with 21 goals and 21 assists this season for Wall on its way to a Group 2 title.

SEE: Full set of NJ.com's All-Group teams for 2017

Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Medi

Riley Kennett, Toms River North, Sr.

• Defender
• The senior paired with Emily Royson on the Toms River North back line and made it tough for opposing teams to score all year. Kennett used her height to her advantage, sticking out her leg to get a foot on a ball to eliminate an offensive run or leaving her feet on a corner to head out a ball coming into the box. Toms River North recorded 11 shutouts this season thanks to Kennett, the rest of the back line and her keeper Cameron Kennett, Riley's younger sister.

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Kerri McNeely, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Sr.

• Forward
• The senior was the leader on a Scotch Plains-Fanwood offense that also featured freshman Corrinne Lyght and junior Erika Muskus. McNeely came through with a team-high 17 goals and team-best 11 assists for the Raiders, who tied Westfield in the Union County final this season to earn a share of its eighth straight title.

READ: All-Super Essex Conference girls soccer final rankings and postseason honors

George McNish | For NJ Advance Media

Natalie Nevins, West Orange, So.

• Midfielder
• Nevins led all NJSIAA schools with 27 assists this season and her playmaking ability was the spark for West Orange during a 13-0-5 season. The sophomore also tacked on 11 goals during her sophomore year as the Mountaineers put together a season to remember. West Orange will be a team to watch once again next season with Nevins back in the mix.

Mark R. Sullivan | For NJ Advance Media

Emma Pascarella, Allentown, Jr.

• Midfielder
• The Rutgers commit had both assists in Allentown's 2-1 win over Middletown South in the Group 3 final - a game that handed the Redbrids' their first-ever state championship. Pascarella was one of the most balanced threats in the state and ended the breakout season with 19 goals and 21 assists for Allentown.

MUST-SEE: Allentown's Kim Maurer is the NJ.com Coach of the Year

Michael Mancuso | For NJ Advance Media

Giana Pittaro, Steinert, Sr.

• Midfielder
• Pittaro is set to play defender next year for Yale, but she was the leading offensive option for Steinert in 2017. The senior found the net 19 times for the Mercer County champs and sent out a team-high 13 assists for Steinert, which won its first county title since 2006. Pittaro had three goals and four assists in the state playoffs.

David Gard | For NJ Advance Media

Jordynn Stallard, Washington Township, Jr.

• Goalkeeper
• Stallard was one of the best keepers in the state this year and showed it with 137 saves, which bested the 133 stops she had a season ago. The junior recorded 33 saves in four games against Top 20 teams this season and stopped eight shots for Washington Township as it unseated Toms River North and won the South, Group 4 title.

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

Mark Sullivan | For NJ Advance Media

Jada Colbert, Freehold Township, Sr.

• Forward
• The senior had her best offensive season while playing alongside her twin sister, Jasmine, up top. Colbert finished with a team-high 25 goals and 11 assists for Freehold Township, which earned a share of its second Group 4 title in the last three years. The Colbert-to-Colbert combination had both sisters at their very best this season.

Tim Hawk | For NJ Advance Media

Jasmine Colbert, Freehold Township, Sr.

• Forward
• The senior saved her best season for last at Freehold Township and was dynamic on offense, making runs with her twin sister, Jada, that opposing offenses struggled to stop all year. Colbert led the team with 18 assists and also was right up there with goals, finding the back of the net 21 times.

SEE: All-Shore Conference girls soccer final rankings and postseason honors

Mark Sullivan | For NJ Advance Media

Jillian Conklin, Toms River East, Sr.

• Midfielder
• There weren't too many players in the state that caught fire in the state playoffs like Conklin did. The Monmouth commit scored seven of Toms River East's eight goals in the state playoffs and finished the year with 35 goals - a school record for single-season scores. Conklin and Rutgers commit Shea Holland were the pillars this year for a team that made it to the Central, Group 3 final.

Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

Grace Elliott, Westfield, Sr.

• Midfielder
• Elliott did it all for Westfield during an unbeaten season in 2017 and stood out offensively with 14 goals and eight assists. The senior really made her impact with hustle plays though in the midfield, where she helped control the pace of play for the Blue Devils. Elliott helped extend Westfield's state-best 41-game unbeaten streak.

MUST-SEE: All-Union County girls soccer final rankings and postseason honors

Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

Erin Keefe, Ridge, Sr.

• Defender/Midfielder
• Keefe played all over the field this season for Ridge, but the All-American slid back into her natural position of center back during the team's postseason run. The senior helped make Ridge a lockdown defense down the stretch on its way to a second state title in the last three years. Ridge shut out Westfield in the North 2, Group 4 final and held Freehold Township scoreless in the Group 4 final. Keefe's effort on the defensive end in the playoffs and in the midfield during the season earned her this year's Player of the Year award.

Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media

Lauren Krinsky, East Brunswick, Sr.

• Goalkeeper
• The Delaware commit was hard to beat in net all season and showed off exactly how good she is during the Central, Group 4 final. East Brunswick fell short, 2-1, in overtime in that game, but Krinsky kept Freehold Township scoreless for the first 77 minutes thanks to a career-high 19 saves. The senior finished the year with 137 saves and posted 11 clean sheets.

FEATURED: All-GMC girls soccer final rankings and postseason honors

Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

Allison Lynch, Bridgewater-Raritan, Jr.

• Defender
• Lynch was part of a Bridgewater-Raritan defense that allowed the Panthers to bring home the program's first Somerset County title since 1995. The Rutgers commit was a lockdown defender alongside Cheyanna Cook in the middle of a defense that only gave up seven goals in 19 games this season.

Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media

Kaitlyn Madden, Ridge, Sr.

• Defender
• The Alabama commit was right there with Keefe and fellow senior Maddie Lui on the back line this season for Ridge, which posted 16 shutouts on the way to a share of the Group 4 title. Madden used her speed, ball skills and grit to throw off opposing offenses and her ability to get in other teams' heads and on their nerves, at times, helped Ridge post three straight shutouts in the sectional final, Group 4 semis and state championship game.

FEATURED: All-Skyland Conference girls soccer final rankings and postseason honors

David Gard | For NJ Advance Media

Amy Paternoster, Wall, Sr.

• Forward
• The Princeton commit missed the last few weeks of the season with a foot injury and still finished the season with a career-high 29 goals and 20 assists for Wall. Paternoster elected to play high school this fall over Academy soccer and the move paid off for the senior, who helped Wall thrive early on during a season that ended with a Group 2 state title.

Mark Sullivan | For NJ Advance Media

Hailee Reinhardt, Wall, Sr.

• Defender
• Reinhardt was a leader on defense for the state's top-ranked squad and the senior scored the game-winning goal in the Group 2 final with a free kick from 40 yards out in overtime. The defender was part of a Wall lineup that included 10 seniors and wrapped up its season with the program's first-ever outright title.

SEE: All-HCIAL girls soccer final rankings and postseason honors

Mark Sullivan | For NJ Advance Media

Jenna Royson, Toms River North, Sr.

• Midfielder
• The Georgetown commit was one of the elite midfielders in the state and earned All-America honors during her senior year. Royson finished the year with 11 goals and 12 assists and helped set the tone for Toms River North, which made its second straight trip to the South, Group 4 final. The senior and her younger sister, Emily, both played leading roles in those sectional final appearances and last year's South, Group 4 title run.

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Brandon Gould may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonGouldHS. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.