Who are the top returning defenders in Greater Cincinnati high school soccer?

The high school soccer season is rapidly approaching, with regular season in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky starting in mid-August.

As part of our look at the action to come, the Enquirer is taking a look at the top returners in each position group. Last week, we spotlighted some goalkeepers to watch, and now here are some top returning defenders. Midfielders and forwards will be in the spotlight in future weeks.

There are polls in those stories where you can vote for your favorites, once per hour until 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Who are the top defenders in boys soccer? Jason Bachmann, Loveland

The senior helped the Tigers allow 20 goals for the season, 1.2 per game. He was first team all-conference and first team all-district in Division II as the Tigers went 5-8-4 for the season.

Royce Hawkins, Kings

The senior helped the Knights finish 9-7-3 and third place in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. The defense allowed 18 goals for the season, just less than one per game. He also scored a goal on offense. He was first team all-league and first team all-district in Division II.

Luke Hickey, Badin

The senior helped the Rams finish 11-4-5, allowing 19 goals for the season and posting nine shutouts. He posted eight assists on the offensive end. He was first team all-league in the Greater Catholic League-Coed and first team all-district in Division III.

Caleb Kraus, East Central

The senior was defensive MVP of the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference after leading the Trojans to a 12-5-1 record and the league championship. He helped the team allow 21 goals for the season with eight shutouts.

Brayden Miller, Monroe

The senior helped the Hornets finish 9-6-1 and finish as co-champions of the Southwestern Division of the Southwestern Buckeye League. He helped the Hornets allow only 14 goals for the season with eight shutouts, and added six assists on offense. He was first team all-league and first team all-district in Division III.

Thomas Oliver, Moeller

A forward in club soccer, Oliver joined the back line in 2024 and helped the Crusaders post 10 shutouts on defense. Moeller finished 18-0-4 and lost in penalty kicks to St. Charles in the Division I state semifinals. He had a goal and three assists on offense. Oliver was first team all-league in the Greater Catholic League-South and first team all-district.

Tanner Robertson, Covington Catholic

The senior was the Northern Kentucky High School Boys Soccer Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year after helping the Colonels to a 16-6-4 record and the Ninth Region championship. CovCath allowed 22 goals in 26 games and posted 12 shutouts.

Will Santorelli, Anderson

The senior was first team all-league in the Eastern Cincinnati Confeence after helping the Raptors finish 12-3-4 for the season. Anderson allowed 17 goals for the season and posted six shutouts. Santorelli had a goal and four assists on the offensive end. He was first team all-district in Division II.

Jose Stefano, Moeller

The senior, entering his third year as a starter, helped the Crusaders earn10 shutouts on defense. Moeller finished 18-0-4 and lost in penalty kicks to St. Charles in the Division I state semifinals. A starter on Moeller’s 2023 state runner-up team, he also posted six assists on the offensive end. Stefano was first team all-league in the Greater Catholic League-South and first team all-district.

Brayden Strong, Wyoming

The junior helped the Cowboys finish 13-5-3 and third place in the Cincinnati Hills League, and was first team all-league. He led the defense that allowed only seven goals all league and posted 12 shutouts. On the offensive end, he added two goals and two assists. He was first team all-district in Division IV.

Elijah Warner, Summit Country Day

The junior was a defensive leader for the state champion Silver Knights, who finished 14-4-5 overall. Summit allowed 26 goals for the season but posted nine shutouts, five in the postseason including the state semifinals and finals. He was first team all-league and first team all-district in Division V.

Who are the top defenders in high school girls soccer?

Ella Cook, Little Miami

She helped the Panthers to a record of 8-7-3 and was first team all-league in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. She was also first team all-district in Division II. The junior helped the team allow 22 goals for the season, 1.2 per game and post six shutouts.

Baylee Cumbow, Springboro

The junior helped the Panthers finish 21-1-1 and win their first Division I state championship. Springboro allowed only eight goals all year and posted 17 shutouts, four in the postseason including in the state semifinals and finals. She was first team all-league in the Greater Western Ohio Conference. She was named the team’s player of the match in the regional championship win.

Olivia Hausfeld, Seton

The 5-foot-9 senior was first team all-league in the Girls Greater Cathoilc League after leading the Saints to a 14-7-1 record and the Division I state semifinals. She led a back line that allowed 20 goals for the season and posted nine shutouts, three in the postseason. She was first team all-district.

Lauren Hoog, St. Ursula

The 5-foot-8 senior was named first team all-league in the Girls Greater Catholic League after the Bulldogs went 8-10 and allowed 25 goals for the season. She scored a goal on offense, and was also first team all-district in Division II. Hoog has committed to Ohio University.

Izelee Kerns, Conner

The senior defender led a back line that allowed only 10 goals in 26 games as the Cougars finished 22-3-1 and Ninth Region runner-up. She was the Ninth Region Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-state in Kentucky. Kerns has committed to Western Michigan University.

Aubree LaBazzo, Lawrenceburg

The senior led a back line that allowed only seven goals in 23 games as the Tigers finished 21-1 and won the Indiana 2A state championship for the first time. She was third team all-state and defensive most valuable player in the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference.

Mady Linenkugel, Oak Hills

The senior was a defensive leader for the Highlanders, who went 19-2 last season and won the Greater Miami Conference championship. She helped the team allow only seven goals all season and post 17 shutouts. She had six goal contributions of her own on the other end of the field, posting three goals and three assists. She was first team all-state in Division I and first team all-league. Linenkugel has committed to the University of Louisiana.

Harlee Mason, New Richmond

The senior was first team all-league in the Southern Buckeye and first team all-district in Division III for the Lions. She is a three-time all-league honoree. Mason helped the Lions post four shutouts and also scored six goals on the other end of the field. She plays on the Kings Hammer regional team in club season and is weighing college offers.

Alaynah Milano-Crawford, Mercy McAuley

The senior was first team all-league in the Girls Greatear Catholic League for the Wolves, leading a young team that went 5-11-2 for the season. She was also first team all-district in Division III.

Emily Ploscowe, Sycamore

The senior was first team all-Greater Miami Conference for the Aviators, who finished 8-10-1 and posted two shutouts.

Bree Reder, Summit Country Day

The senior was all-state for the second consecutive year after helping the Silver Knights defense to a second consecutive state championship, winning the Division IV crown. Summit allowed eight goals for the season and posted 18 shutouts as they went 22-1-1. That included five straight clean sheets to end the postseason, including the state semifinals and finals.

She was first team all-league in the Miami Valley Conference-Scarlet Division and first team all-district. 

Kacie Thompson, Campbell County

The senior was co-defensive player of the year in 10^th Region after helping the Camels to a 15-9-3 record, the 10th Region championship, and the state quarterfinals. She helped the Camels post four shutouts in the postseason, including all three games in the regional tournament. In the finals, Campbell shut out a George Rogers Clark team that was averaging over four goals per game.

Olivia Trick, Mount Notre Dame

The senior captain led the Cougars to a 12-2-6 and the Division II regional finals.  She was named all-league and all-district after helping MND allow only seven goals all season. Trick has committed to East Carolina University.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who are the top defenders in Greater Cincinnati high school soccer?