Five members of the Gilmour Academy girls soccer program recently earned postseason recognition from various local organizations.
Brooklyn Steiner '24 was named All-Greater Cleveland First Team.
Steiner led the team in both goals and assists, tallying 13 and nine, respectively. She directly factored into nearly half of the team's goals on the season (22 of 46). Primarily a playmaking central midfielder, Steiner also moved up into the attack late in the season when the Lancers were shorthanded due to injuries. One of her more memorable goals this season came at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School. With the Lancers trailing by a goal, she converted from the spot with under 90 seconds left in the match to help GA earn a road result.
Steiner was also chosen as a News-Herald Third Team All-Star.
Abby Minello '22 was selected All-Greater Cleveland Second Team. Minello was unquestionably one of the Lancers' most indispensable players this past season. She was a rock in central defense for Gilmour, time and again stymieing opposition attacks with her key interventions. While her defensive play was stout, she also played a large role offensively. As the primary option on set pieces, Minello ended up with seven goals and one assist on the campaign, including the game's opening goal in a playoff contest at Norwayne High School.
Minello also earned Honor Roll recognition from the News Herald.
Three additional Lancers earned All-Greater Cleveland Honorable Mention accolades: Stacy Barresi '24, Cooper Flowers '22 and Adeline Nemeth '24.
Barresi performed well as the Lancers' last line of defense in goal. She helped Gilmour post six shutouts on the season, including a 1-0 win over Hawken School and a scoreless draw with Shaker Heights High School. She made a number of fantastic saves on the season, perhaps none more important than a stop on a breakaway in sudden-death overtime in Gilmour's playoff opener at Norwayne High School.
Flowers finished with five goals and two assists in a season that was unfortunately cut notably short due to injury. She provided a physical presence to lead the Lancer attacking line and ensured that opposing defenses always needed to account for her when she was on the field. Flowers assisted on the game's lone goal in the win over Hawken by providing a gorgeous cross to the far post as she was falling to the turf.
Along with Steiner, Nemeth carried the Lancer offense this past season. She finished with 11 goals and two assists on the season. Her pace in the wide areas of attack provided problems for opposing defenses as her runs frequently found her getting in behind the opponent's back line. Nemeth scored without a doubt the most memorable goal of the season when her 25-yard effort in double overtime of a playoff game found the back of the net, lifting the Lancers to the win and sparking off a wild celebration by her teammates.
While the losses of Flowers and Minello will definitely be felt by Gilmour, the fact that the Lancers return three postseason honorees from a team that reached an OHSAA District Final this past season certainly bodes well for the program's future.
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