2025 Shore Sports Insider Girls Soccer Watchlist: Midfielders
Shore Sports Insider 2025 Girls Soccer Watchlist
Midfielders:
Samantha Arntz, Sr., Marlboro
During the Manalapan vs Marlboro NJSIAA CJ G4 First Round Soccer Match at Manalapan Twp Turf Field in Manalapan, New Jersey. 11/4/24 Photo Credit: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com
Arntz finished second in scoring last season and first in assists for the Mustangs. She will look to improve on both those numbers this season under new head coach Matt Levi. With Marlboro scoring one or fewer goals in 12 games last season, Arntz will look to use her ability to get everyone involved to improve on that stat.
Alexa Berkley, Sr., Jackson
Berkley will be moving from the backline this season to the attacking midfield to help Jackson’s offense. Last year she was a big reason Jackson Memorial went on its run in the postseason and won Central Jersey Group 4. The University of South Carolina-Upstate recruit had the task of shutting down Maggie Allen from Brick Memorial in the CJG4 semifinal and helped the Jaguars shut out the Mustangs on their way to the title. Berkley will show her versatility this season in moving to the midfield.
Daniella Butash, Sr., Manalapan
Junior Daniella Butash scored two goals in the opening round of CJG4. (Photo by Tom Smith)
With no seniors on the roster last season, Butash became one of the leaders on the field who helped Manalapan reach its third straight Central Jersey Group 4 final. Scoring 15 goals total in her first two seasons, Butash scored 16 goals as a junior. Butash only needs 19 goals to reach 50, and if she can come close to reaching that, Manalapan will be one of the favorites in the Shore Conference Tournament and CJG4.
Sofia Chaknis, Jr., Middletown North
Sofia Chaknis scored the equalizer against Middletown South . (Photo by Eric Braun)
Middletown North needed a player to step up when Jayme Malanda went down with an injury, and that’s what Sofia Chaknis did. She led the Lions in both goals and assists with 11 each to become one of the Shore Conference’s top all-around players. With a season under the leadership of Daniel Kelly, Chaknis should continue to rise up the ranks in the Shore Conference and help the Lions become a dangerous team in the postseason.
Leah DiCillo, Jr., Central
DiCillo emerged as a leader last season as a sophomore, leading Central with 13 goals and adding 9 assists. With the graduation of Shelby Parks, DiCillo will need to increase her offensive numbers or have someone else step up in order for Central to return to the South Jersey Group 4 final. Look for DiCillo’s name to be talked about at the end of the year in the Player of the Year discussion.
Riley Kapler, So., Middletown South
Freshman Riley Kapler scored the golden goal in her debut for Middletown South in 2024. (Photo by Eric Braun)
Kapler stepped on the field and made an impact right away for the Eagles, scoring a goal in her opening game. Finishing the season with 9 goals and 9 assists, she was able to help Middletown South control the ball in the midfield and create scoring chances. Kapler’s biggest moment came in the opening round of the Shore Conference Tournament when she scored the game-winner to break a scoreless tie with less than 15 minutes left to play.
Katie Kirchner, Jr., Point Beach
Kirchner has had a great start to her career, scoring 22 goals and dishing out 24 assists in her first two seasons. The Garnet Gulls will be looking for more from her with a large graduating class who had two Group 1 final appearances. Kirchner can see the field and has a knack of getting the pass to the right person, finishing with 15 assists last season.
Ava Knight, Jr., Toms River South
Knight has made an impact since her freshman year for Toms River South. Her stats might not be as flashy as other players – 3 goals and 5 assists last season – but she creates out of the midfield. TRS had a deep team last season with six players scoring three or more goals and no one had higher than seven. Knight was a big reason the Indians went from 7 wins two years ago to 13 wins last year.
Olivia Miller, Sr., Lacey
Olivia Miller (left) from Lacey fights for the ball against Avery O’Hara (right) from Ocean Twp. 9/7/24 Photo by Eric Braun
Miller is another midfielder who did not put up the stats others did, but she did not need to last season with Lacey’s 3-headed monster. What Miller did excel in was her ability to get to and win 50-50 balls that turned into offense for Lacey. She was one of the best hustling in the midfield to help the Lions change positions. This season Lacey will need more scoring from Miller with the graduation of 82% of their scoring.
Ryan Raynor, Sr., Trinity Hall
Raynor was one of Trinity Hall’s best playmakers in the midfield last season with 6 assists. Raynor also has the ability to finish when she needs to, scoring 4 goals last year. She also raises the bar the better the competition gets. Three of her goals last season came against teams ranked in the Top 10 in the Shore Conference. With Raynor in the midfield, Trinity Hall will be a dangerous team in South Jersey Non-Public A.
Maddie Renna, So., Point Boro
Maddie Renna scored three goals against TRN in the SCT quarterfinal. (Photo by Tom Smith)
Renna had one of the best freshman seasons a player can ask for. She reached double digits in goals and assists, made the All-Freshmen team and most importantly won a Group 2 state title with the Panthers. Renna finished with 12 goals and 11 assists. One of her biggest goals came against Red Bank Catholic in the SCT in a 2-1 victory. With the graduation of Abby Hannemann, the 2024 SSI Player of the Year, Renna will become more of a focal point of the Panthers’ offense this season.
Brinley Reynolds, So., Southern
Freshman Brinley Reynolds scored the equalizer and game winner against Manchester. (Photo by Eric Braun)
Reynolds is another freshman from last season to make a big impact her rookie year. She finished with 14 goals and 7 assists and caused problems for opponents with her ball control. One of Reynolds’ best games was against Manchester in the opening week of the season when she scored the equalizer in the final minute and the golden goal in the opening minutes of overtime. Southern had several freshmen on the field at times last season, and Reynolds looks to lead them this season in the youth movement.
Alexis Sinatra, So., Red Bank Catholic
Lexi Sinatra (Right) jumps in celebration after scoring the golden goal against SJV. (Photo by Tom Smith)
Sinatra is one of two stars in the making at midfield who came into Red Bank Catholic last season along with Grace Pauwels. Sinatra is a hard worker who played with composure last season and finished with three goals and three assists. Her best game came against St. John Vianney, when she scored two goals, with one being a golden goal in overtime.
Kennedy Wallace, So., St. John Vianney
Kennedy Wallace attacking Shore Regional’s defense. (Photo by Tom Smith)
Wallace was named the Shore Sports Insider Freshman of the Year last year in a hard-fought race with three other players in this list. She finished with 10 goals and 6 assists for a Lancers team that had 12 seniors on the roster. Wallace has the skill and strength to take over a game and can handle pressure situations. SJV will have a lot of new faces this season and will need Wallace to get everyone involved early in the season.
Gwyenth Wollshleager, Sr., Ranney
Gwyneth Wollshleager scored two goals against East Brunswick Magnet. (Photo Courtesy of Ranney)
Wollshleager played a major part in Ranney’s improvement from a three-win season two years ago to nine wins last year. She finished with 11 goals and 3 assists and scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory against Freehold Boro. Wollshleager will be the leader on the field for Ranney as she looks to help the team keep improving in the Shore Conference.
