Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Madelyn Machen is not the type of soccer goalkeeper to sit back in her box and let the action come to her.
The Westbrook Christian senior makes sure her presence is felt from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
“Maddie’s has always been a factor in our games, not just athletically but verbally in encouraging and pushing her teammates,” said Westbrook girls soccer coach Jody Keene. “You could hear her from anywhere on the field during a match, and she would always run out to midfield to greet whoever scored for us.”
Due to the strength of the Lady Warriors’ back line, Machen (pictured above) wasn’t tested very often this year. But when shots did come her way, she stepped up with 60 saves. In the 150 shots she faced over the past two years, Machen stopped 130 for a stellar 87 percent save percentage. She helps her team go 35-10-4 and win six playoff matches.
Much like Machen, Southside’s Kelsey Jackson led by both example and voice during a match. A senior center-defender, Jackson was named the team’s Overall MVP this season for the second time in her four years in the starting lineup. She was selected as the team’s Defensive MVP last in 2023.
“Kelsey’s an all-around great player with an amazing attitude,” said Southside girls soccer coach Tiffany Cargill. “She would give everything she could to make sure that we succeeded.”
For their standout play and leadership, Machen and Jackson are the 2024 the All-Greater Gadsden Area Team’s co-Players of the Year.
Keene and Cargill earned co-Coach of the Year honors. Keene guided Westbrook to a 17-5-3 record and the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs. Cargill led Southside to a 20-7 record and a first-round Class 5A playoff victory. The Lady Panthers also won the first-ever Etowah County Soccer Tournament.
All-Gadsden Metro girls soccer team
Player of the Year: Madelyn Machen, Westbrook Christian; Kelsey Jackson, Southside
Coach of the Year: Tiffany Cargill, Southside; Jody Keene, Westbrook Christian
First team
Gadsden City
Fy Oguntuyo, sophomore forward: 12 goals, 12 assists
Avery Parker, sophomore midfielder: 11 goals
Anna Klaire Ashley, senior centerback: five goals, three assists
Southside
Kelsey Jackson, senior centerback: Team Captain and Most Valuable Player
Kinsey Carter, senior forward: 26 goals, 19 assists
Madison Ashley, junior midfielder: six goals, 11 assists
Westbrook Christian
Madelyn Machen, senior goalkeeper: 60 saves
Marley Cox, defensive midfielder: eight goals
Ava Legg, attacking midfielder: three goals, two assists
Glencoe
Kinlee Montgomery, freshman forward: 42 goals
Sarah Ponder, freshman midfielder: team assist leader
Anna Grace Ponder, junior defender: team captain
Hokes Bluff
Anna Lee, junior goalkeeper: 155 saves, only 20 allowed goals, five shutouts in 18 starts; team MVP
Ava Jarrells, senior forward: 10 goals, eight assists; team captain
Bella Lee, senior fullback: team captain
Etowah
Crimson Campbell, senior defender
Second team
Southside
Hannah Maddox, freshman goalkeeper: 102 saves
Maddy Sprinkle, junior centerback: three goals, Defensive MVP
Makayla Walker, sophomore forward: 17 goals, 18 assists, Offensive MVP
Westbrook Christian
A.G. Whittemore, frehsman center-forward: 21 goals
Lily Osterndorf, freshman defender: eight goals
Glencoe
Riley Ann Drenner junior, team captain
Chloe Douglas, freshman goalkeeper: 100-plus saves
Libbie Huffstetler: sophomore defender
Hokes Bluff
Karson Bruce, freshman centerback: six steals, co-Defensive Player of the Year
Abby Minton, junior fullback: six steals, co-Defensive Player of the Year
Etowah
Sadie Brannon, sophomore goalkeeper
Honorable mention
Hokes Bluff: Maggie Bray, Ava Hardman, Kaylee Henderson
Westbrook Christian: Jillian Shoars, Izzy Warren
Etowah: Leidy Velasquez
