The annual Journal News/lohud Elite 11 highlights the best girls soccer players across Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, factoring individual and team success along with skill level, potential and projections for this season.
With plenty of returning standouts, players who've led championship teams and a slew of burgeoning stars, there is no shortage of local talent.
Through a review of statistics and accolades, and with the help of area coaches, more than 100 superb players were considered as we determined this preseason list.
The 2026 Girls Soccer Elite 11
Amanda Bialek
School: Clarkstown North
Year: Senior
Position: Defender
What makes Amanda elite? The University of Pittsburgh commit has an excellent combination of athleticism and instincts. She reads the field and anticipates movement,
and has the quickness to react and disrupt. Bialek also has a powerful and precise kick, making her a threat on set pieces and in initiating transition. She earned all-section and all-state honors last fall.
Faith Brown
School: Pleasantville
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
What makes Faith elite? Her field vision, footwork and soccer IQ make her one of the most prolific offensive weapons in Section 1. Brown earned all-section and lohud All-Star honors last fall after helping lead Pleasantville to the Section 1 Class A final. The two-sport star, a UPenn lacrosse commit, is nearing 100 career soccer goals.
Harkin Brown
School: Rye
Grade: Sophomore
Position: Forward
What makes Harkin elite? She’s among the most highly regarded youth players in the country. Brown was chosen for the Under-15 national team training camp last year and recently was named Player of the Tour for the U.S. International Select Team that competed in England. A first-team all-state star last fall, she rang up 20 goals and 15 assists and showed out in the state tournament.
Alexis Diaz
School: Albertus Magnus
Grade: Senior
Position: Forward
What makes Alexis elite? Her exceptional speed, tireless hustle and great shot placement have enabled her to become an offensive force. She had 21 goals and seven assists last season, leading the Falcons in scoring en route to a second consecutive Class AA state championship. Diaz earned all-section and all-state honors recognition.
Hannah Jachman
School: Rye
Grade: Junior
Position: Midfield
What makes Hannah elite? She has been asked to play multiple positions and has excelled in each role, proving to be a game-changer anywhere on the field. Jachman is a good natural athlete whose smarts and foot skills enabled her to play the back line, forward and midfield well. Those talents earned her all-state honors and helped the Garnets dominate.
Charlotte Keenan
School: Rye
Grade: Senior
Position: Forward
What makes Charlotte elite? She is putting the finishing touches on an awesome high school resume, having already earned All-America honors and helped deliver two state titles to the Garnets. The Notre Dame commit has quickness and strength along with superb footwork, shot skills and savvy. Keenan had 14 goals and 10 assists last year and, despite being hampered by injuries, she erupted in the playoffs as Rye completed an undefeated season.
Brooke Matarazzo
School: Tuckahoe
Grade: Senior
Position: Forward, midfield
What makes Brooke elite? The Iona University commit is an excellent finisher and facilitator who led Tuckahoe to its first Class C state final last season. She scored 37 goals, including one in a 3-2 upset of Section 5's Byron-Bergen in the state semifinals, and received all-state honors.
Katie Murphy
School: Albertus Magnus
Grade: Junior
Position: Forward
What makes Katie elite? She is an electric talent who has starred for the powerhouse Falcons as a go-to scorer since she was a freshman. Murphy had 18 goals and nine assists last fall, including a performance in which she contributed to all their scoring in the subregional, and was an all-state selection.
Brooke Ramponi
School: Albertus Magnus
Grade: Junior
Position: Defender
What makes Brooke elite? Her speed and intense play style immediately stand out. The North Carolina State commit anchored a defense that surrendered only five goals in 23 games and was especially impressive in the postseason, recording five straight shutouts against high-powered teams en route to the state title.
Shira Rand
School: Rye
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfield, defender
What makes Shira elite? The Cornell-bound senior helped orchestrate the Garnets' explosive offense, putting up six goals and 18 assists last season, and she also was often tasked with shifting to the back line and picking up a tough defensive assignment. She thrived at both spots, earned all-state, and contributed to a third state title in four years.
Samantha Schultz
School: Pleasantville
Grade: Sophomore
Position: Forward
What makes Samantha elite? There is a bit of irony in her also being a lacrosse standout, considering her statistics somehow aren't all that different in either sport. With her remarkable speed, game sense and a knack for finding openings, Schultz posted an eye-popping 49 goals and 25 assists last fall, leading the Panthers to a section final. She earned all-state honors and was lohud's Westchester/Putnam Player of the Year.
Best of the rest
Corina Armster, Sleepy Hollow, Sr., M; Amelia Calisi, Lakeland, Jr., GK; Lily Delaney, Bronxville, Sr., GK; Claire Essick, North Rockland, Jr., D; Hailey FioRito, Leffell, Sr., F; Lyla Kelly, Clarkstown South, Sr., D; Gemma Lasky, Hackley, Sr., M; Gianna Pace, Lakeland, Sr., F; Mykel Papa, John Jay-Cross River, Jr., D; Ella Sabatini, Tappan Zee, Sr., GK; Danica Tsapatsaris, Albertus Magnus, Sr., D; Anna Walling, Yorktown, Jr., M
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Meet the 2026 lohud Girls Soccer Elite 11 and Best of the Rest
