Who are Section V's best girls soccer midfielders? Coaches weigh in

There are a lot of responsibilities placed on midfielders. It's why a soccer team's best player often gravitates toward that position.

While the roles can be specialized, the job is thus: Be everywhere, be effective.

"In American football terms, they are the quarterback," Greece Athena girls varsity coach Sal Butera said.

Coaches point to similar traits that separate the best from the merely very good or average. Midfielders require spatial awareness, to understand where pressure is coming from and where to go even before possessing the ball. They are charged with facilitating play.

It's a heavy burden, and one that requires top-notch endurance. Center midfielders, for example, have responsibilities from goal box to goal box.

"A lot of players can

play the game well, but they can't play in the middle," Fairport coach Tom Natalie said. "You have to be fit and you have to be relentless. There are some kids that are good on offense, some that are good on defense. The best play on both sides of the ball."

There's no shortage of capable midfielders in Section V, but some stand out ahead of the pack.

Sienna Fallone, Aquinas

Sutherland’s Payton Hamilton and Aquinas’s Sienna Fallone battle for a head ball during their Section V Class A girls soccer championship finals Sat. Nov. 1, 2025 at Webster Schroeder High School.

Fallone recently reached the 100-goal milestone, and the Aquinas senior didn't cut corners to get there. While Fallone's scoring prowess from the midfielder position is as good as any, an ability to play all areas of the field separates her from the pack.

"It's interesting, because she's not necessarily a natural goal-scorer. She's just an unbelievably creative attacking midfielder," coach Adam Schwartz said. "And I've said all along, Sienna Fallone is one of the best defensive players in Section V. One-on-one, she's as good as any, and she doesn't get nearly enough credit for that. She defends from goal line to goal line."

Fallone has been voted to theAll-Greater Rochesterfirst team each season since her freshman year, to couple with two all-state selections. The Dartmouth commit was also invited to the USA U-16 national camp prior to her junior season, a clear sign she's among the country's elite players.

While her varsity career is chockful of standout moments, one from her freshman year ranks among the best. Facing Pittsford Sutherland in the Class A section final, Fallone converted what was effectively the game-winning goal.

"When you talk about greatness, you want to see how players perform in the most important matches. That's where greatness comes to the surface," Schwartz said. "Early in the match we play a ball short to her, and she had this incredible shot that was upper 90. You just knew then, there's no moment too big for this kid."

Fallone led Aquinas to the Class A state finals last season, and the Lil Irish are poised to return despite bumping to AA this season. Aquinas entered the final week of the regular season with an undefeated record and ranked No. 2 in New York state, while Fallone is Section V's individual points leader and second in goals scored.

Aquinas is taking the remainder of its season day by day, but it's hard not to look ahead and lament Fallone's impending graduation.

"It's heartbreaking to see her go from our perspective, but I'm sure other coaches in Section V will be happy to see her go," Schwartz said. "You always say, kids grow up so fast. It seems like just yesterday Sienna was at our soccer camp as a fifth-grader."

Lizzie Riley, Pittsford Sutherland

Pittsford Sutherland's Lizzie Riley sprints with the ball Wednesday, Sept. 16 in Mendon.

Riley cemented herself as one of the best midfielders in Section V last season as a junior, her second varsity season, when she was named first team all-state and second team All-Greater Rochester while leading Sutherland to its third consecutive section final appearance.

That momentum carried into her senior season this fall, as Riley recorded 20 goals during the regular season and pushed the Knights to the top seed in the Class A playoff bracket. That production came while flipping between the "eight" (box-to-box midfielder) and "10" (attacking midfielder).

"She's definitely grown as a player and become more confident in her abilities," Sutherland coach Adam Palumbo said. "I think last year was the cornerstone or building block for that. She trained so much throughout the offseason and honed in on some skills and some speed. It made her a more dynamic player in general."

Riley has proven especially dangerous late in games. Palumbo pointed to multiple examples in which his senior midfielder scored late to put Sutherland ahead or force overtime.

There was a recent game against Greece Arcadia, when Riley scored both of the Knights' goals, including the game-winner. Before that, during a game against Brighton in September, Riley buried a goal with four seconds left in regulation to helped Sutherland secure a tie and remain (to that point) undefeated.

Riley's overtime heroics even date back to her sophomore year in 2024, when she netted the golden goal in the section semifinals against Batavia.

"It just shows who she is as a person, that she's going to play until the last whistle," Palumbo said.

Eliana Biehler, Fairport

Fairport's Eliana Biehler cuts up field Thursday, Sept. 24 at Fairport High School.

It's been a challenging year for Biehler in some respects, as Fairport managed only nine goals in its first 11 matches. As a result, her offensive stats have suffered. That's especially true in comparison to last season, when Biehler paired with older sister Savanna as one of the top offensive tandems in Section V.

Lack of production, however, shouldn't be mistaken for lack of effectiveness. Coach Tom Natalie commends his star midfielder for her attitude, even as scoring has been harder to come by.

"A player of her stature could be like, 'Come on guys, what the heck, what's going on?' She's the first one to say she can be better. She includes herself in any type of criticism, and her teammates love her for it," Natalie said.

From a skill set standpoint, Biehler has exceptional ball control and is capable of taking on multiple defenders at once. She pairs that with relentlessness and physicality, both important traits considering Fairport's shift to a defense-first mindset.

When Fairport reached the Class AAA state semifinal in 2024, the then-freshman Biehler was tasked with shutting down one of Ward Melville's four Division I commits. While the Red Raiders lost the game, Biehler's mark was a non-factor.

"She has a grit to her. She will do the dirty work," Natalie said. "She's got that lunch pale and thermos and she comes to work every day. She's the reason we're able to battle these teams."

Biehler recently committed to Princeton, but still has a year-plus to strut her stuff at the high school level. The hope in Fairport is that path includes another trip to the section final later this month.

Peeking ahead to next season, there is the possibility that Biehler takes her game to another level.

"What I want her to focus on is figuring out what she needs to be in a given game. Does she need to be a distributor? Does she need to be a goal-scorer? A shutdown defender? That's what will make her a valuable player on any team going forward," Natalie said. "She's embraced that. She's being what she needs to be for us, and if that continues the sky's the limit."

Haley Drake, Greece Athena

Athena’s Haley Drake celebrates her goal past Penfield goalkeeper Caylyn Crane in the first half during their Section V Class AA girls soccer quarterfinals Sat, October 25, 2025 at Greece Athena High School.

There has not been a more proficient scorer in Monroe County over the last two seasons than Drake, who buried 38 goals in 2025 as a junior, and followed that campaign with 33 — second in all of Section V — during the 2026 regular season.

Athena coach Sal Butera has been around the block, having coached boys and girls soccer in the area for more than 30 years. What stands out about Drake, he said, goes beyond her ability on the field.

"You meet good athletes that will always be in the back of your mind. You're always gonna remember them," Butera said. "One of the things about Haley, somebody of her caliber ... she's probably one of the most humble kids I've ever coached. She carries the team on her shoulders. She's devastated when we're down, but at the same time bounces right back and makes a difference within minutes."

Perhaps the ultimate sign of respect for a great player is completely revolving a game plan around stopping them. That was the case in a recent game against Batavia, when the Blue Devils parked the bus with six defenders to try and slow Drake.

No matter. The senior midfielder still managed a hat trick, and reached 200 career points in the process.

"The first thing any coach notices about her is her speed. She can move one way and explode in a different direction," Butera said. "(Batavia) just crowded the front and didn't want her to penetrate, but she did anyway. She'll take on two players if she needs to. Her skill level, her ability to win a 50-50 ball is unbelievable."

Some of Drake's talents are more subtle. Play often flows through the midfielder, so players at that position are required to make quick decisions.

Drake is Wayne Gretzky-esque, able to anticipate plays well before they happen, a sign of high soccer IQ.

"She's probably one of the better players at receiving the ball. And it's not just what you're gonna do receiving it, but after in an instant second," Butera said. "A lot of players receive the ball, settle it, look around and make a move. She's already thinking about her move before she receives the ball."

Lucy Peters, Brighton

Brighton's Lucy Peters makes a move Monday, Oct. 12 at Brighton High School.

After starting her varsity career on the wing as a freshman, Peters has evolved into one of Section V's top midfielders, and the progression is evident. Her goal total climbed from nine as a freshman to 11 her sophomore year, 18 as a junior and 19 this fall as a senior.

Brighton coach Rita Kladstrup said that evolution is typical, as she tries to protect young players against older, stronger midfielders who are typically teams' top players. But sliding more toward the middle as a sophomore, Peters proved she was a natural.

"It can be intimidating. I think she stepped in and it was perfect for her," Kladstrup said. "She can roam. She can be a playmaker and also shoot the ball, and create from what she sees. She can do what Lucy does."

While Peters has provided plenty of offensive production during her career, one particular goal stands out. To Kladstrup's recollection, it was a game against Gates Chili in which Peters possessed the ball near the end line, cut back toward the top of the 18-yard box and delivered a left-footed shot into the upper corner on the opposite side of the net.

The play even prompted a reaction from the other bench.

"Their coach looked at me like, 'Oh my God, how'd she score that?' The angle was ridiculous," Kladstrup said. "The placement of the shot was unbelievable."

While Peters is one of Monroe County's most effective scorers, her motivation goes beyond goals and assists. The focus is on team success.

One point of strength: Making the right play at the right time.

"She will dish the ball near the box if there's a better shot," Kladstrup said. "She's selfish when she needs to be, selfless when she needs to find a pass."

Top midfielders from Section V's small schools

Keshequa's Braelyn Isaman is the first player in school history to reach 100 career goals after tallying two on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

A returning All-Greater Rochester selection, Geneseo's Ali Fowler has earned the respect of other coaches around Livingston County. "Great foot skills and scoring power, but plays a position because her team needs her to," Keshequa coach Todd Isaman said.

Kendall is one of the last undefeated teams from Section V, and Sophia Picardo is among those driving the bus for the top-ranked Class C team. "She can score goals as well as make any pass," coach Nino Pilato said.

Keshequa's Braelyn Isaman might benefit from playing forward, but her ball-winning and passing skills pushed her to midfielder. Isaman, a senior, recently became the Wildcats' first player in program history to reach 100 career goals.

There's an argument that Livonia possesses the best collection of midfielders of any small school in the area. Sisters Blair and Reghan Maxwell have virtually indistinguishable stats among the section's leaders, while Ava Feehan and Sunny Quinn are also considered among the best.

These were other top midfielders mentioned by Section V coaches: