It all came to a crashing halt far more quickly than Kayla Rance — or just about anyone else — expected.
The Greenwood girls soccer team went into this year’s sectional hoping for a shot to take down perennial power Center Grove. Instead, their season ended with a stunning loss to Martinsville in the opening round.
“That was definitely frustrating, just because I knew we were capable of more,” Rance said.
Though the Woodmen didn’t get their happy ending, Rance still had a masterful junior season, one that ends with her being named as the Daily Journal’s 2016 girls soccer Player of the Year.
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Rance often had her way with opposing defenses, leading all county players with 27 goals and dishing out 11 assists. Her impact has shown up in the win column as well; Greenwood was 3-15 the year before Rance’s arrival and is 28-17-4 during her career, including a 10-3-2 mark this season.
Opponents have noticed, and Rance was heavily marked this season, especially once teammate Taylor Neely went down with a knee injury in September.
“Kayla was a player who had a lot of pressure on her all year,” Woodmen coach Joe Mushrush said. “She handled it well.”
Rance hopes to have a college decision made before her senior year arrives. As she heads into her club season, she’s already attracting Division I interest, with IUPUI among the early suitors.
“It’d be really nice to have that weight lifted off my shoulders,” Rance said of the recruiting process.
The other weight she will carry all the way into next year’s sectional, where redemption will be on her mind.
“I want to win,” she stated.
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Kayla Rance by the numbers:
Year;Goals;Assists
2014;27;6
2015;35;13
2016;27;11
Totals;89;30
Greenwood’s record during Rance’s career:
Year;Record
2014;8-6-2
2015;10-8
2016;10-3-2
Note: The Woodmen were 3-15 in 2013.
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The 2016 All-Johnson County Team for girls soccer:
Meredith Cavaleri, Whiteland senior: Anchored the back line for a Warriors defense that posted six shutouts on the season.
Delanie Hill, Franklin senior: An elite scorer who racked up 22 goals this season and finished her career with 100. … An All-Mid-State Conference pick.
Emilie Hill, Franklin sophomore: Capable of playing any position on the field for the Grizzly Cubs, the all-conference selection finished the year with 14 goals and 10 assists. … Already attracting some Division I college interest.
Kelli Hippenmeyer, Center Grove senior: All-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference forward found the back of the net 13 times to rank as the top goal scorer for a balanced Trojans attack.
Emily Jansen, Center Grove senior: A first-team All-District and All-MIC selection who didn’t put up huge numbers (one goal, three assists) but controlled the midfield for the sectional champion Trojans.
Emma Jones, Center Grove junior: All-conference back anchored a defense that allowed just 14 goals and put together 10 shutouts en route to a sectional championship.
Taylor Neely, Greenwood senior: Collected 14 goals and a team-high 16 assists before her final season was cut short by a knee injury.
Madisyn Proctor, Whiteland sophomore: An all-Mid-State Conference pick who totaled 26 goals and five assists to lead a potent Warriors offense.
Kayla Rance, Greenwood junior: Scored 27 goals and dished out 11 assists while leading the Woodmen to a 10-3-2 record. … An All-Mid-State conference player who is being courted by Division I college programs.
Ella Thompson, Center Grove sophomore: The last line of defense for a Trojans team that posted 10 shutouts. … All-MIC pick made 71 saves and gave up just 14 goals in 17 matches.
Emmie Ward, Center Grove senior: Teamed with Jansen to form the nucleus of a dominating midfield for the Trojans. … Finished her final season with three goals and six assists.
Honorable Mention
Ashley Allen, Greenwood; Hannah Anderson, Greenwood; Allison Barnard, Franklin; Mysia DeWitt, Franklin; Paulyna Gorgievski, Greenwood Christian; Madison Hill, Whiteland; Maddie Moan, Greenwood; Sydney Neely, Greenwood; Cameron Northern, Greenwood Christian; Athena Passafiume, Center Grove; Megan Perry, Center Grove; Sarah Sullivan, Franklin; Emily Williams, Whiteland; Molly Williams, Center Grove
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