Girls’ soccer 2025: Area players and teams to watch

Here’s a look at Gazette-area players and teams to watch during the 2025 Iowa high school girls’ soccer season.

Players to watch

Abi Roberts, sr., Linn-Mar — For a second straight year, Roberts earned Class 3A second-team all-state honors. She led the Lions with 21 goals in 2024, ranking seventh in 3A.

Rilyn Breinholt, sr., and Callie Stanley, jr., Iowa City Liberty — Breinholt and Stanley, both Class 2A second-team all-state picks, helped power Liberty to its first state tournament appearance last season.

Addison Lange, sr., Independence — Lange, a University of Northern Iowa soccer commit, was a 2A all-state honorable mention last year. She led the 2A eighth-ranked Mustangs in goals (15) and assists (24).

Emily Bowe, sr., Center Point-Urbana — A Class 1A honorable mention all-state selection, Bowe paced the Stormin’ Pointers with 16 assists and added 11 goals, second-most on the team.

Macie Herting, jr., and Maleigh Olmstead, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier — Herting followed a breakout freshman season with a solid sophomore campaign, leading the Saints with 13 goals and earning first-team all-state honors in 2A. Olmstead was a second-team all-state defender for the second consecutive season.

Amerie Hall, sr., Marion — A 2A honorable mention all-stater, Hall topped the Wolves in assists (17) and finished second in goals (11).

Teams to watch

Linn-Mar — The Lions reached the state quarterfinals for the second year in a row, finishing 16-4 and ranked No. 4 in 3A. Two-time all-stater Abi Roberts returns to lead an offense that ranked fourth in 3A with 77 goals.

Independence — The 2A eighth-ranked Mustangs went 11-5 (9-1 Wamac) behind Addison Lange last season. Eleven starters return for Indy.

Center Point-Urbana — CPU finished 2024 ranked No. 8 in Class 1A, falling just one win shy of a state berth. The Stormin’ Pointers bring back all-stater Emily Bowe and leading scorer Lily Miller after a 12-2 (7-0 Wamac) season.

Iowa City Liberty — The Lightning made history last season, reaching the state tournament for the first time and setting a single-season program record with 13 wins. Second-team all-staters Rilyn Breinholt and Callie Stanley return to lead a Liberty squad that tied Cedar Rapids Xavier and Cedar Falls for the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division crown. The Bolts finished the year ranked No. 6 in Class 2A.

Cedar Rapids Xavier — Xavier returned to state last year after a one-year absence, finishing No. 7 in 2A with a 9-5 record (5-1 MVC Mississippi). The Saints will lean on first-team all-stater Macie Herting and second-teamer Maleigh Olmstead.

Iowa City West — Leading scorer Emma Potthoff (11 goals) returns to a Trojans team that finished at 11-5 (5-2 MVC Valley) and ranked 13th in Class 3A. West lost a one-score (2-1) battle at No. 4 Linn-Mar in the regional finals.