Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now ALL-COUNTY GIRLS SOCCER TEAM 2024-25 PLAYER OF THE YEAR Cora Fry, Santa Margarita, Junior Santa Margarita forward Cora Fry struck the ball for a goal, leaped into the arms of teammate Felicity Nguyen and ran to the corner of the pitch. Fellow forward Jastel David then knelt on one knee and pretended to shine Fry’s cleat as the Eagles rejoiced. On the surface, it appeared to be another reenactment of the popular soccer celebration but the moment was full of deeper significance. Fry emerged as a newly-polished player on the biggest stage of the season. The junior recorded two goals and an assist in the CIF-SS Open Division final against Corona Santiago. She also showcased her rise from a contributing midfielder to a fast and physical forward who could help carry a team to the championship. With Fry leading the way, the Eagles captured their first Open title, and for her efforts she is The Register’s Orange County girls soccer player of the year. “Best forward in the best league,” Santa Margarita coach Craig Bull said of Fry, who was selected the Trinity League MVP. In many ways, Fry developed into the type of player the Eagles needed. They graduated star forward and two-time Orange County player of the year Faith George (USC) in 2024. The team also needed more firepower after the loss of star goalie Peyton Trayer to a midseason eligibility controversy. As a sophomore, Fry played played outside midfielder for a team that often fed the ball to George. And for much of this winter, Fry remained a midfielder until Santa Margarita changed its formation and placed the Tennessee commit at center forward between wings David and Emily Davey. Fry responded with a breakout campaign of 16 goals and 15 assists. The Eagles beat reigning Open Division champion Santiago 4-2 in the finals for their record ninth section championship. “(She) had to take on a much bigger role with the seniors we lost,” Bull said of Fry. Fry entered the campaign determined for a breakout season. She tallied nine goals and two assists as a sophomore but yearned to prove herself as a forward. “I was willing to do whatever it took,” she said. “I listened to Craig and trusted his coaching and I feel like I transformed my playing style to really fit that (forward) position and help my team.” Fry’s physical play traces to her childhood. She grew up playing football and basketball with her brother Caleb, now a senior at Dana Hills and one of her four siblings. The 5-foot-7 Fry combines an aggressive style with speed and technical finishing skills. In the Open Division final, she scored off a counter and a spectacular turn from outside the box following a throw-in. For Fry, the most memorable part of that match was the interaction with her teammates. “The energy from every single person,” she said, “was so high, and it showed so much with how much we just kept going. … We are so proud of ourselves because a lot of people doubted us.” COACH OF THE YEAR Steve Patterson, Foothill In his 24th season as Foothill’s coach, Steve Patterson guided the Knights (13-8-4) from a third-place finish in the North Hills League to the CIF-SS Division 3 championship. In the playoffs, Foothill defeated Walnut, Grand Terrace, Crean Lutheran, Portola and No. 2-seeded Long Beach Poly for its first section title. “He is a player’s coach and works hard to create an atmosphere of trust among his players and coaches,” Foothill athletic director Don Shell said of Patterson. “He gives all the credit for the team’s success this year to his players, but we know that his leadership was a driving force in their championship.” ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM Cora Fry, Santa Margarita, Jr., forward (Player of the year) Jastel David, Santa Margarita, Jr., forward The Utah commit and first-team All-Trinity League selection dazzled with some of the best dribbling in the county. She tallied 12 goals and 13 assists. Sadie Hoch, Newport Harbor, Sr., midfielder The Texas commit and Sunset League offensive MVP had 13 goals and 11 assists for the league runner-up. Valentina Labuschagne, Mater Dei, Jr., midfielder The Rice commit and first-team All-Trinity League selection tallied 10 goals and 16 assists to help lead the Monarchs to the CIF-SS Division 1 title. Sienna McAthy, Huntington Beach, Jr., midfielder The Colorado commit and first-team All-Sunset League selection led the Oilers with 13 goals and added five assists. Felicity Nguyen, Santa Margarita, So., midfielder/forward The Trinity League’s offensive MVP showed her finishing skills with 26 goals and five assists. Sydney Schuler, JSerra, Sr., midfielder The Wake Forest signee and first-team All-Trinity League selection had eight goals and five assists for the league runner-up. Viviana Zacarias, Los Alamitos, Sr., midfielder The Colorado commit and Sunset League co-MVP had 13 goals and eight assists to help lead the Griffins to the league title and Division 1 quarterfinals. Joey Birkbeck, Orange Lutheran, Jr., defender The first-team All-Trinity League selection and Boise State commit had six goals and three assists to help Lancers reach the Division 1 semifinals and finish as the Division II runner-up in the CIF SoCal Regional. Emma Newman, Santa Margarita, Sr., defender The Richmond commit and first-team All-Trinity League selection was a strong defender with the skill to join an attack. She had four goals and four assists. Hannah Werdel, Foothill, Jr., defender The Marquette commit helped the Knights capture the CIF-SS Division 3 title and earned co-defensive player of the year in the North Hills League. Ava de Leest, Troy, Sr., GK The Boise State commit and Crestview League defensive MVP blocked five penalty kicks against Los Alamitos in the quarterfinals and stopped two in the semifinals against Westlake to help the Warriors finish as the Division 1 runner-up. ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM Amaya Faison, Rosary, Jr., forward Sophie Forrester, Sonora, Sr., forward Olivia Romero-Green, Edison, Sr., forward/midfielder Mia Balagot, Capistrano Valley, Sr., midfielder Naomi Hochgesang, Troy, Sr., midfield Tatum Scialdone, Yorba Linda, Sr., midfielder Jenna Verplancke, Portola, Sr., midfielder Ashlee Backoff, Canyon, Sr., defender Sydney Kwasizur, Mater Dei, Sr., defender Natalie Leon, Santa Margarita, Sr., defender Avarie Gonzalez, Los Alamitos, Jr., GK Daphne Nakfoor, JSerra, Sr., GK