DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Muncy’s Ella Nagel (17) celebrates with teammtes during a District 4 playoff game. Nagel was named Sun-Gazette Girls Soccer Player of the Year for 2025.

Muncy senior Ella Nagel could feel something hurt in her left knee. She had no idea what exactly was hurting, but it was far from 100%.But Nagel never let it disrupt or derail her senior season.

Every game you saw Nagel have a wrap around her upper thigh and knee and she went out and gave everything she had every game.

Some players may have sat out and tried to rest and heal for their next season. Instead, Nagel played through the pain and was an instrumental piece of Muncy’s offense.

That season Nagel put up was key in Muncy reaching the state semifinals for the first time in program history and earned her Sun-Gazette Player of the Year honors in girls soccer.

She’s the second Muncy player to ever earn the honor, joining her sister Emilie Nagel (shared honor in 2023). Runners-up for the honor included Montoursville’s Kenna Bennett, South Williamsport’s Ella Moore and North Penn-Mansfield’s Brooke Wilcox.

“That’s amazing. It’s amazing to hear,” Nagel said upon hearing the news she was named Player of the Year. “I had a tough year, but with this team I think anything could be possible because we had such a strong year and coming together with everyone, I had all of them giving me opportunities on the field and off the field.”

Nagel was a key piece of Muncy’s team this year and was a large part of the reason the Indians reached the state semifinals for the first time in program history. Nagel scored the game’s lone goal against a talented Southern Columbia team via penalty kick in the District 4 Class A championship to secure district gold.

“It’s the cherry on top,” Nagel said with a smile about winning districts despite all the injuries with her knee.

Watching Nagel play, you wouldn’t tell she had a knee injury or was in pain. She battled through it game in and game out and did what was needed for the Indians to excel.

“To play with a sprained MCL the entire season? That’s incredible. You don’t look out there and think she has a sprained MCL, we don’t know how badly her meniscus is torn, it’s just a matter of waiting until the season’s over and getting it cleaned up and moving onto her college career to run,” Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. “She sacrificed her body; they all have. They’re sore, they hurt, Tuesday night on way home half the girls are crying because they’re that sore putting everything into the game. And that’s all you can ask.”

Nagel put up impressive numbers all year. She scored 14 goals this year and dished out an outstanding 30 assists, leading the area by nine assists. She also ended her career with 67 assists, breaking the program’s assist record set by her sister Emilie two years ago.

“She came in and she’s a capable scorer, but she’s more importantly a winner. I think that’s as important of something I can say about a player. I’ll do whatever needs to be done. I will assist and I’ll win in the midfield, I’ll dole it out, I’ll lead and those are things that she’s done,” Gresh said. “She came in played behind her sister as more of a defensive mid the first couple of years and then when Em graduated last two years, she stepped up and took over that attacking mid role. She’s really done all the things you could ask of a player and scarified her body.”

Nagel sacrificed her body all year, battling through nagging injuries and pain, and in the end, capped her career as one of Muncy’s best to ever suit up and earned a Player of the Year honor as well for the first time in her four years.

UNDERCLASSMAN OF THE YEAR — Kiki Woodward, Muncy

Woodward had one of the most amazing seasons a freshman could possibly ask for. Woodward burst onto the scene this year in her first year of varsity competition with 32 goals scored and dished out nine assists. Her 32 career goals this year, which was third most in the area behind only North Penn-Mansfield senior Brooke Wilcox (39) and teammate Ava Eyer’s 33.

Her standout freshman season earned her Mid-Penn all-star honors this year and she was a key piece of Muncy’s run to the state semifinals and its first District 4 championship in program history.

COACH OF THE YEAR — Jason Gresh, Muncy

Gresh is the type of coach who can get the most out of his players, regardless of what sport he’s coaching. His accolades in boys basketball speak for themselves. And, since taking over the girls program, it’s been nothing but success. This year was the cherry on top.

Gresh coached Muncy to its first-ever District 4 championship in boys or girls soccer and led the team to the PIAA Class A semifinals. Not only was it the first semifinal berth for Muncy in girls soccer, but it was Muncy’s first-ever Final Four appearance in any girls sport in history.

Muncy won 20 games in 2025, the most wins in single-season history.

North Penn-Mansfield coach Maryann Wilcox was runner-up for the honor after leading Mansfield to its first playoff appearance and winning season in more than 10 years.

SUN-GAZETTE GIRLS SOCCER ALL-STARS

FIRST TEAM

COCO KLINE, SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, FORWARD

Entering 2025, South Williamsport knew it would have some offensive holes to fill and sophomore Kline stepped up and did just that. She was a solid scoring threat all year long and was a big reason South reached the District 4 Class A semifinals once again. Kline scored 15 goals — second most on the team — and dished out nine assists. 

AVA EYER, MUNCY, FORWARD

Eyer proved to be one of the most prolific scorers in the area as she constantly was getting past opposing midfielders and defenders and finding the back of the net. The junior scored 33 goals, second-most in the area behind only North Penn-Mansfield’s Brooke Wilcox (39) and dished out 11 assists. Eyer was a first-team Mid-Penn all-star selection.

SAMMY ROARTY, MILTON, FORWARD

Roarty was named an all-state selection this year at forward and a HAC-I all-star selection as she was a huge reason the Black Panthers reached their first district championship game since 2007. Roarty led Milton’s offense by scoring 24 goals and ended her standout career with 74. She added 19 assists this year as well, leading Milton.

BROOKE WILCOX, N.P.-MANSFIELD, FORWARD

Wilcox had one of the best seasons in Mansfield history, literally. The Tiger’s senior year saw her score 39 goals, the single-season school record. She also reached 65 career goals, also a school record. Wilcox was the catalyst for the team earning its first playoff appearance since 2013. Wilcox earned NTL all-star honors at first-team and was NTL Offensive Player of the Year.

DEBORAH SHULTZ, WILLIAMSPORT, MIDFIELD

Shultz was a huge standout for the Millionaires this season. Shultz, a senior, led the Millionaires with 16 goals and added eight assists. Her team-high goals are even more impressive when factoring in she missed four games due to injury. When she was on the field, Shultz helped boost the offense and freed things up for her teammates. Shultz was a HAC-I first-team all-star selection this year.

KLOEY PERSUN, SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, MIDFIELD

Persun was a sophomore this year and had a huge breakout season. When South Williamsport needed a score, more times than not Persun was dishing out an assist. Persun had a team-high 21 assists — seocnd-most in the area — and averaged 1.1 assists per game. She also scored 12 goals.

KIKI WOODWARD, MUNCY, MIDFIELD

A Mid-Penn first-team all-star selection this year, Woodward had a season that most freshmen would love to have as an offensive player. Woodward had 32 goals this year, third-most in the area, and dished out nine assists. She averaged an impressive 1.3 goals per game this year as most defenses weren’t able to contain her. Woodward had a goal in the first round of the state tournament against York Catholic to help the team win its first-ever state playoff game and was a key part of the Indians’ offense which scored more than 100 goals.

KATELYN TEMPLE, HUGHESVILLE, MIDFIELD

Temple played great when she was on the field and helped boost the offense. Temple led the Spartans with 22 goals scored and she dished out seven assists. The Spartans could get goals from anyone in the lineup — something coach Cody Hack enjoyed seeing this year was the offensive distribution — but Temple was a huge part of that offensive success. Temple was a first-team HAC-II all-star at forward this year.

KENNA BENNETT, MONTOURSVILLE, DEFENDER

Bennett was Montoursville’s leading goal scorer a year ago, but after giving up double-digit goals through two games to begin the season, the Warriors needed someone to strengthen the defense. Enter Bennett. After moving to a defensive role, Bennett helped prevent those lopsided losses and strengthened the back line. She also was a weapon on free kicks and had 11 goals and four assists. Bennett helped neutralize numerous opposing players. Bennett exceled in her position and was named a first-team HAC-II defender.

ELLA MOORE, SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, DEFENDER

Moore was moved early in the season to the back line to help boost the defense and for the senior Mountie, it was a simple transition. Moore played defender in club soccer and is the position she was recruited for in college, so it was a natural fit but even so, Moore still helped the offense through the defense. Moore ended the year with 15 goals and seven assists this year and was a key part of the Mounties team. Moore’s presence on the field helped her lead the team to the district semifinals. Moore was South’s only first-team Mid-Penn all-star selection.

LEXI MCKETA, MUNCY, DEFENDER

A senior, McKeta was one of Muncy’s best players this year regardless of position and was an enormous reason why Muncy had the unbelievable run it had this fall. McKeta played as a defensive midfielder, but she was able to help do anything to enable the Indians to win, such as scoring the game-tying goal against Schuylkill Haven in the state quarterfinals. Muncy’s defense was superb this year, and McKeta was a reason why. McKeta was a first-team Mid-Penn defensive all-star this season and didn’t allow many scorers to get easy looks past her.

EMMA MCCORMICK, MUNCY, DEFENDER

McCormick was a Sun-Gazette preseason all-star defender and she played outstanding throughout the season. Muncy had a solid defensive unit, and McCormick anchored that back line. With McCormick playing defense, Muncy gave up just 32 goals all season long and recorded 10 shutouts as well. McCormick helped anchor a solid defensive line. Prior to a three-goal loss in the state semifinals to Faith Christian, Muncy allowed just two goals through five postseason games and had three shutouts in that span, two in districts.

EVA NAGEL, MUNCY, GOALIE

They say the postseason is where you make a name for yourself, and Nagel did exactly that. She played superb against an outstanding Southern Columbia team in the district final. She posted 17 saves against Schuylkill Haven in a thrilling 2-1 comeback in double overtime in the state quarterfinals and had a career-high 18 saves in the state semifinals against juggernaut Faith Christian, numerous of which were great athletic stops. Nagel ended the season with 10 shutouts — leading the area and posting three in the postseason — while having 121 saves, fifth-most in the area.

SECOND TEAM

F–Kylie Temple, Hughesville

F–Kat Bennage, Milton

F–Lily McCarty, Sullivan County

F–Addisyn Grimm, Montgomery

M–Jaelynn Helmrich, Williamsport

M–Khaya Bennett, Montoursville

M–Ana Oeler, South Willliamsport

M–Elizabeth Wolfe, Hughesville

D–Nat Hall, Warrior Run

D–Callie Ulmer, Warrior Run

D–Avery Puderbach, Hughesville

D–Leah Lehman, Hughesville

GK–Abby Strassner, Montoursville and Althea Street, South Williamsport

HONORABLE MENTION

(in alphabetical order)

Regan Aguirre, Montoursville, M; Addie Bastian, Loyalsock; Katherine Batkowski, Lewisburg, F; Mylee Bennett, Williamsport, D; Rees Bierly, Jersey Shore; Andy Bohart, Warrior Run, D; Laurel Boyer, Lewisburg; Lily Burchell, Montgomery, D; Chloe Burden, Warrior Run, GK; Autumn Buttorf, Jersey Shore, D; Jasmine Caputo, Hughesville, GK; Sierra DeWire, Hughesville; Claire Driver, Lewisburg; Adele Dunkleberger, Montoursville, F; Scarlett Dunkleberger, Warrior Run, M; Jadyn Dunlap, Wellsboro, GK; Zoe Furman, Montgomery, M; Mikaila Ganoe, Muncy, D; Mariah Hallabuk, Sullivan County, GK; Kendall Hamm, Hughesville; Olivia Heise, Milton, M; Vivian Heivly, Montoursville; Ellie Herr, Jersey Shore, M; Cayman Hill, Central Mountain, D; Loisa Hofstrom, Williamsport, M; Leah Kerstetter, Central Mountain; Kiley Long, Milton, D; Caradyn McGinley, Hughesville, M; Lily McMonigal, Central Mountain; Addisyn Morrison, South Williamsport, M; Adrianna Moyer, Williamsport; Luna Moyer, Wellsboro, M; Rachel Paulhamus, Muncy, D; Breah Phillips, Williamsport, F; Madison Perry, Loyalsock, M; Emma Pool, Williamsport, M; Cali Reed, Williamsport; Iyana Sewell, Loyalsock; Sienna Short, Milton, GK; Hailey Smith, Wellsboro, F; Zoe Kunkle, South Williamsport, M/F; Brooke Ryder, Warrior Run; Ava Satteson, Lewisburg, M; Aly Taggart, Hughesville, F; Reese Temple, Loyalsock, F; Ella Trunzo, Jersey Shore; Kendall Veltri, Central Mountain, M; Ella Wertman, Warrior Run; Maura Woland, Warrior Run, M; MaKayla Wolfe, Milton; Adalyne Yungwirth, N.P.-Mansfield, D; Katie Zaktansky, Warrior Run, M; Adisyn Zangara, Williamsport, D; Addison Zettlemoyer, Milton, D.