Ardrey Kell’s Taylor Suarez headlines 2023 All-Observer girls soccer team

After scoring 36 goals and dishing out 33 assists while leading Ardrey Kell to its first N.C. 4A state championship, Knights junior Taylor Suarez is The Charlotte Observer’s girls soccer player of the year.

Suarez was also named the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association state player of the year.

Suarez was a member of the US Women’s National team that won a gold medal at the CONCACF U-17 Women’s Championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in May 2022. Suarez had a game-winning assist in the championship match, a 2-1 win against Mexico.

That win qualified the U.S. team for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The Americans lost to Nigeria (1-1, 4-3 PKs) in the World Cup quarterfinals in October.

Suarez is now done with high school soccer. She plans to graduate early in January, before the 2024 high school season would begin, and enroll at Florida State.

Ardrey Kell’s Kim Montgomery is The Observer’s coach of the year. She led the Knights to a second straight championship game, Ardrey Kell’s fifth overall appearance in the final.

Montgomery coached her two daughters on the team. Senior Carly Montgomery is a defender heading to play at Texas. Junior Madison Montgomery is a forward who returns next season.

“To be able to win it with my oldest about to graduate,” coach Montgomery said, “and go and play and build her dream of playing at the University of Texas and hopefully professionally after that, it’s amazing. And my junior daughter is going to come back and we all have to figure out a way to know what life is going to be like without Carly. But now (after winning state), we’re at peace and (Carly) is going to absolutely go to the moon.”

Montgomery’s daughters and Montgomery’s team outscored opponents 165-15 this season and won their last 14 games. In the past two years, Ardrey Kell is 50-5-2.

Next season, 14 players from this year’s team return.

“People want to be a part of our program,” Montgomery said, “because it’s bigger than just playing some high school soccer. It’s a true family. I know it’s cliche’ and everybody says that, but our culture and ability to be a family is what makes us great. Our kids are going to continue to build that because they know what the expectations are.”

First team

FORWARDS

Mary Liese Grier, South Mecklenburg, Sr.: The Wofford commit was an all-state pick. She led the Sabres with 24 goals and seven assists.

Ella Smith, Charlotte Latin, Sr.: Committed to North Carolina, Smith was CISAA player of the year and an all-state selection. She had 25 goals and 15 assists for the NCISAA state champion.

Grace Smith, South Point, Sr.: The Red Raiders’ senior all-state forward scored 52 goals and had 21 assists for the 3A state runners-up.

Taylor Suarez, Ardrey Kell, Jr.: The Knights’ All-American and all-state pick had 36 goals and 33 assists this season. She has committed to Florida State.

MIDFIELDERS

Avery Garrett, Pine Lake Prep, So.: The Pride’s all-state sophomore scored 20 goals to go with a school-record 35 assists. She was Region 9 2A player of the year for a team that advanced to the 2A state semifinals and won the Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A conference title for the first time in school history.

Heidi Estrada-Aguilar, Union Academy, Jr.: The Cardinals’ all-state junior scored 29 goals and had assists. She was named Region 8 2A and Yadkin Valley 1A/2A conference player of the year.

Blane McElroy, Providence Day, So.: The Chargers’ all-state sophomore scored 16 goals and had 17 assists for the NCISAA 4A state runner-up.

Riley Milligan, Christ the King, Sr.: Named the state finals MVP for the second straight season, Milligan was also named all-state and Region 9 1A player of the year.

DEFENDERS

Sophia Broz, Providence, Sr.: The Miami (FL) commit was an all-state defender, Southwestern 4A conference player of the year and had nine goals, 21 assists.

Ally Casey, Ardrey Kell, Jr.: The Memphis commit scored nine goals, had 13 assists and played a key role on a Knights’ defense that allowed 15 goals in 29 games this season. Casey was named 4A finals MVP and all-state.

Carly Montgomery, Ardrey Kell, Sr.: The Texas commit was another all-state pick for the Knights. Montgomery, a big part of the Knights defense, also scored 16 goals and had 14 assists.

GOALKEEPER

Elizabeth Navola, Christ the King, Jr.: The Crusaders’ star was an all-state pick. She was regional goalkeeper of the year. Committed to Wofford, Navola finished the season with 73 saves and seven shutouts.

Second team

FORWARDS

Tyler Baughn, Community School of Davidson, Jr.

Rylie Cook, Lake Norman Charter, Sr.

Charlotte Simas, Myers Park, Sr.

Kylee Thompson, Hough, Jr.

MIDFIELDERS

Karly Connell, Weddington, Sr.

Lucy Dempsey, Charlotte Latin, Jr.

Abbie Hege, East Lincoln, Jr.

Cameryn Sicard, Providence Day, Sr.

Olivia Simon, Cuthbertson, Sr.

DEFENDERS

Darby Campbell, Hough, Sr.

Meredith Palmer, Cuthbertson, Jr.

GOALKEEPERS

Isabel Seifert, Davidson Day, So.

Caroline Wehr, Independence, Sr.

Third team

FORWARDS

Nadia Bolden, South Mecklenburg, Jr.

Caroline Cannella, East Mecklenburg, Sr.

Jaida McGrew, Mountain Island Charter, So.

Zuleyma Jimenez, Forest Hills, So.

MIDFIELDERS

Grace Harpster, East Lincoln, Jr.

Hailey Johnson, Covenant Day, Sr.

Maddyson Kerley, Pine Lake Prep, Jr.

Dempsey McMahon, Charlotte Latin, Fr.

Skylar Noll, Cox Mill, Sr.

DEFENDERS

Grace Doster, East Gaston, Sr.

Elizabeth Perri, Pine Lake Prep, Jr.

GOALKEEPER

Reese Dejong, Cox Mill, Jr.

Honorable mention

Sophia Guerriero, Concord, Sr.; Maggie Hawkins, Davidson Day, Jr.; B. Hylton, Covenant Day, So.; Eleanor Nguyen, Community School of Davidson, Jr. Malia Shorter, Cuthbertson, Jr.; Ava Stillwell, East Gaston, Sr.