When it comes to soccer, defensive stars often have to take the back seat to the goal scorers and goalkeepers. But that was not the case for Harmony Longhorn center back Kendyll Linscott during the 2023-24 campaign.
Linscott was so dominant on defense, she was the choice of both the Orange Belt Conference coaches and the Osceola News Gazette Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“Without question, she was the leader of our team,” said Coach Scott Marlega, who was also tabbed as our Coach of the Year. “Defensively, we allowed only 19 goals in 17 games and Kendyll was certainly a huge part of it. She and her teammates controlled a lot of possession and kept a lot of pressure off our goalie all season.”
Kendyll’s efforts helped Harmony to a 13-4 record and district and Orange Belt Conference championships. Even in a regional quarterfinal loss to Treasure Coast, Harmony allowed just one goal.
“I know the goal scorers get most of the attention and credit, but that has never bothered me,” Linscott said. “I’ve always loved the intensity needed to play on the backside. You are basically back there to keep the other team from scoring, but you can also turn the ball around and start a counter attack on offense. In some ways, it is easier to be a leader from the back.”
Linscott said her junior season was extremely gratifying because there were few expectations for a team that lost outstanding seniors from the prior season’s regional qualifying team that went 12-4-3 and won a district title.
“We got off to a slow start because we had so many new players in key positions,” Linscott said. “But we really started to click and by the end of the season I thought we exceeded a lot of expectations people had for us.”
And while she looks forward to continuing her career at the next level, Linscott is also excited about her senior season at Harmony.
“We are returning a lot of good players –both on offense and defense,” she added. “Our team goals will be set high and we will strive to achieve them.”
Joining Linscott from Harmony on the All-County Team are midfielder Gabriella Guzman, Alycia Hizer and Machaela Looper as well as strikers Jadyn Frost and Lily Glassburn.
A sophomore, Guzman was the Longhorns’ top offensive force, leading the team with 13 goals and 13 assists from the midfield centerback position. Frost and Glassburn each scored seven goals from opposite wing positions, while Hizer was a tremendous defensive specialist and expert at free kicks–scoring 10 goals off penalties this past season.
Celebration (12-4) lost a tough 1-0 game to Harmony in the district championship game but impressed enough to earn an at-large regional bid. The Storm placed forward Ellie Armstrong (9 goals, 8 assists, team MVP), wing Anna Balba (11 goals, 4 assists) and defenseman Jenna Mitchell and Oriana Moreno on the All-County Team. All four Celebration selections were underclassmen and Mitchell earns a nod as a freshman.
The goalies are Delilah Betances of Liberty and Tohpekaliga’s Melina Swaisgood. Betances made 130 saves this season while Swaisgood stopped 82 shots and had three clean sheets for the Tigers.
Rounding out the selections are Tohopekaliga’s Emely Ridriguez (24 goals), Teya Long (Defensemen) and Natalie Ocampo (midfield); Gateway’s Isabella Penate (defense) and strikers Victoria Pare of St. Cloud and Joselyn Bustamante of Poinciana.
