Western Slope recognizes girls soccer all-conference award winners
Platt wins coach of the year in 4A and Moritz is player of the year in 3A
Ella Towle/Courtesy photo
Vail Mountain School claimed conference coach and player of the year honors and Eagle Valley and Battle Mountain received a bevy of end-of-year recognition in the Western Slope 3A/4A girls soccer conference awards, released Thursday.
Liv Moritz won 3A conference player of the year and her Gore Ranger coaching staff — Brian Sweeney, Bob Bandoni, Liana Sideli, Maddie Lindley and James Kenley — were given coaches of the year awards. Moritz had six goals and 12 assists in eight games to help the Gore Rangers to a 15-3 season record and 7-0 league mark. Bandoni and his staff guided the team to a Western Slope League title.
“I am very happy to be chosen,” Moritz stated in an email.
“This honor is really a reflection of my teammates, the coaches and the support we give each other on and off the field. I will miss the seniors but am very excited about the Vail Mountain School team next year and the future!”
Emily Gash, Gaby Gish and Stella Stone joined Moritz on the all-conference first team, with Kjersti Moritz and Hannah Serbinski earning honorable mention.
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Eagle Valley’s Jess Platt earned coach of the year in the 4A Western Slope League after turning around a Devils team that was 1-9 in 2021. The Devils were competitive in the league race through its final week, finishing 7-6 to narrowly miss the postseason. They also defeated rival Battle Mountain for just the second time in 23 meetings and also upset Vail Mountain School in a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory, a game in which Tatum Coe scored four goals. Coe earned first team all-conference, along with fellow Devils Sophie Webster and Jaquelyn Castellon. Reagan McAdams was honorable mention all-conference.
“I was honored to even be nominated,” Platt stated.
“The coaches for the western slope are all extremely talented and experienced. I feel fortunate to have stepped into this position with such a talented, thoughtful, and kind group of young athletes.”
Tracy Coe/Courtesy photo
Liz Keiser, Fiona Lloyd and Cassie Ledezma represented Battle Mountain on the first team, with Molly Reeder and Elle Glendinning earning honorable mention.
Steamboat Springs’ Courtney Vargas and Glenwood Springs’ Ella Johnson were co-players of the year.
Rex Keep/Courtesy photo