By PAUL GOTHAM
Kendall Mesh and Keegan Smith capped their individual careers with state championships.
Mesh anchored a defense that matched a state record for shutouts and helped deliver the third state title in Spencerport girls’ soccer history. Smith was at her best when Haverling needed her most and helped clinch the Rams’ first championship.
On Tuesday, the United Soccer Coaches honored both Mesh and Smith with All-American selections.
“All-American is something very special,” said Spencerport head coach Jamie Schneider. “It’s very difficult to get and Kendall’s a terrific player who earned it. We’re very proud of her for that. It’s just another reflection of a super-quality varsity team and program. It’s a great reflection of the program.”
With Mesh directing traffic from the backline, the 2023 Rangers set a program mark for single-season wins with 23. The unbeaten and untied record (23-0-0) was a first in the history of the Spencerport girls’ program. Mesh and her teammates accomplished this in dominant fashion outscoring opponents by a combined total 102-3.
“She’s got it all,” Schneider said. “Obviously, we can talk about her athleticism, her skill and being a very smart player, but she’s got everything else that you need to have – the discipline, the toughness, the leadership. She can encounter any situation good or bad and just handle it. And come out successful She’s got that grit in her and knows how to be successful in what she does.”
Spencerport defeated Webster Schroeder for an eighth straight sectional title. The Rangers handed Schroeder (17-3-0) all three of its losses on the season outscoring the Warriors by a combined 9-0 in those three meetings.
“In many ways, their strong backline led by Kendall was responsible for Spencerport’s ability to score so many goals,” said Schroeder head coach Kent Brown. “The Spencerport offense was able to get numbers forward and high press teams because any opponent who was able to break the press would run into Kendall at midfield. She would often win the ball and show composure by rebuilding the attack while maintaining possession. That often caused their opponents to constantly chase the game.”
While the All-American honor represents one season of work, Mesh, an Old Dominion University commit, leaves behind a legacy of having played on teams that won nearly 93 percent of their games. Spencerport lost just one match over the past four seasons – all with Mesh in the starting lineup – as they compiled a record of 74 wins, 1 loss and 5 ties. The Rangers have allowed a total of 26 goals during that four-year stretch.
“One of the main reasons they were so difficult to score on the past few seasons was Kendall’s ability to read the game and breakup counterattack before they became a threat in their defending third,” Brown said. “One of the best defenders to come through Spencerport in a historically stingy defense.”
Mesh joins former Rangers Brittany Kinmond (2009) and Leah Wengender (2018) who also earned All-American recognition during Schneider’s tenure.
Smith, also the NYS Class B Player of the Year, bagged 28 goals and 14 assists on the season. She accounted for all seven goals in Haverling’s state tournament run.
“You can’t say enough about Keegan,” Haverling head coach Braedyn Northrup said. “You really can’t.”
Smith scored three goals and added an assist in the Rams 4-0 win over Southwestern (VI) in the NYS Class B Far West Regional. In the semifinals, the senior midfielder netted both scores including a golden goal in a 2-1 win over Marcellus (III). For an encore, she delivered the first state title in Haverling girls’ program when she scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Babylon (XI).
“I knew this season was going to be an up-and-down battle of getting these kids together,” Northrup said. “Keegan took on a role where there was a ton of pressure on her every single game to perform to make sure that she was basically setting the tone for the team. She did it game-after-game. She is not just a phenomenal soccer player. She’s a very poised young woman that I see great things in her future.”
Smith is the first All-American selection in the history of Haverling girls’ soccer.
Lindsay Lenhard (Spencerport) joined Mesh and Smith on All-East Region.
Lenhard, the New York State Class AA Player of the Year, led the Rangers with 28 goals and 24 assists. The junior midfielder finished with three goals and four assists in the Rangers win over Niagara-Wheatfield in the state quarterfinals. She also found the back of the net when Spencerport handed previously unbeaten Somers its first loss of the season with a 3-1 decision in the state semis.
Fairport’s Marykate Rudnicki was named Class AAA First Team. Schroeder’s Alyssa Doody joined Lenhard and Mesh on the Class AA First Team. Smith’s teammate, Ella Yartym was named to the top squad in Class B along with North Rose-Wolcott’s Reilly Batzold. Mia Gray (Byron-Bergen) and Samantha Bates (Holley) earned Class C First Team. Sisters Grace Russell and Hope Russell (Fillmore) were named the Class D squad.
Rudnicki’s teammate, Savanna Biehler (Fourth Team) and Rush-Henrietta’s Alivia Day (Fifth Team) earned Class AAA honors.
Catherine Rogers (Second Team/Webster Thomas), Cate Burns (Second Team/Spencerport), Sasha Zilist (Third Team/Webster Schroeder), Sam Cipolla (Fourth Team/Gates Chili), Izzy Alexandre (Fourth Team/Brighton), Jamie Keens (Fourth Team/Spencerport) and McKenna Reh (Fifth Team/Victor) rounded out Class AA.
Sienna Fallone (Second Team/Aquinas), Meghan Joerger (Second Team/Pittsford Sutherland), Isabella Walsh (Fourth Team/Batavia) and Liz Tantalo (Fourth Team/Aquinas) earned spots on the Class A team.
Mary Kwak (Second Team/Livonia), Avery Bernard (Second Team/Livonia), Lillian Mullen (Third Team/Canisteo-Greenwood/Jasper-Troupsburg), Triesta Sprague (Third Team/Haverling) and Leah Krelie (Fourth Team/Haverling) were also part of Class B All-State.
MacKenzie Hagen (Second Team/Byron-Bergen), Ava Thayer (Third Team/Keshequa), Ella Lathrop (Third Team/Gananda), Emma Brady (Fourth Team/Holley), Anna Henner (Fourth Team/Williamson) and Isabella Hoffman (Fourth Team/Gananda) were named to Class C All State.
Rachel Hatch (Second Team/Fillmore), Grace Kearney (Second Team/Northstar Christian) and Olivia Kilmer (Third Team/Avoca-Prattsburgh) were named to the Class D All-State Team.
Schneider was named the New York State Class AA Coach of the Year. Northrup garnered the state’s top coach honor for Class B.
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