All-RTC4 girls soccer: Season had heartbreaking ending, but Culver’s McCune is Player of Year again

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

RTC4 Girls Soccer Player of the Year Ava McCune

Her season had a heartbreaking ending when Culver lost in penalty kicks to LaVille in the sectional final, but once again, Culver’s Ava McCune is our RTC4 Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

McCune was not as productive as a sophomore in 2025 as she was last year, though we would argue that was because she faced the full brunt of her opponents’ defensive focus. Still, she had 25 goals and is well on pace to score more than 100 for her career, and with several running mates with her to return over the next two years, there is no reason to think she will be slowing down any time soon.

Clearly, it was a good year for girls soccer in our area. All four of our area teams – Rochester, Tippecanoe Valley, Argos and Culver – improved from last year, and Culver had the best team in the history of their school.

The South Bend area seems to be a hotbed for soccer talent, and with post-pandemic numbers picking up slightly, we probably should have seen this coming.

We thank area coaches for answering our questions after games and for sending results when we were unable to make it. Having said that, this list is our and ours alone, and we take full responsibility for it.

Eliana Andrzejewski Alexis Gasanovas Aubrey Miller Alexandria Cortes-Gustafson

All-RTC4

• Ava McCune (Culver) (Player of the Year) – McCune’s quickness in the middle of the pitch is exciting for Lady Cavs fans and terrifying for their opponents. She also had four assists, and we think that number might at least double next year.

• Hayna Willis (Argos) – Willis, a junior, is savvy and strong and always near the ball. Once she touched it, she was usually putting a teammate in a good spot.

• Eliana Andrzejewski (Culver) – Andrzejewski, a junior, became a star running the left flank of Culver’s offense. Utilizing her great speed, she scored 14 goals this season.

• Samantha Umbaugh (Argos) – Umbaugh, a junior, is strong and quick and a top offensive force for the Lady Dragons.

• Aubrey Miller (Rochester) – Miller might be most well known for her speed as a softball player, and she utilized that as a senior on the pitch this fall, scoring 11 goals and playing far more aggressively than she had in previous seasons.

• Ellie Bollenbacher (Argos) – Bollenbacher seemed to be versatile, able to set up the offense from the midfield while also helping back on defense.

• Alexis Gasanovas (Culver) – While Andrzejewski ran to McCune’s left, Gasanovas, a sophomore, ran to her right. Gasanovas scored critical goals against Argos and against Manchester in the sectional and has one of the strongest legs in the area.

• Alexandria Cortes-Gustafson (Rochester) – Cortes-Gustafson showed off a knowledge and passion for the game that few freshmen possess. She is fundamentally sound as a goalkeeper, but sometimes, she will put a regular jersey on and aid the offense in the field of play.

• Lindsay Petersen (Tippecanoe Valley) – Valley went from no wins last year to three wins this year, and Petersen, a senior, had much to do with it. She covered the width of the field and prevented the scoring opportunities that plagued this in previous years.

• Bre Hamilton (Culver) – Hamilton, a senior, had nine goals and 10 assists and was the latest Hamilton sister to star in the midfield for the Lady Cavs.

Honorable mention

• Abigayle Zehner (Culver)

• Bria Rensberger (Rochester)

• Kherington Craft (Tippecanoe Valley)

• Peytyn Willis (Argos)

• Julia Stoch (Culver)

• Juli Ruiz (Tippecanoe Valley)

• Alyviah Williams (Culver)

• Avarie Hines (Argos)

• Mylee Heinzmann (Rochester)

• Elaina Conklin (Argos)

• Holly Horner (Culver)

RTC Girls Soccer Players of the Year

• 2020: Lilly Hines (Argos)

• 2021: Lilly Hines (Argos)

• 2022: Lilly Hines (Argos)

• 2023: Giselle Villegas (Culver)

• 2024: Ava McCune (Culver)

• 2025: Ava McCune (Culver)