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We've seen a lot of elite girls soccer players around here.
Some FHSAA record-setters, a U.S. national team participant, tons of power-conference signees and several pros.
But who's the best to come from the Volusia-Flagler area? Let's vote.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.
First, we are going to take a look at athletes in their individual sports.
Here are the stars of the soccer field. The 17 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standouts at the high school level, and many advanced to the college and professional ranks.
Don't see your preferred selection? There's also a write-in option.
When Baggett graduated from Seabreeze in 1994, she owned the Volusia-Flagler goals record (155) and the state assists record (121). She burst onto the high school scene with 22 goals as a freshman in 1990-91. Then, as a junior and senior, she pushed the Sandcrabs to the state semifinals and then the finals, scoring 45 goals with 43 assists during her third season and 42 goals with 45 assists during her fourth. She claimed News-Journal Player of the Year trophies for each.
Baggett headed to Duke, where she became a four-year starter and three-time All-ACC selection with 16 goals and six assists. She made two international appearances for the U.S. national team in 1998 and 1999, scoring one goal against Finland. Between 2007 and 2025, she worked as the head coach at Embry-Riddle and Florida, compiling a 185-110-35 record.
Barney wasted no time establishing herself as one of the area’s most frightening attackers of the 2010s. As a freshman, she kicked in 24 goals and added 14 assists, grabbing the first of her four All-Area first-team nods. She followed with 22 goals apiece during her sophomore and junior seasons and wrapped up with 16 goals and 18 assists as a senior in 2014-15. She was crucial to the first state final four squad in Bulldogs history in 2014. Barney then rose to the college ranks at Jacksonville.
Brauer won the 2001 News-Journal Player of the Year award. She dropped 34 goals with 20 assists that winter as Seabreeze cracked the state final four. They returned the following year, with Brauer chipping in 17 goals and 29 assists to improve her career totals to 77 and 68. She played collegiately at UAB.
Brauer was a scoring machine during her four years at Seabreeze. She broke the previous Volusia-Flagler goals record with 162. A state-leading 69 of those came during her senior season in 2003-04, when the Sandcrabs sped to the state finals. Brauer accumulated 15 goals as a freshman, 30 as a sophomore and 48 as a junior. She was selected as the 2004 News-Journal Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American on her way to the University of Tennessee. She later transferred to South Florida and sprouted into an All-Big East player.
Di Verniero left Spruce Creek in 2018 as its all-time leading scorer. She poured in 50 of her 149 career goals during her senior season alone, netting local and FHSAA Class 5A Player of the Year prizes. She committed to Harvard and transitioned to the defensive end of the field. She served as a team captain as a senior.
University transformed into a credible playoff contender by the end of Eads’ four-year varsity stint. The defender notched 2019 Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year honors, striking for more goals (13) than the unit she led allowed (nine). She also scored 17 times as a junior trusted to take the team’s penalty kicks. Eads went to Jacksonville State and started for four years before closing her college career with a season at North Alabama. Since then, she has signed with multiple professional organizations, most recently playing for FC Zurich Frauen in Switzerland.
A 1994 Seabreeze graduate, Freidus concluded her high school career as the area’s second all-time leading scorer with 147 goals. She posted an area-best 48 goals as a senior. The Sandcrabs made the state semifinals during her junior campaign and state finals during her last season before she migrated to Vanderbilt, where she was a two-time letterwinner.
The season before Gibson arrived, Mainland won three games. She spearheaded a turnaround, with the Buccaneers winning seven games her freshman year and nine her sophomore year. They exploded for 15 and 23 victories during her final two go-arounds. Gibson took home the 1998 Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year award for her efforts. She accounted for 98 career goals, including 75 during her final two seasons. As a result, Mainland retired her No. 7 jersey number when she graduated and signed with Elon.
The daughter of legendary coach Pete Hald, Madison Hald was a model of consistency for Flagler Palm Coast. She made four appearances on the All-Area first team. She notched 70 career goals — at least 15 in each season to go along with at least 12 assists. Hald tallied a career-high 24 goals as a junior. She helped the Bulldogs to their first state semifinal in 2014. After graduating, she suited up for Florida Southern.
The most recent entry on this list, Horth graduated from New Smyrna Beach in 2025 after leading the Barracudas to their best season ever to that point. They set single-season program records for wins (14) and goals. Horth contributed 25 of the scores and also dished out 16 assists as a patrolling midfielder. Both totals paced the area. She earned the Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year award. At North Florida, she lined up as a defender and made the All-ASUN Freshman Team.
Lademann piled up at least 30 goals in each of her four seasons. By the time of her 2007 graduation, she sat atop the all-time Flagler Palm Coast leaderboard with 128 scores. She won the News-Journal Player of the Year prize in 2006 and 2007. Her first trophy came as a forward who collected a career-high 35 goals. Her second occurred after a move to the midfield that resulted in 32 goals and 17 assists. She signed with Florida State and later joined Florida Gulf Coast and Florida Tech.
Lademann was a four-year starter between the sticks for Flagler Palm Coast. She assembled 57 career shutouts, including 13 as a junior and 20 as a senior in 2011-12. During her last campaign, she maintained a 0.29 goals-against average (eight goals in 28 games) and bagged the local Player of the Year plaque. Lademann signed with Shorter University.
Porter put up ridiculous numbers for Matanzas. She earned three Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year awards. She rattled off a state-record 238 career goals — the fourth-highest total in national history at the time of her 2017 graduation. Her largest output was her state-leading 76 goals as a sophomore. She ended her high school days with 57 goals and 41 assists as a senior. And that same year, she became the only local ever to be named Florida Miss Soccer.
Porter enrolled at Florida Atlantic and had 17 goals and five assists in four seasons. She was an All-Conference USA standout before going on to professional contracts in France, Lithuania and Scotland.
Raleigh served as a foundation piece of four straight district title rosters for Flagler Palm Coast. That run included the Bulldogs’ trip to the state semifinals in 2014. The center back earned a place on four consecutive All-Area first teams prior to her 2016 graduation. She also starred on free kicks, as evidenced by her seven goals as a senior. Raleigh committed to South Carolina Upstate and concluded her career at USC Aiken.
With eight goals and 23 assists as an All-Area first-team sophomore, Robins flashed plenty of offensive potential for Flagler Palm Coast. She moved from defense to midfielder ahead of her junior campaign and produced 18 goals and 29 assists. She turned in 27 goals and 21 assists as a senior in 2009-10, securing back-to-back Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year awards. She was also an All-Area first-teamer as a freshman. She spent parts of two seasons at Brevard Community College before signing with Embry-Riddle.
Stock closed her career as DeLand’s all-time goals leader (84). She scored 36 goals and passed for 15 assists as News-Journal Player of the Year in 2002-03. She had chipped in 24 goals and 15 assists as the Bulldogs advanced to their first state championship game during her sophomore season. During her junior campaign, Stock scorched her way to 17 goals in 10 games before suffering a knee injury. She grew into a valuable Stetson Hatter, too.
A Wake Forest recruit, Upchurch thrived for three All-Area first-team seasons at Spruce Creek. As a sophomore in 2001-02, the midfielder recorded 25 goals and 12 assists. She again submitted 25 goals while boosting her assist number to 23 as a junior. As a senior, Upchurch provided 20 goals and 23 assists, placing second in Player of the Year voting behind Lindsay Brauer. She locked down All-State recognition.
Who’s the greatest Daytona Beach-area high school girls soccer player of all time?
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Best girls soccer player ever from Volusia-Flagler area? Vote
Continue reading...
Some FHSAA record-setters, a U.S. national team participant, tons of power-conference signees and several pros.
But who's the best to come from the Volusia-Flagler area? Let's vote.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.
First, we are going to take a look at athletes in their individual sports.
Here are the stars of the soccer field. The 17 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standouts at the high school level, and many advanced to the college and professional ranks.
Don't see your preferred selection? There's also a write-in option.
Samantha Baggett
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When Baggett graduated from Seabreeze in 1994, she owned the Volusia-Flagler goals record (155) and the state assists record (121). She burst onto the high school scene with 22 goals as a freshman in 1990-91. Then, as a junior and senior, she pushed the Sandcrabs to the state semifinals and then the finals, scoring 45 goals with 43 assists during her third season and 42 goals with 45 assists during her fourth. She claimed News-Journal Player of the Year trophies for each.
Baggett headed to Duke, where she became a four-year starter and three-time All-ACC selection with 16 goals and six assists. She made two international appearances for the U.S. national team in 1998 and 1999, scoring one goal against Finland. Between 2007 and 2025, she worked as the head coach at Embry-Riddle and Florida, compiling a 185-110-35 record.
Christen Barney
Barney wasted no time establishing herself as one of the area’s most frightening attackers of the 2010s. As a freshman, she kicked in 24 goals and added 14 assists, grabbing the first of her four All-Area first-team nods. She followed with 22 goals apiece during her sophomore and junior seasons and wrapped up with 16 goals and 18 assists as a senior in 2014-15. She was crucial to the first state final four squad in Bulldogs history in 2014. Barney then rose to the college ranks at Jacksonville.
Jana Brauer
Brauer won the 2001 News-Journal Player of the Year award. She dropped 34 goals with 20 assists that winter as Seabreeze cracked the state final four. They returned the following year, with Brauer chipping in 17 goals and 29 assists to improve her career totals to 77 and 68. She played collegiately at UAB.
Lindsay Brauer
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Brauer was a scoring machine during her four years at Seabreeze. She broke the previous Volusia-Flagler goals record with 162. A state-leading 69 of those came during her senior season in 2003-04, when the Sandcrabs sped to the state finals. Brauer accumulated 15 goals as a freshman, 30 as a sophomore and 48 as a junior. She was selected as the 2004 News-Journal Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American on her way to the University of Tennessee. She later transferred to South Florida and sprouted into an All-Big East player.
Jordan Di Verniero
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Di Verniero left Spruce Creek in 2018 as its all-time leading scorer. She poured in 50 of her 149 career goals during her senior season alone, netting local and FHSAA Class 5A Player of the Year prizes. She committed to Harvard and transitioned to the defensive end of the field. She served as a team captain as a senior.
Briana Eads
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University transformed into a credible playoff contender by the end of Eads’ four-year varsity stint. The defender notched 2019 Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year honors, striking for more goals (13) than the unit she led allowed (nine). She also scored 17 times as a junior trusted to take the team’s penalty kicks. Eads went to Jacksonville State and started for four years before closing her college career with a season at North Alabama. Since then, she has signed with multiple professional organizations, most recently playing for FC Zurich Frauen in Switzerland.
Andrea Freidus
A 1994 Seabreeze graduate, Freidus concluded her high school career as the area’s second all-time leading scorer with 147 goals. She posted an area-best 48 goals as a senior. The Sandcrabs made the state semifinals during her junior campaign and state finals during her last season before she migrated to Vanderbilt, where she was a two-time letterwinner.
Emily Gibson
The season before Gibson arrived, Mainland won three games. She spearheaded a turnaround, with the Buccaneers winning seven games her freshman year and nine her sophomore year. They exploded for 15 and 23 victories during her final two go-arounds. Gibson took home the 1998 Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year award for her efforts. She accounted for 98 career goals, including 75 during her final two seasons. As a result, Mainland retired her No. 7 jersey number when she graduated and signed with Elon.
Madison Hald
The daughter of legendary coach Pete Hald, Madison Hald was a model of consistency for Flagler Palm Coast. She made four appearances on the All-Area first team. She notched 70 career goals — at least 15 in each season to go along with at least 12 assists. Hald tallied a career-high 24 goals as a junior. She helped the Bulldogs to their first state semifinal in 2014. After graduating, she suited up for Florida Southern.
Skya Horth
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The most recent entry on this list, Horth graduated from New Smyrna Beach in 2025 after leading the Barracudas to their best season ever to that point. They set single-season program records for wins (14) and goals. Horth contributed 25 of the scores and also dished out 16 assists as a patrolling midfielder. Both totals paced the area. She earned the Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year award. At North Florida, she lined up as a defender and made the All-ASUN Freshman Team.
Casey Lademann
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Lademann piled up at least 30 goals in each of her four seasons. By the time of her 2007 graduation, she sat atop the all-time Flagler Palm Coast leaderboard with 128 scores. She won the News-Journal Player of the Year prize in 2006 and 2007. Her first trophy came as a forward who collected a career-high 35 goals. Her second occurred after a move to the midfield that resulted in 32 goals and 17 assists. She signed with Florida State and later joined Florida Gulf Coast and Florida Tech.
Haley Lademann
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Lademann was a four-year starter between the sticks for Flagler Palm Coast. She assembled 57 career shutouts, including 13 as a junior and 20 as a senior in 2011-12. During her last campaign, she maintained a 0.29 goals-against average (eight goals in 28 games) and bagged the local Player of the Year plaque. Lademann signed with Shorter University.
Miracle Porter
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Porter put up ridiculous numbers for Matanzas. She earned three Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year awards. She rattled off a state-record 238 career goals — the fourth-highest total in national history at the time of her 2017 graduation. Her largest output was her state-leading 76 goals as a sophomore. She ended her high school days with 57 goals and 41 assists as a senior. And that same year, she became the only local ever to be named Florida Miss Soccer.
Porter enrolled at Florida Atlantic and had 17 goals and five assists in four seasons. She was an All-Conference USA standout before going on to professional contracts in France, Lithuania and Scotland.
Amanda Raleigh
Raleigh served as a foundation piece of four straight district title rosters for Flagler Palm Coast. That run included the Bulldogs’ trip to the state semifinals in 2014. The center back earned a place on four consecutive All-Area first teams prior to her 2016 graduation. She also starred on free kicks, as evidenced by her seven goals as a senior. Raleigh committed to South Carolina Upstate and concluded her career at USC Aiken.
Dana Robins
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With eight goals and 23 assists as an All-Area first-team sophomore, Robins flashed plenty of offensive potential for Flagler Palm Coast. She moved from defense to midfielder ahead of her junior campaign and produced 18 goals and 29 assists. She turned in 27 goals and 21 assists as a senior in 2009-10, securing back-to-back Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year awards. She was also an All-Area first-teamer as a freshman. She spent parts of two seasons at Brevard Community College before signing with Embry-Riddle.
Sarah Stock
Stock closed her career as DeLand’s all-time goals leader (84). She scored 36 goals and passed for 15 assists as News-Journal Player of the Year in 2002-03. She had chipped in 24 goals and 15 assists as the Bulldogs advanced to their first state championship game during her sophomore season. During her junior campaign, Stock scorched her way to 17 goals in 10 games before suffering a knee injury. She grew into a valuable Stetson Hatter, too.
Megan Upchurch
A Wake Forest recruit, Upchurch thrived for three All-Area first-team seasons at Spruce Creek. As a sophomore in 2001-02, the midfielder recorded 25 goals and 12 assists. She again submitted 25 goals while boosting her assist number to 23 as a junior. As a senior, Upchurch provided 20 goals and 23 assists, placing second in Player of the Year voting behind Lindsay Brauer. She locked down All-State recognition.
Who’s the greatest Daytona Beach-area high school girls soccer player of all time?
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Best girls soccer player ever from Volusia-Flagler area? Vote
Continue reading...
