East Bladen’s Heidi Rebollar, Acee Campbell, Molly Evans, Reese Hester, Zoe Smith, Gabby Rebollar, Jackie Medina-Leal and West Bladen’s Lainey Autry have all been named to the 2023 North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association’s All-Region Girls Soccer team for Region 5.
Heidi Rebollar was also named to the 2023 NCSCA Class 2A All-State team.
After key wins late in the season, East Bladen Coach Jay Raynor repeatedly credited Campbell, a senior, and the Rebollar sisters with locking down the midfield for the Lady Eagles.
“As a team leader/captain, Acee guided this group to one of our most successful years in the history of our program,” stated Raynor. “Acee led just as she played, with 110% effort at all times and with a determination to be the best every time out. Just as much as her leadership was a factor to our success, so was her play in midfield.”
Autry finished the season with 17 goals, 4 assists and 87 steals. Four times during the season the senior forward recorded ‘Hat Tricks’ of 3 goals in a game. She even drew praise from Raynor after an East/West game. “Logan Autry is dangerous up top. She never stops and seems to be always making plays. She gave us fits and had us on our heels several times.”
“Lainey has been a starter and a goal-scorer throughout her soccer career,” stated West Bladen Coach Kristen Parker. “She caught everyone’s attention early this season, I believe. Every team we played had done their homework on Lainey Autry and tried to prevent the ball from getting to her feet. She’s fast and has the ability to find the back of the net.”
Raynor praised the versatility of Evans. “Molly is the definition of hard work and brings a blue-collar mentality to our team. Whatever the team needs, she will do. Molly played a majority of the season at right back and was a key reason why we were able to produce 13 shutouts over the course of the season.”
“Molly was used as an option to get forward to help us keep the ball as well as produce scoring chances,” added Raynor. “Towards the backend of the season, we needed more of an attack and Molly was the one we put up front. It doesn’t matter which side of the ball she is on, Molly gets the job done.”
Evans closed the season with 8 key goals including the game-winner in 1-0 win over West Bladen, 2 goals in 2 wins over St. Pauls and 2 goals in each of the wins over Red Springs. The junior netted a goal in a playoff win over North Johnston and played a key defensive role against Panther star Johanna Morales.
Hester, a junior goalkeeper posted 13 shutouts as the Lady Eagles finished with a 15-4-1 record. Other highlights included 7 saves in a 1-0 win over Lumberton and 12 saves in the playoff finale against Franklin Academy. After she held North Johnston to only 1 goal in East Bladen’s 2-1 playoff win, Raynor said, “Reese’s positioning and communication were spot on tonight.”
“Jackie was a huge factor in our success on the attacking side of the ball,” noted Raynor. “Jackie is only a sophomore but is already getting interest from college coaches. Her 1-v-1 ability as well as her toughness are what separate her from others.”
Raynor continued, “Jackie played with physical issues throughout the season and never complained or wanted to sit out. Jackie is a competitor who hates to lose more than she wants to win. Jackie produced several goals and assists in crucial elements of our matches during the season.” Medina-Leal tallied 2 goals vs Heide Trask, 2 goals and an assist in wins over St. Pauls and a goal against Red Springs.
Freshman Gabby Rebollar had game-winning goals in 1-0 wins over Lumberton and Midway, and recorded 4 saves in 50 minutes in goal at New Hanover. She scored twice in playoff win over Princeton, had 3 assists against Red Springs. She also scored goals against West Bladen, Whiteville and St. Pauls.
“Gabby doesn’t play like a freshman,” said Raynor several times during the season. “We would start her up top because she can score and has a strong leg to hit from distance, but we had to move her back at times to stop counterattacks.”
Smith anchored the Lady Eagle backline that helped produce those 13 shutouts. Raynor credited Smith with becoming more vocal at centerback and improving her communication. “Zoe and her backline did a great job of stopping attacks,” said Raynor. “They dominated the game for us in the back against Franklin (Academy).”
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