Huntington North’s Hannah Tillett named News-Sentinel 2017 Girls Soccer Player of Year

Huntington North's Hannah Tillett prepares to kick the ball during a game this season. (Photo by Don Converset for News-Sentinel.com)
When asked to describe Huntington North senior midfielder Hannah Tillett, her coach needed one second and one word.
“Tenacious,” Jeremy Steele said.
Tillett’s numbers give the casual observer at least a starting point to illustrate why Steele picked that word. She scored 45 goals with 40 assists this season, numbers that ranked her third in the nation in points and first in the nation in assists, according to MaxPreps.com.
But it’s more than numbers. It’s the way she attacks everything about soccer en route to becoming The News-Sentinel 2017 Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“She has a desire and competitiveness that exceeds a lot of girls you see throughout high school soccer,” Steele said. “If she loses the ball, she’s the first one winning that ball back. Some players will lose a ball and drop their head. She goes right back at it.”
Tillett’s tenacity extends to her year-round schedule. She plays on two club teams –Fort Wayne United and FC Pride in Indianapolis. Her parents will drive her to her Indy workouts or games while she tends to schoolwork in the car. When she’s not at a high school or club workout, she’ll often schedule individual time to work on her game as she prepares to play at Middle Tennessee State next year.
Tillett finished her high school career with 107 goals and 98 assists. Huntington North was 31-4-1 over the last two years.
“There were a lot of games where Hannah could have kept the ball to herself and scored goal after goal after goal,” Steele said. “She always involved her teammates and made sure they felt like they were part of the team. She created opportunities for them.”
Tillett said she felt she made definite strides in her game from her junior to senior seasons.
“I’m not near a finished product,” Tillett said. “High school soccer allowed me to work on attacking with speed and finishing. As a team, we scored a lot of goals this season and part of that was our ability to go fast.”
Steele points to Tillett’s speed, which complements her tenacity, as a key to her prolific production.
“She brings a different dynamic for a lot of high school defenders,” Steele said. “They’re not used to girls going at the fast rate Hannah plays at.”
INDIANA SOCCER COACHES ASSOCIATION
ALL-DISTRICT (District 2)
FIRST TEAM
By name, position, school
Grady Clark, M, Bishop Dwenger
Courtney McKown, F, Blackhawk Christian
Calista Geiger, M, Carroll
Eva Toscos, M, Carroll
Olivia Cronenwett, M, Homestead
Karmen Koch, F, Huntington North
Hannah Tillett, M, Huntington North
SECOND TEAM
Noelle Rolfsen, GK, Bishop Dwenger
Lindley Neebes, M, Blackhawk Christian
Alex Bryant, D, Concordia Lutheran
Emily Dashiell, M, East Noble
Jessica Tanzler, F, Homestead
Bailey Honn, D, Northrop
SAC FIRST TEAM
Noelle Rolfsen, GK, Bishop Dwenger
Lexy Skembos, F, Northrop
Izzy Wilson, F, Bishop Dwenger
Audrie Day, F, Concordia Lutheran
Ashlynn Gray, M, Bishop Luers
Grady Clark, M, Bishop Dwenger
Hannayh Warstler, M, Northrop
Ashlyn Ray, M, Northrop
Emily Gutman, M, Concordia Lutheran
Ashley Mizicko, M, Concordia Lutheran
April Salazar, D, Wayne
Alex Bryant, D, Concordia Lutheran
Katalina Khanhphane, D, Northrop
Baylee Honn, D, Northrop
Grace Renbarger, D, Bishop Dwenger
NE8 FIRST TEAM
Sarah Enterline, GK, Bellmont
Erica Bolinger, GK, DeKalb
Amaya Sunderman, D, Huntington North
Alyssa Wells, D, DeKalb
Makayla Bailey, D, Bellmont
Gloria Coolman, D, Leo
Hannah Tillett, M, Huntington North
Kristen Harvey, M, Bellmont
Kendyl Smith, M, DeKalb
Alex Bond, M, Leo
Faith Lewis, F, DeKalb
Karmen Koch, F, Huntington North
Rylie Velez, F, Bellmont
Grace Snyder, F, DeKalb
ACAC FIRST TEAM
Kendra Muhlenkamp, F, Jay County
Lucy Laux, F, Jay County
Lexi Dellinger, F, South Adams
Emilee Myers, M, South Adams
Veronica Hathaway, M, Woodlan
Alex Bader, M, Jay County
Briana Muhlenkamp, D, Jay County
Josie Hall, D, South Adams
Samantha Fisher, D, Woodlan
Jenna Myers, GK, South Adams
Molly Gibson, at large, Heritage