A Revere High School sophomore earned a First Team All-State title in women’s soccer, surpassing about 500 or more girls in division two for the accolade.

After the Revere women’s soccer season, Audrey Harding gained recognition as the number one player in division two of the Northeast Ohio soccer district, one of the eight districts in Ohio. As a result, she was guaranteed a place on First Team All-Ohio. Only 18 girls achieved first team all – state out of approximately 3000 girls playing in division two. Harding was one of only two sophomores named to the team, an award normally attributed to junior and senior athletes.

The award originates from the OHSAA. RHS women’s soccer coach Dave Howson originally nominated Harding for the All-District team. All 25 coaches of the Northeast Ohio district came together and voted for the best female player of the district. Harding was voted top player within the district.

Harding talked of what the accomplishment means to her personally and the immensity of the award in general.

“It feels amazing to be named First Team All-State. It means a lot to me because it tells me that I did pretty well this year. It is definitely an honor to have gotten this award . . . It is a huge accomplishment for me because I have been working hard and striving to improve myself and it paid off,” Harding said.
Howson explained the significance of the award and how it pertains to Harding’s soccer career.

“It is a great accomplishment to be voted 1st team All-State. It means that [one] performed well throughout the course of the season, and that the other coaches around the State appreciate that [he or she is] one of the best players in the State . . . It is a great honor, as only a very small percent of all soccer players in the State make All-State 1st team. It can also help when colleges are looking to recruit players,” Howson said.

Howson describes Harding as the complete soccer player. From a personal perspective, he thinks of her as a humble person with a fantastic attitude who is a great person to work with. According to Howson, Harding works to the team’s advantage during games.

“[Harding] works really hard for the team. She regularly dribbles the ball past five or more opposing players, scores lots of goals and assists on chances for her teammates,” Howson said.

Harding’s mother Dena Harding affirmed her daughter’s athletic training intensity and voiced some of the commitments that Harding partakes in to maintain athletic presence.

“Although she makes [soccer] look easy, [her athletic ability] is the result of hours of training outside of high school through club ball and individual training. She makes weekly trips to Columbus three times [per week] in order to play and train with the best girls in Ohio. She plays with an age group one year older than herself,” Dena said.

Dena expounded upon her daughter’s soccer skill as well as her daughter’s attitude and dedication concerning team sports.

“Audrey is extremely skilled in handling the ball and has outstanding field vision. She can score easily with her right or left foot and she is very calm and collected no matter the importance of the game. She is very good at getting her teammates involved,” Dena said.

Harding talked of her team’s reaction to her newfound recognition, and how her achievements come full-circle back to her team.

“They were very excited for me because they know soccer means a lot to me. It is a reflection of my team too because they helped achieve this award,” Harding said.

Howson voiced where he thinks Harding goes from here.

“I fully expect [Harding] to repeat the award for the next two years . . . I also think she will be All-America, if not next year, then definitely during her senior year . . . I know [Harding] is going to play for a really good club team also, so I would like to see her get recognition and maybe become part of the national team set-up,” Howson said.

Harding ended her 2014 soccer season with ten goals and twelve assists. She received a personal letter from the state commission mid-November to inform her of her award and will receive it at a statewide banquet in Columbus on January 16.