South’s Val Bunde leads All-Area Girls Soccer Team again

Val Bunde is the first player in 18 years to be named the Pioneer Times Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.

It shows how special she is to South Bloomington. Then again, Bond isn’t being asked to win this year’s award under vastly different circumstances than he was last season.

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With playmaker Helena Cutshall returning to the lineup, Ellie Barada pushing the offense more, and sophomore Maddie Norman being a year older and more polished, Bond is able to return to a more natural playmaker role while still being one of the Panthers’ top closers.

“She does a little bit of everything for us,” South coach David Pullar said.

Or a lot of stuff, another 22 goals and a career-high 20 assists.

“I feel like everything that goes well in our offense starts or ends with her,” Pullar said. Bond is a versatile player who can play in any position, including centre-back.

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“I felt bad because I put a lot of pressure on her, but she’s a very well-rounded player,” Pullar said. “She does what the team needs to do. Last year, she scored more goals.

“This year, we need her to be more involved in building the team. She is a team-first kid no matter what we all agree needs to be done for the team.”

She’s always there for her teammates, she’s stayed healthy every game for four years, and her role as a senior leader has made that possible this year.

“We have four seniors and they all have different personalities,” Pullar said. “She mostly leads by example. She doesn’t sternly tell the kids what not to do. She just does everything right. When you practice and play like Val does, you become a good player.

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“She is a great example. The four of us are a perfect combination. They are very good leaders and make the event fun and welcoming. They invite all the underclassmen.”

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Bond will take it all to the next level and commit to NCAA Division III Brandeis in Massachusetts.

“Just the overall scope of passing the ball, winning interceptions and creating more goals is at a higher level this year,” Pullar said. “She’s better suited for the job. You could see her at center back at the next level.

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“She has a football mind and she understands the game.”

Pioneer Times All-Area Girls Soccer Team

Ellie Barada, South, Senior MF

Center back Speedy has been more involved in the attack this year, contributing 14 assists and three goals. Indiana General Conference. Repeat for the entire area. Will compete in track and field at North Carolina.

Val Bunde, South, Senior MF

The attacking center was once again named HT Player of the Year, scoring 22 goals and providing 20 assists. Walked away with 67 career goals. Indiana General Conference. Three-time All-District. ICSA All-District 4 team and 2nd team All-State. Signed with Brandeis University in Massachusetts.

Haeli Chambre, North, So. D

A vital part of the seven shutout defense. Had one goal and three assists. Indiana All-Conference Honorable Mention.

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Macey Crider, Edgewood, veteran goalkeeper

The Broncos were once again a mainstay in net with 103 saves. There were nine shutouts and only seven goals conceded. All-Western Indiana Conference. Repeat for the entire area. Will play basketball and run at DePauw.

Helena Cutshall, South, Sr. F

As a junior, she returned from a season-ending knee injury to score a career-best 19 goals and six assists, giving her career totals of 45 and 17 respectively. Selected to the ISCA 4th team all-district and 3rd team all-state. Indiana General Conference. The third time in the entire district.

Paloma Martinez, South, junior goalie

The third-year starter made 73 saves and allowed just nine goals, seven of which came in three games against top-10 teams Carmel and Center Grove. Completed 13 shutouts and 33 career shutouts. Indiana General Conference. ISCA All-District 4 second team. Three-time All-District.

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Maddie Norman, South, So. F

Always a dangerous threat on the left wing, he scored a team-high 29 goals and provided 19 assists. She has scored 45 goals and has 110 career points. Indiana General Conference. Repeat for the entire area.

Cora Parker, North, Senior MF

Leads Cougars in assists (7) and scores 4 goals. Indiana All-Conference Honorable Mention.

Helee Patel, Edgewood, Sr. D

As the center back who tied for the division title, his defense allowed just nine goals and nine shutouts. All-Western Indiana Conference.

Izzy Sweet, South, Sr. D

The centre-back led a backline that conceded just 11 goals and eliminated 13 opponents. Dangerous goals from corners, scoring three goals, one of which came in the playoffs. Indiana General Conference. Repeat for the entire area.

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Erica Urheim, North, Sr. F

The captain has six goals and six assists. Indiana General Conference. Repeat for the entire area.

Zhenia Venegas, Edgewood, Senior MF

Became the Broncos’ top threat this year, leading the team in goals (15) and assists (5). Won 35 games in three seasons. All-Western Indiana Conference. Three-time All-District. In the middle.

Parker Witt, Edgewood, Sr. MF

Chinese and foreign players scored six goals for the division-tied title. All-Western Indiana Conference.

Daphne Wright, North, Senior MF

Due to the injury, she had to nurse throughout the season and missed the playoffs. Scored a team-best nine goals, including four game-winners, and had four assists. Indiana General Conference.

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Honorable Mention: Jennifer Brown, Owen Valley Jr., GK; Lizzie Bucklin, South, SO. D; Lieutenant Camilla, North, So. D (2 goals, 4 assists); Caroline Farmer, North, SO. F (8 goals, 2 assists); May, Edgewood, So. F (4 goals, 2 assists); Hattie Wisler, North, senior forward (2 goals, 3 assists).

This article originally appeared in the Herald Times: South’s Val Bunde once again leads HT All-District girls soccer team