CHARLESTON — Cabell Midland fell well short of defending its Class AAA championship, falling to eventual-champion Hurricane in sectional play in what has become a rugged Region IV. But it’s hard to put any of that blame on junior forward Emilie Charles. The 2017 state player of the year continued her remarkable prep career with 44 goals and 12 assists, good enough for the captain’s spot on the all-state first team as voted on by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. Knights coach Andy Wilson said he watched his star player mature on the field as a leader and overcome adversity all season long, facing down double and triple teams and physical defenses. “It was tough,” Wilson said. “A couple of times she’d come over and yell at me wanting me to do something about it. You talk to refs before the game and tell them that the other team would grab her and hold her and some of them took it to heart and some didn’t. The weaker teams she could beat by herself, but the stronger teams beat her up pretty good.” Photo by Jay W. Bennett South forward Charley Taylor was honored as one of the four forward positions on the Class AAA?All-State first team as voted on by the WVSWA. Wilson believes the growth from Charles could pay dividends in future seasons “She became the captain of this team,” Wilson said. “She did a lot more than scoring, we put her in the midfield, which probably cut down on her scoring some, which is kind of hard to believe, but she became more of an all-around player. “She really took a lot of that vocal role, challenging the other kids to do better. She has a tremendous work ethic.” Joining Charles on the first team at the forward position is freshman Bailey Fisher of Hurricane. The Kanawha Valley freshman of the year scored all four of Hurricane’s goals in regulation at the state tournament to finish with 40 goals to start her prep career with a bang. Also at forward are Parkersburg South senior Charley Taylor (24 goals, six assists) and University senior Ari Christiansen (20 goals, 18 assists). A trio of midfielders is led by Wheeling Park Graceylynn Hanna, who registered 14 goals and 25 assists in leading the Patriots to the state title game where they fell to Hurricane in penalty kicks. She’s joined there by Morgantown junior Sammie Brown and Woodrow Wilson junior Logan Ragland (13 goals). George Washington senior and Kanawha Valley player of the year Riley Lohan (10 goals) picked up a defender nod after leading GW back to the state tournament. Joining her there are Parkersburg South senior Kathryn Bowers (who directed a Patriots’ defense that allowed just 11 goals in 22 games), University senior Stephanie Chmiel and Buckhannon-Upshur senior Audrey Gaudet. Three goalkeepers picked up first-team honors with GW senior Katy Darnell (15 shutouts), Ripley senior Taylor Kennedy and Wheeling Park senior Deanna Crumm (12 shutouts, 15 goals allowed) all earning a spot. Rounding out the team are utility players Tal Roppolo of Hedgesville, a junior, and Ripley junior striker Olivia Gandee.