A State Tournament appearance for the first time since 2018 and the third time in school history did not go unnoticed for River Falls girls’ soccer, as a pair of student-athletes and a coach will take part in the 2024 Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association High School Senior All Star Game on July 27 in Madison.

Defenders Maggie Johnson and Emily Van Ausdal and head coach Charles Conley were each rewarded for their season-long efforts and will get one last opportunity to hit the pitch.

“With both of them I couldn’t ask for better leaders, better role models,” Conley said. “Just two players who give it their all every time they take the field.”

Finishing as the Sectional runners-up in back-to-back seasons, Johnson and Van Ausdal have been a part of winning teams but wanted their shot at competing in a State Tournament. While the team came up short in a 3-0 loss to Oregon back in June, making it to state was still a happy ending for a group of seniors that had not yet had that experience.

“It just felt like all the hard work that our team put in really, finally paid off,” Van Ausdal said. “We just grew so much as a team throughout the season, and it was awesome to have some kind of proof of that.”

For Johnson and Van Ausdal, the game serves as a cherry on top of a strong season, and a way to step away from high school soccer on a positive note.

“I was just really sad knowing it was my last game and I would probably never play soccer again,” Johnson said. “Being able to extend my soccer career to one last final, incredible, fun game, it’s so nice knowing that it’s not entirely over.”

The challenge for River Falls will be finding someone to replace the defensive hole left after the two graduate.

“It’s gonna be a challenge,” Conley said. “We’re going to need some players to step up and fill in that center back role.”

To do this, Johnson said the players will need to do the same thing they did this season. According to Johnson, the team’s success was not due to having the most talented star players in the state, but instead due to how the team came together with one common goal.

“They definitely need to continue to have good leadership and continue to build bonds with each other,” Johnson said. “Part of the reason that we got there, and went so far this year, is just, like I said, our connection.”

Conley said it can be difficult to credit defenders, because shutouts are often seen as a goalkeeper statistic and goals are seen as a forward statistic. Having a pair of defenders be honored shows how much work they have put in to reach the top.

Both Johnson and Van Ausdal earned first team all-conference honors during the 2024 season.

“Our defense really carried us in a lot of games, and those two are a big reason why,” Conley said.

Conley said the team has lost their starting goalkeepers to torn ACLs two years in a row, and the defense stepped up to help keep goals out of the net. Conley is one of six coaches who will take part in the all star game, holding a record of 186-59-36 all-time.

“It’s a fantastic honor,” Conley said. “I’m glad I get the opportunity to participate, and it’s even better for Maggie and Emily to be recognized.”

Johnson said things just felt different this year, and it was evident before a match was even played.

“Throughout the whole preseason and the offseason, I told the team we’re going to work hard and we’re going to get to state this year. This is our year,” Johnson said. “And it was.”

Conley said he is glad both student-athletes were a part of the program and said while neither plans to play at the next level, they were both capable.

Johnson is headed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, looking to study biology on a pre-physical therapy route. Johnson also aims to walk-on as a rower. Van Ausdal also plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study biology.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a very fun way to finish out my career because I’m not playing college sports,” Van Ausdal said. “It’s a huge honor to be able to play with such talented players, and it will definitely be a challenge.”

“Hopefully, with some consistent seasons here, we’re able to kind of put River Falls on the map and start to get some recognition for some of these kids who truly deserve it but may not have received it in the past,” Conley said.