Girls’ Soccer: Novotny the MVP in Academy League

Sage Hill junior forward Claire Novotny has earned Academy League MVP honors for girls’ soccer.

Sage Hill junior forward Lexi Magliarditi, junior defenders Tiffany Taylor and Rachael Jaffe and senior goalie Kekai Whitford have also all earned first-team All-Academy League honors.

Novotny, who has committed to Grand Canyon University, was a leader for the Lightning. A repeat first-team selection, Novotny had 15 goals and a team-high 13 assists as Sage Hill (15-5-2), which went a perfect 10-0 in league to capture its first league title since 2008. The Lightning rode a 14-match winning streak to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs, where they fell, 2-1, to Simi Valley Royal.

Magliarditi, a Duke commit, made an impression after moving from Las Vegas. She scored a single-season program record 32 goals for Sage Hill, adding eight assists. The 32 goals ranked second in Orange County.

Taylor, Jaffe and Whitford were all key components of a defense that did not allow a single goal in Academy League play. Taylor and Jaffe were both center defenders.

For the season, Whitford, a repeat first-team all-league selection, made 57 saves. She allowed just two goals, the ones against Royal.

Sage Hill senior forward Paige Burke, sophomore midfielder Maya Roston and junior midfielder Lauren Thunen all earned second-team all-league accolades.

— From staff reports