All-Region girls soccer: Maddie Kemp, Camas

It was the crowning moment of an epic late-game comeback in which Camas scored two goals in three minutes to advance to the 4A state title game for the second time in four years.

And for The Columbian’s repeat All-Region girls soccer player of the year, it was her favorite goal of all.

Her only wish: that it came in the championship, not the semifinals.

What made the goal especially unique was its place outside of the context of the 15-second highlight video Kemp says she’s watched “over and over.”

Kemp was blanketed by a defender throughout the entire game, which limited Camas’ opportunities on goal. Central Valley had, for 79 of the game’s 80-plus minutes, kept the state’s most prolific scorer quiet.

Until the stoppage time.

Kemp recalls Camas had a throw-in near the 30-yard line in Central Valley’s half. Senior Jenna Efraimson picked up the ball and Kemp, still tightly marked by the defender, momentarily broke free.

“I got away from her for like two seconds, but there was probably a good five to seven yards of space between us because I started running and she didn’t see me go,” Kemp said. “That’s honestly how I think I scored, because the entire time she was like two to three yards away from me.

“After I scored I didn’t realize how many people I had taken on until I saw the video. But I didn’t even look up before I shot … I just didn’t think about anything.”

It took her watching the replay to see how many players she’d squeaked past on before scoring.

Kemp will leave Camas as the most decorated player in the history of the girls soccer program.

She scored 16 goals as a freshman, 31 as a sophomore 41 her junior season and 53 this season, surpassing the previous program record (81) during her junior season.

“Maddie is absolutely the most decorated (high school) player that I’m aware of,” Camas coach Roland Minder said.

As a freshman she was named to the all-4A Greater St. Helens League second team. As a sophomore, she was on the All-Region team on a team that won the 4A state title (Roland Minder regards it as his most talented team). And as a junior and senior, Kemp was the All-Region player of the year.

All four years, she played in the final four, a feat that no other class in Camas soccer history can lay claim to.

When she looks back at her four years, she’ll most remember playing at Doc Harris Stadium (her future college stadium at Gonzaga has a significantly smaller seating capacity).

She recalls fondly being the only freshman on varsity, playing alongside many of her older brother’s friends.

And she’ll never forget the team camaraderie off the field, like the time the team camped out in senior Jazzy Paulson’s backyard as way to bond as a team.

But as far as goals go, the ultimate one of her Papermaker career was her finest. To her, it reaffirmed her role as a career goal-scorer.

“I’ve played soccer since I was five, I’ve been in numerous games where we’re down and we have to score,” she said. “All the scoring this season it just what I usually do.”

The rest of the all-region team

MacKenzie Ellertson, King’s Way Christian

WSU commit tallied 41 goals and 32 assists to lead the Knights to a program-first state final appearance.

Annika Farley, Ridgefield

The University of Portland commit and 2A GSHL offensive player of the year tallied 18 goals and 13 assists.

Brooke Grosz, Hockinson

The 2A GSHL defensive player of the year helped the league champion Hawks to eight shutouts.

Jazzlynne Paulson, Camas

Simon Fraser commit scored 14 goals, including one in the state finals, and had 11 assists on the season.

Malaika Quigley, Prairie

Senior had 11 goals and 10 assists as a central piece of the Falcons’ program-best fourth-place state finish.

Jenna Efraimson, Camas

Idaho commit accounted for 15 goals and nine assists to help lead the Papermakers to a state final appearance.

Olivia Fothergill, Mountain View

Co-3A GSHL player of the year and Oregon commit scored 34 goals and had five assists.

Savannah Harshbarger, Prairie

The 3A GSHL co-player of the year led the Falcons with 13 goals and four assists as a set piece specialist.

Carla Jooste, Camas

Mercy College commit scored eight goals and had three assists to help lead Camas to the state final.

Julia Skimas, Columbia River

Backbone to a defense that did not allow a single goal in a postseason run that ended in the 2A state title game.

Darien Walton, Heritage

The 4A GSHL first team all-league selection tallied just under nine saves per game — 123 on the season.