By Rubin E. Grant
Briarwood Christian’s Taylor Leib enjoyed all the festivities surrounding the 2024 AHSAA North-South All-Star soccer game last week.
She liked going to a museum and spending time with the other all-star soccer players, girls and boys.
But the main event for Leib was the game itself. And she took center stage, scoring the North’s first goal and assisting on the second as the North All-Stars posted a 4-1 victory against the South last Wednesday in Montgomery at Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex.
The game was part of the 2024 AHSAA Summer Conference and All-Star Sports Week, which was held July 15-19.
Leib scored the game’s first goal in the 10th minute on an assist from Springville’s Rebecca Sierra-Barciaga.
“It was awesome,” Leib said. “I got a great pass from my teammate Becca and it was great to start the game with a goal.”
Three minutes later, with the score tied 1-1, Leib boomed a corner kick that bounced out of the goalkeeper’s hands and allowed Mountain Brook’s Langston Lilly to head it in for a 2-1 lead.
Spain Park’s Addison Soehn scored two unassisted goals in the second half, finding the back of the net less than two minutes after intermission and then finishing the scoring with a goal in the final minute.
Leib and Soehn led the North in shots on goal, with Leib attempting seven shots on goal and Soehn six as both players were featured in 68 minutes of game time.
Leib was named the North MVP, which she didn’t expect.
“I was surprised because there was another player who scored more goals than me,” Leib said. “I’m thankful and super honored to be given that ‘cause I think people saw the impact I had on the game.”
Leib is entering her senior year at Briarwood. She already has committed to Clemson.
“That’s been my dream school for a long time,” Leib said. “Growing up, I was always going to camp there and I got to know the coaches really well. My brother also goes there.”
Matthias Leib, a defender, was part of Clemson’s 2023 national championship team as a freshman, although he red-shirted. He was named the team’s Scout Team Player of the Year.
“We are close,” Taylor Leib said. “It’s going to be a unique experience being at the same college with him. The Lord opened a door for both of us to go there.”
Leib is the granddaughter of late Briarwood Presbyterian Church pastor Harry Reeder. She has been playing soccer since she was 5 after her dad, Ryan Leib, introduced her to the sport.
Ryan Leib, who is from Farmington, Maine, played college soccer at the University of New Hampshire and played professionally. He is the director of coaching for Briarwood Soccer Club and has been Briarwood Christian’s girls head coach since 2006.
“When she was little, I figured since she was going to be out here with me on the field with the club, she might as well play,” Ryan Leib said. “It took her a little time to get used to playing, but she learned.”
In the spring this year, Taylor Leib scored 42 goals and had eight assists, earning Super All-State first team honors. She led Briarwood to a 15-5-4 record and a runner-up finish in Class 6A. The Lions lost 2-0 to Mountain Brook in the championship game.
Leib played valiantly in the loss with nine shots and three shots on goal but just couldn’t find the net.
Ryan Leib speaks highly and proudly of his daughter’s ability.
“She’s just a really excellent player,” he said. “She has good skills and a good mind for the game, and she loves competing.
“As a coach, it’s fun to watch her play and as a parent, it’s fun to watch her excel and keep pushing to get better.”
Taylor Leib is looking forward to her final year at Briarwood, especially having another season to play for her dad.
“My dad has been coaching me since I started, so it’s awesome we’ll get that last year together,” she said
Cross-Country Stars
Two other Over the Mountain athletes turned in stellar All-Star performances in cross-country.
Homewood rising senior and defending Class 6A state cross-country champion Emma Brooke Levering was in top form, clocking 18:41.80 to claim the girls individual title in the North-South All-Star Cross Country competition at Gateway Park.
Briarwood’s Mary Grace Parker finished second with a time of 19:13.14.
The North girls won the cross-country competition 17-35 – with the top five finishers on each squad counting in the final team points.
Oak Mountain senior-to-be John Shoemaker, who finished runner-up in the 2023 AHSAA Class 7A State Cross Country Championships, clocked a strong 15:39.27 time to claim the boys’ all-star individual title. James Clemens’ Luke Alverson was second with a time of 15:50.83 time.
The North boys also won 20-41, giving the North the sweep.
The North girls won the overall title 40-68 counting the top seven participants on each team, and the North boys won with a total of 37-69.
