South Val Bunde Leads All-area Women's Soccer Team Again

Val Bunde is the first player to repeat in the 18 years the Herald-Times has named Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.

It shows how special he was to Bloomington South. Then again, Bunde wasn’t asked to be the same player she was last season, and she won this year’s award under very different circumstances.

With playmaker Helena Cutshall back in the lineup, Ellie Barada moved further into the attack, and with sophomore Maddie Norman a year older and more polished, Bunde was able to return to a more natural role as a playmaker while remaining one of the Panthers’ top finishers around the net.

“She did a little bit of everything for us,” South coach David Prall said.

Or a lot of everything, with another 22 goals but also accumulating 20 assists, the best mark of his career.

Bloomington South’s Val Bunde (22) controls the ball during the Bloomington South-Bloomington North girls soccer game at South on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.

“I felt like everything that went right for our offense started or ended with it,” Prall said. Bunde was a versatile piece who could cover any position, including center back.

“I felt bad because I put a lot of weight on her, but she is a very complete player,” Prall said. “She does what is necessary for the team. Last year it was scoring more goals.

“This year, we needed her to be involved in the preparation more often. Whatever we both agreed on had to be done for the team, she was a team-first kid.”

She was always there for her teammates, starting every game she was healthy in all four years, and this year she brought all of that to her role as a senior leader.

“We had four seniors and they all had different personalities,” Prall said. “She mostly led by example. She wasn’t strict about telling the kids what not to do. She just did everything right. When you practice and play like Val, you’ll be a good player.

“She was a great example. We had a good mix of the four of us. They were really good leaders who made it fun and welcoming. They invited all the freshmen.”

Further: South’s Jasmine Martoglio leads women’s all-area cross country team

Further: College commitments of Bloomington area Class of 2026 high school athletes. See the list here

Bunde will take all of that to the next level, having committed to NCAA Division III Brandeis in Massachusetts.

“This year, the overall range of passes, winning tackles and creating more goals was at a much higher level,” Prall said. “She was more suited for the job. You could see her as a central defender at the next level.

“He has a great football brain and knows the game.”

Bloomington South's Val Bunde (19) controls Helena Cutshall during the girls soccer game against Carmel at South on Monday, August 25, 2025. — Bloomington South’s Val Bunde (19) controls Helena Cutshall during the girls soccer game against Carmel at South on Monday, August 25, 2025.

Herald-Times Women’s All-Area Soccer Team

Ellie Barada, South, Mr. MF

The speedy midfielder was more involved in the attack this year, finishing with 14 assists and three goals. Indiana all-conference. Repeat in all areas. He will run track in North Carolina.

Val Bunde, South, Mr. MF

The offensive center repeats as HT Player of the Year, registering 22 goals and 20 assists. He leaves with 67 professional goals. Indiana all-conference. Three-time All-Area. ICSA All-District 4 and Second Team All-State. Signed with Brandeis University in Massachusetts.

Haeli Chambre, Norte, So. D

Important part of a defense that recorded seven shutouts. He had a goal and three assists. Honorable Mention All-Conference Indiana.

Macey Crider, Edgewood, senior goalie

Mainstay again in net for the Mustangs with 103 saves. He had nine shutouts and allowed only seven goals. All Western Indiana Conference. Repeat in all areas. He will play basketball and run track at DePauw.

Helena Cutshall, South, Mr F

He returned from a season-ending knee injury as a junior to score a career-high 19 goals and record six assists, giving him career totals of 45 and 17. ISCA All-District 4 and Third Team All-State. Indiana all-conference. Third time All-Area.

Paloma Martínez, Sur, Jr. GK

The three-year starter had 73 saves and allowed just nine goals, seven of them in three games against top 10 teams Carmel and Center Grove. He posted 13 shutouts, giving him 33 in his career. Indiana all-conference. ISCA Second Team All-District 4. Three-time All-Area.

Maddie Norman, South, So. F

Always a dangerous threat on the left wing, he racked up a team-best 29 goals and 19 assists. He already has 45 goals and 110 points in his career. Indiana all-conference. Repeat in all areas.

Cora Parker, North, Sr. MF

He led the Cougars in assists (seven) and scored four goals. Honorable Mention All-Conference Indiana.

Helee Patel, Edgewood, Sr.D

Center back in charge of a defense that allowed just nine goals and recorded nine shutouts as the conference co-champion. All Western Indiana Conference.

Bloomington North's Erica Urheim (16) holds the ball in front of Bloomington South's Izzy Sweet (25) during the Bloomington South-Bloomington North girls soccer game at South on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. — Bloomington North’s Erica Urheim (16) holds the ball in front of Bloomington South’s Izzy Sweet (25) during the Bloomington South-Bloomington North girls soccer game at South on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.

Izzy Sweet, South, Mr. D

The center back led a defense that conceded just 11 goals and shut out 13 opponents. Dangerous player on corner kicks and scored three goals, one of them in the playoffs. Indiana all-conference. Repeat in all areas.

Erica Urheim, North, Mr. F

The team captain scored six goals and six assists. Indiana all-conference. Repeat in all areas.

Zhenia Venegas, Edgewood, Sr. MF

He became the top threat for the Mustangs this year, leading the team in goals (15) and assists (five). He won 35 games in three seasons. All Western Indiana Conference. Three-time All-Area. Middle center.

Parker Witt, Edgewood, Sr. M.F.

The outside midfielder scored six goals for the conference co-champions. All Western Indiana Conference.

Bloomington North's Daphne Wright (23) and Bloomington South's Helena Cutshall (7) go after the ball during the Bloomington South-Bloomington North girls soccer game at South on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. — Bloomington North’s Daphne Wright (23) and Bloomington South’s Helena Cutshall (7) go after the ball during the Bloomington South-Bloomington North girls soccer game at South on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.

Daphne Wright, North, Sr. MF

He had to navigate his way through the season after an injury and missed the postseason. He scored a team-best nine goals, including four game-winners, and four assists. Indiana all-conference.

HONORABLE MENTION: Jennifer Brown, Owen Valley, Jr. goalkeeper; Lizzie Bucklin, South, So. D; Camilla Ensign, North, So. D (2 goals, 4 assists); Caroline Farmer, North, So. F (8 goals, 2 assists); Mae Love, Edgewood, So. F (4 goals, 2 assists); Hattie Wisler, North, Sr. F (2 goals, 3 assists).

This article originally appeared in The Herald-Times: South’s Val Bunde leads HT All-Area women’s soccer team again

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