2022 Girls Soccer Defensive Player of the Year: Bella Ellison

***ICYMI: Boys Tennis Player of the Year: Alan Dimock***

***ICYMI: Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Hannah Grace***

***ICYMI: Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Connor Powe***

***ICYMI: Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year: Lillian Austin***

***ICYMI: Boys Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Long***

***ICYMI: Boys Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year: Trey Parkes***

***ICYMI: Boys Golfer of the Year: Ryan Jahr***

Now that the spring sports season has come to a close, it’s time to reveal the All-Coastal Preps teams. Over the next week, you will get to know more about the players of the year while also seeing who made first and second team in boys tennis, boys and girls track & field, boys and girls lacrosse, boys golf, girls soccer, softball and baseball.

The Coastal Preps Girls Soccer Defensive Player of the Year is junior Bella Ellison from New Hanover.

Bella’s Accomplishments

New Hanover goalkeeper Bella Ellison often faced a constant barrage of shots, but she was up always for the challenge.

In 16 matches, Ellison stopped 202 of the 268 shots she faced. Her 12.6 saves per match were easily the most in the area.

Although the Wildcats finished just 2-12-2, Ellison was a major bright spot. She extended many matches that typically would have ended early due to the mercy rule by coming up with remarkable 1-on-1 saves.

The Richmond commit finished with a season-high 31 saves against Laney on April 7. She stopped all 15 shots she faced to help New Hanover earn a 1-0 upset over Topsail five days later.

Ellison recorded 15 or more saves in nine matches.

More about Bella

Favorite Food(s): California roll

Favorite Restaurant(s): Tokyo 101

Favorite Movie(s): The Sandlot or Elf

Favorite TV Show(s): Dawson’s Creek, Pretty Little Liars, Stranger Things

Favorite Athlete(s): Julie Ertz, Abby Wambach

Favorite memory from this season: Beating Topsail

Favorite memory from your career: Winning my final game on our senior night and running up to my back line and celebrating after the game.

Favorite thing about your school or team: The community – we all look out for each other and have so much love for each other, and it makes it really fun to be apart of the team.

Favorite holiday: Christmas

Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals? If so, what are they?: So many. Right cleat goes on before left, right glove goes on before left, pregame handshake with Norah Moore, tap the crossbar before each kick off. I also tap the heel of my right cleat, where I wrote “AO1,” which stands for “Audience of One.” It’s basically reminding me each game that God’s given me the opportunity to play the sport I love, so at the end of the day he’s the only audience I’m really playing for.

Do you have a sweet tooth? If so, what is your favorite treat?: Yes, and my favorite treat is sorbet from circles ice cream shop in WB.

What app on your phone do you use the most?: Snapchat or Twitter

If you could shop for free at one store, which one would you choose?: Either Dick’s or Palmetto Moon

Would you rather hang out by the pool or on the beach?: On the beach

Do you prefer cold or hot weather?: Cold weather

What is a skill you are bad at that you wish you could master?: Bowling. I used to be really good at it, but now not so much

Would you rather watch a movie at home or in the theater?: At home

If you could have dinner with any 3 people (dead or alive), who would they be?: Nat King Cole, my dad and my mom