20-05-2025
PND junior Ava Lafollette holds impressive record, could score 50 goals this season
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — It continues to be a productive season for Ava Lafollette.
The junior forward enters the postseason with 46 goals in 22 games. No player, male or female, has scored more goals in a single soccer season at Notre Dame.
She didn't even know she was close to the record.
'When coach told us that I made the scoring record it was a great feeling,' said LaFollette. 'Last year I only scored 26 goals. I have almost doubled that and we're not done. We have all the postseason to go, hopefully we make it back to state.'
The previous record for goals in season at Notre Dame was 41, shared by Noah Madrigal (2019) and Kayden Hudson (2024).
'I don't know if I've seen a girl more elite in putting the ball in the back of the net,' said PND girls soccer coach Ben Ralf. 'Getting any space, she makes defenders pay for letting her get open.'
The scouting report is out an on most nights, Lafollette is drawing two defenders, sometimes three. Yet she is still able to generate offense for the Irish (20-1-1).
She knows she has to earn her shots on goal.
'If I get the ball to my feet, I can turn and score. If I get it on top, with my speed I can beat them and score,' said Lafollette. 'I think there's various ways I've scored all season. I think that's helping me score more goals.'
Lafollette isn't thinking too much about the scoring record now as she's hoping to get the Irish back to state. PND finished third at state a year ago and this season they'd like to get to that state championship game.
'Even though we still won third place, everyone had that feeling of guilt. We wish we would have won that (semifinal) game,' Lafollette said. 'We have experience going to state. If we give it our all the whole 80 minutes, then we can pull it off.'
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