Lily Larnerd (7) of East Fairmont advances the ball previous a Nitro defender throughout the 2025 WVSSAC Soccer State Tournament. (Photo courtesy of the WVSSAC)
When Lily Larnerd first stepped on the sphere at East-West Stadium, the East Fairmont Bees had by no means performed in a state event.
Two years later, they’ve received a pair of championships, first in Class A/AA in a two-class system in 2024, then in Class AAA in a three-class setup in 2025.
“Coaches talk about certain players, but I think it’s just having an entire class like we do with that sophomore class. You’ve got Lily, you’ve got Annabelle Skidmore, who was the coaches’ state player of the year. You’ve got Emily Laxton (in goal)…Carly Manchin is a jack of all trades. We play her in the midfield, but she’s probably the best outside back in the state,” East Fairmont coach Eric Wright stated.
That sophomore class has misplaced only one recreation, early within the 2024 common season to Charleston Catholic, and presently maintain the second-longest profitable streak within the nation at 45 video games.
Larnerd scored 55 objectives as a sophomore and handed out 13 assists because the Bees went 23-0.
Goal No. 55 captured the Class AAA crown by a 1-0 last over Nitro.
That’s loads of {hardware}, and Larnerd can add a person honor as effectively, incomes the West Virginia Sports Writers Association’s ladies soccer participant of the 12 months for the 2025 season.
“Lily is a dynamic scorer that just brings a lot to the table,” Wright stated. “She broke our school scoring record in two years. That says enough in itself, but she’s just a great all-around player with dynamic footwork.”
East Fairmont outscored its opponents 154-2.
Yes, two: at Grafton in a 9-1 win on Sept. 23 and vs. Buckhannon-Upshur in a 6-1 victory on Oct. 6.
After that, they scored 5 towards Bridgeport, six towards Morgantown, one towards Wheeling Central, then, in regionals, seven towards Brooke and 7 towards North Marion earlier than placing six previous Bridgeport once more within the state semis earlier than the Nitro victory, all in shutouts.
“We always talk about, if you lose the ball, you’ve got three seconds to get it back,” Wright stated. “Lily might go even a bit longer generally…within the (2024) state championship recreation towards Charleston Catholic, the way in which she dug again within the second half and simply helped us defensively was large.
“She’s an extremely knowledgeable and smart player. You know she can make an adjustment in the game without us pulling her out to talk about it. She understands what’s going on.”
Larnerd scored 42 objectives and handed out 25 assists as a freshman, stepping up after an damage to Big 10 participant of the 12 months Brooklyn Shupe.
Putting up almost 100 objectives in two years on the wing as an alternative of as a extra central ahead is much more spectacular.
“She plays her angles,” Wright stated. “She’s got to have the top speed of any soccer player in the state, when you look at her track numbers as well. Most players don’t understand, even players who have played against her and she’s beaten, that next level of speed she’s got. When she’s coming from that wide area, she’s more 1-on-1 with that outside defender. When they don’t understand her speed, they take a bad angle. It might be a great play you just made, but against Lily, she’s going to be five yards past you.”
She isn’t capable of be actively recruited by schools till June, however Wright says there will probably be loads of curiosity.
“More than anything, she just has to continue to do what she’s already been doing. If you can be consistent, that shows a lot. I don’t want to say it’s easier as a freshman, but you can surprise people. Last year, everyone was gunning for her and she put out 55 goals. If she can come close to doing that again next season, that just shows her level of domination.”
Larnerd will obtain her award together with the opposite state gamers of the 12 months and soccer award honorees on the 79th Victory Awards, Sunday May 3 at Charleston Town Center.