Schaffer has reportedly been named the 2026 Girls Soccer Player of the Year after leading Crystal Lake Central to a state championship. The senior forward finished the campaign with 41 goals and 31 assists, while earning her first selection to the IHSSCA all-state team.
The report says she ended her school career with 84 goals and 63 assists, numbers that underline her consistency as both a finisher and creator. After recording 20 goals and 13 assists as a junior, Schaffer raised her level when the stakes were highest.
Crystal Lake Central reportedly completed the season with a 22-2 record and captured its fourth Fox Valley Conference title in five years. Schaffer’s influence was especially visible during the state tournament.
She supplied three assists against Lemont in the Class 2A semifinal before scoring twice against Morton in the championship game. Those performances turned a strong individual campaign into a title-winning legacy.
Schaffer also reportedly pointed to reaching the 40-goal mark, helping younger teammates and beating Huntley, a team that had defeated Crystal Lake Central the previous season, among her favorite moments. Her own assessment of her development focused on sharper low finishes, better corner placement and improved cutbacks from the end line.
The next chapter will come at Loyola, a choice reportedly shaped by its proximity, city life and the chance to reunite with former teammates. College soccer will bring a faster, more demanding environment, but Schaffer arrives with confidence, versatility and a proven appetite for important moments.
The storyline to watch is whether that high-school dominance can translate immediately to the college game.