By Ken Hansard

          Lilly Emmerson has spent her high school career establishing herself as a steady presence in the midfield for Derby High School, and now the senior center-mid is embracing one final opportunity to lead the Panthers in the AVCTL-D1. With experience, resilience, and a team-first mindset, Emmerson is focused on making her last season one to remember.

Coming off a strong junior campaign that saw Derby finish 15-3 before a tough loss in the regional final, Emmerson and her teammates are motivated to take the next step. “I’m looking forward to going into my senior year and getting to play with almost all of the same girls from last year,” Emmerson said. “We’ve built a lot of chemistry, and I think that can really help us.”

As one of the team’s seniors,  Lilly understands the responsibility that comes with her role. “As a senior I feel like I need to be a leader and a role model for all the underclassmen,” she said. That leadership has been especially important as the Panthers have navigated early-season adversity, including injuries and a 5-2 start after facing strong competition.

Individually, Emmerson continues to push herself both mentally and physically. “I struggle with my confidence a lot, so I just worked to make myself better and trust my skill more,” she said. Her efforts have paid off throughout her career, highlighted by earning AVCTL-D1 First Team honors in 2023 and tying for the team lead in goals as a freshman.

Despite falling just short in the regional final in recent seasons, Emmerson has her sights set on changing that. “I am looking forward to the regional final game because we have come so close to winning that game but have fallen short every year,” she said.

With plans to continue her soccer career at Hutchinson Community College while studying radiology, Emmerson is determined to finish strong and leave a lasting impact on the Derby program.