McKenna Hilton scored a total of 17 goals during her high school soccer career at Ankeny Centennial.
Now a sophomore forward at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Hilton has continued to find the net for the Tritons. She helped the team to an 11-6 record this season, including a 7-2 mark in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference.
Earlier this week, Hilton was named the ICCAC Division II Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.
“To be honest, I was a little surprised!” said Hilton. “There are so many talented players in the region, and I’ve always just focused on doing my job and helping the team. So when I found out, it was definitely a proud moment.”
Hilton finished second in the conference in both goals (11) and assists (29). She twice was named the ICCAC Athlete of the Week.
On Oct. 11, Hilton recorded a hat trick in a dominating 7-0 win over Northwest Iowa. She scored the first, fourth and seventh goals–all of them in the first half.
In the first round of the NJCAA Region 11 Tournament on Oct. 25, Hilton accounted for half of her team’s goals in an 8-0 win over NIACC. She scored the first three goals of the game to complete another hat trick, then later added an assist.
The Tritons then closed out their season three days later with a 2-0 loss at Northeast Community College (Neb.) in the Region 11 semifinals.
“I think the key to my success this year was consistency and preparation,” Hilton said. “I definitely think I owe a lot to my coaches and teammates. They were always pushing me to be better every day, and that made all the difference. I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to improve as a player and person by their side!”
Hilton’s former coach at Centennial, Chris Allen, has not been surprised by her success.
“McKenna is capable of so many things because at her very core she’s a good person,” Allen said. “If she chooses to go on to play, she will impact her team positively on and off the pitch because it is in her nature to look out for others, and on the pitch, she is versatile.”
Hilton is expected to continue her soccer career next year.
“I’m exploring a few options right now,” she said. “But I am planning on attending a four-year school for my accounting degree and soccer!”
