Montverde, Fla. (January 20, 2026) – Girls soccer player Taylor Heaton has been named the Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending January 18.
Heaton earned the honor after anchoring the No. 2 nationally ranked Eagles' defense in a pair of dominant victories last week. The Eagles opened the week with an 8-0 home win over West Orange High School on Monday before securing a key 1-0 victory at nationally ranked No. 4 Lake Mary High School on Friday. In the win over Lake Mary, the Eagles limited the opposition to zero shots on goal, a testament to the strength and organization of the defensive back line anchored by Heaton.
A stalwart on defense all season, Heaton has played a key role in MVA's outstanding 14-1-1 regular-season record. The Eagles have allowed just six goals all season while outscoring opponents 61-6. Her leadership and consistency have helped MVA record 11 shutout victories, along with 12 overall matches without allowing a goal (including a 0-0 draw against nationally No. 1 ranked Ponte Vedra in the season opener).
Heaton and the Eagles now turn their attention to the FHSAA District playoffs, where MVA has earned the No. 1 seed. The Eagles will open postseason play on Thursday in the semifinal round against the winner of Tuesday's play-in game between No. 4 seed Umatilla High School and No. 5 seed South Sumter High School.
**The Montverde Academy Student-Athlete of the Week award is sponsored by the 2025-26 Montverde Academy Booster Club.
About Montverde Academy:
Montverde Academy is a private, independent college preparatory school for grades Pre-K3 through post-graduate studies, with a boarding program serving grades 7-12 representing 70+ nationalities. Our mission is to inspire students to become knowledgeable leaders with global vision and passion for learning, in a disciplined and diverse community that nurtures character development. For more information, visit us online at Montverde.org and at MVASports.com.
