All-America Watch List: Girls Defenders
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Throughout the season, PrepSoccer.net will focus on the top candidates for the PrepSoccer All-America honors. Today, we check out the leading girls defender candidates for fall-playing states. Admittedly, sizing up defenders during the season can be difficult — example: how…
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Continue ReadingThroughout the season, PrepSoccer.net will focus on the top candidates for the PrepSoccer All-America honors. Today, we check out the leading girls defender candidates for fall-playing states. Admittedly, sizing up defenders during the season can be difficult — example: how much of the team’s success is directly due to that player relative to the rest of the supporting cast? But in any case, from match observation and coaches recommendation, here are some names to know.
TOP ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATES
(in alphabetical order)
Sonoma Adams
Sonoma
Adams
D
NY
, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.), Sr., Dartmouth
Adams has led a defense that has surrendered only four goals in a 13-0 start this season.She was listed as one of the top players on Long Island last month by Newsday.
Natalie Bain
Natalie
Bain
D
Notre Dame Academy | 2022
KY
, Notre Dame Academy (Ky.), Sr., Xavier
You have to love a defender who has scored more goals than her team has allowed. That’s the case with Xavier-bound Bain, who has scored four goals and has four assists while anchoring a defense that has allowed only three goals en route to a 23-0-1 season.
Taylor Brennan
Taylor
Brennan
D
NJ
, Council Rock North (Pa.), Sr., Michigan
The Michigan-bound defender played a key role in Council Rock North’s 1-0 shutout of state No. 1 Pennridge 1-0 last week. Council Rock North is riding a six-match win streak with four shutouts during that run.
Emily Chico
Emily
Chico
D
Ramapo | 2022
NJ
, Ramapo (N.J.), Sr., South Carolina
The South Carolina commit is the defensive star on a team loaded with top-end talent. Ramapo has allowed only five goals en route to an 11-0 start. She has scored a goal and assisted on two. Since Ramapo has other major college recruits on the field, Chico can focus on her defensive role without needing to move up the field.
Olivia Curry
Olivia
Curry
F
PA
, Spring-Ford (Pa.), Sr., Wisconsin
The reigning local Player of the Year, an oddity for a defender, is back for Spring-Ford, but the team isn’t having the type of season it had last year when it reached the PIAA 4A state semifinals. Right now, Spring-Ford is battling just to make it to the District 1-AAAA playoffs.
Lauren Fields
Lauren
Fields
M
Mount Notre Dame | 2023
OH
, Mount Notre Dame (Ohio), Jr.
Take away a wild 5-3 win over rival St. Ursula and Mount Notre Dame has surrendered only five goals this season en route to a 12-0-1 start. Like many top prospects, Fields, a defender on the club scene, can play in the midfield but she is especially dangerous on corner kicks and other set pieces. She’s scored a number of header goals this season.
Kendal Guzzardo
Kendal
Guzzardo
M
Assumption | 2022
KY
, Assumption (Ky.), Sr., Cincinnati
The Cincinnati commit was a standout performer at the Zionsville Lady Eagle and has anchored a defense that has surrendered 19 goals during a 14-4-2 season to date. Guzzardo occasionally can push up to midfield and she has five assists this year.
Mary Lundregan
Mary
Lundregan
M
CT
, St. Joseph (Conn.), Sr., Dartmouth
Entering this week, St. Joseph was 11-0 with only three goals allowed. Lundregan, like many elite club defenders who play high school soccer, might spend more time in the midfield than as a defender, but we’re still listing here for the time being.
Molly Martin
Molly
Martin
D
MA
, BB&N (Mass.), Sr., Penn State
OK, admittedly, this might be a stretch to place Matin as a defender. She’s likely to play in the midfield for a loaded Buckingham Browne & Nichols team this fall. The preps are the last to get started, so Martin’s season is just a couple weeks old.
Kira Prologo
Kira
Prologo
D
Eastlake High School | 2022
WA
, Eastlake (Wash.), Sr., Florida and
Maia Tabion
Maia
Tabion
F
WA
, Eastlake (Wash.), Sr., Columbia
Eastlake is off to a 10-1 start and a pair of major college prospects are to thank. Eastlake has yet to allow more than a goal in a match while playing in what is the strongest conference in the state.
Emma Romano
Emma
Romano
F
Syosset | 2022
NY
, Syosset (N.Y.), Sr., Navy
With three shutouts in its last five matches, Syosset’s defense is starting to come together as the team enters the second rotation of league play. Romano, a club defender, is showing a bit more in the midfield this season and has seven assists.
Others
Lauren Adam Lauren Adam D Noblesville (IN) | 2023 State IN , Noblesville (Ind.), Jr., Purdue
Bianca Cardano Bianca Cardano D Minnechaug | 2022 MA , Minnechaug (Mass.), Sr., Massachusetts
Mirann Gacioch Mirann Gacioch M NY , Nichols School (N.Y.), Sr., Ohio State
Gabriela Gonzalez Gabriela Gonzalez F CT , Staples (Conn.), Sr., Cornell
Elizabeth Jaraczeski Elizabeth Jaraczeski D C.M. Russell | 2022 MT , C.M. Russell (Mont.), Sr., Idaho State
Audrey King Audrey King D KY , South Oldham (Ky.), So.
Morgan Peters, Noblesville (Ind.), Sr., Wisconsin-Green Bay
Tamara Smith Tamara Smith D IN , Carmel (Ind), Sr.
CeCe Scott, Peters Township (Pa.), Sr., Duquesne
Hadley Snyder Hadley Snyder F Assumption | 2022 KY , Assumption (Ky.), Sr., Louisville
Maddie Swingle Maddie Swingle D IN , Mount Vernon (Ind.), Sr., Cincinnati
Jordan Townsend Jordan Townsend M MD , Liberty (Md.), Sr., Navy