A-A Game Preview: Boys Goalkeepers

Regardless of the sport, when it comes to all-star and All-America contests, the focus tends to be on offense and that’s easy to understand. Quite often all-star defensive units often lack the cohesiveness that is gained only by playing together over an extended period of time. Then, there’s the offensive mindset that every attacking player wants to be the hero -- and in soccer, that means taking chances that otherwise they would have passed on during the season. In other words, expect these four keepers to get tested this weekend at the High School All-American Game, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 11, in Knoxville, Tenn. The match will be live-streamed on PrepSoccer.net. <strong>EAST</strong> [caption id="attachment_36116" align="alignright" width="225"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-36116" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/12/output_image1638817168717-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> <em>Lackey (Md.) senior Mikah Seger</em>[/caption] <b>[player_tooltip player_id="29203" first="Rafa" last="Ponce de Leon"], Pennington School (N.J.), Villanova </b> <strong>Coach:</strong> Chad Bridges <strong>Career Shutouts:</strong> 30; <strong>Career Saves:</strong> 114 <strong>Honors:</strong> Four-year starter and 2021 captain at The Pennington School. … Named the MLS NEXT U-17 Goalkeeper of the Year while playing for PDA. … Recorded 13 shutouts in 19 matches in 2021. … 2018 and 2019 All-State honorable mention. … 2020 All-Area and All-State Goalkeeper. … 2021 All-America Watch List and All-American selection. … Local and state postseason honors for fall 2021 have yet to be announced. <b>[player_tooltip player_id="11799" first="Mikah" last="Seger"], Lackey (Md.) </b> <strong>Coach:</strong> John Juracko <strong>Career Goals:</strong> 6;<strong> Career Assists:</strong> 10 <strong>Career Shutouts:</strong> 21 <strong>Honors:</strong> Four-year varsity captain. … Led the conference and state in saves as a goalkeeper who also played in the field. … All-Conference, All-County, and All-State selection. … SMAC Player of the year. ... Former U.S. Youth National Team U15 goalkeeper. ... Seger previously was committed to Maryland but has since re-opened his recruiting. <strong>WEST</strong> [caption id="attachment_36131" align="alignright" width="225"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-36131" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/12/output_image1638826729125-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> <em>Avon Lake's Zach Glesius</em>[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="29224" first="Zach" last="Glesius"], Avon Lake (Ohio), Virginia Tech</strong> <strong>Honors:</strong> Team captain in 2020 and 2021. … Lorain County Rising Stars Game participant. … Lorain County second-team goalkeeper in 2020 and Greater Cleveland honorable mention. … Second-team All-State in 2021. … Academic All-Ohio in 2021. … First-team All-Greater Cleveland in 2021. … Co-Goalkeeper of the Year for Lorain County in 2021. … Lorain County Senior All-Star. … SWC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="12671" first="Ryan" last="Thompson"], Rockhurst Jesuit (Mo.)</strong> <strong>Coach:</strong> Matt Darby <strong>Career Shutouts:</strong> 35 <strong>Honors:</strong> Four-year letter winner and three-year starting goalkeeper at Rockhurst. … All-District honoree in 2019. … All-District, All-Region, Regional Goalkeeper of the Year, first-team all-state, first-team All-Metro, United Soccer Coaches All-Central Team in 2020. … Has a 44 percent save percentage on penalty kicks. … Local and state postseason honors for the 2021 fall season have yet to be announced. <strong>THE EDGE:</strong> EAST The East team features two of the nation’s top high school goalkeeper prospects. Ponce de Leon is an imposing keeper who led Pennington to a Prep A state runner-up finish to St. Benedict’s (N.J.). Seger is one of the more interesting keepers to have been invited to the All-America Game. During the high school season, he actually spent time in the field. For the West, Thompson led Rockhurst to the Missouri Group 4 title and a lofty FAB 50 final ranking. Virginia Tech signee Glesius claimed just about every local award possible. The edge here goes to the East with two major-college prospects. [table id=108 /] [table id=109 /]