USYS Showcase: Rising stars in Arizona 

<p class="p1"><strong>MESA, Arizona</strong> - The U.S. Youth Soccer National League Showcase wrapped up on Sunday from the Legacy Sports Complex. The Showcase event is attached to the National League P.R.O. event happening at the same venue over the same weekend. The showcase featured some of the top talent in the U19-U15 age groups from teams all over the country.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Some teams ended the event with 3-0 records while others tried to leave Arizona on a high note with a victory.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">PrepSoccer caught the action from the Legacy Sports Complex. These are the players with standout performances from some of the games.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">F [player_tooltip player_id="11388" first="Aidan" last="Boehmer"], KC Fusion Academy 06 - Boehmer has a game reminiscent of Matthew Roou. He is not a big target forward, but he’s a difficult player to stop for other reasons. He makes good runs off the ball and plays off the shoulder of the center back. He is quick enough to get past the backline and not let anyone catch up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">D Payson Hoffstatter, KC Fusion Academy 06 - The left back for KC is a weapon in the attack. He can launch a throw-in to the moon so every throw-in near the end line becomes a corner kick for his side. With the ball in play, he is a physical defender that uses his strength well to win duels.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">M [player_tooltip player_id="6620" first="Jacob" last="Spain"], AZ Arsenal B06 ECNL - Spain is a tidy center midfielder. He is good in tight spaces and broke a couple of ankles on Sunday with his shifty moves while under pressure. His quick change of direction is an elite trait at this level.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">F [player_tooltip player_id="6842" first="Spencer" last="Brown"], AZ Arsenal B06 ECNL - Brown is a forward with a good work ethic. He is a willing presser and makes his presence felt in tackles. He scored a well-placed shot on Sunday as he also showed his quality on the ball. Goalkeeper Carson Pridie has good size and showed soft hands to secure crosses in traffic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">M Winston Starr, New Mexico SA NMSA B08 - Starr and the NMSA dictated where the game was played in the win over AZ Arsenal on Sunday. The general of the midfield plays simply with one or two touch movements, but his play is instrumental in how his club side wants to approach the game. He is a physical presence in the game too and puts in a challenge when called upon.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">M Oliver Groves, New Mexico SA NMSA B08 - If Starr is the boss of the NMSA midfield, Groves is the artist. He’s a clever player who is more likely to beat a player on the dribble when given the chance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> [caption id="attachment_40524" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-40524 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/03/DaneValenti-scaled-crop-2288x1502-1647210480-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Dane Valenti, Downtown Las Vegas[/caption] <p class="p1">M Dane Valenti, Downtown Las Vegas 07B - It’s easy to see why MLS academies are asking about the Downtown Las Vegas 07 players. The team could compete with pretty much anyone in this age group across the various youth leagues in the U.S. Valenti, who has been on trial with Austin FC in the past, is a center midfielder with a high engine. He did not lose the ball in the game against Stars. He made the right read while in possession and moved to the right spots to be an outlet for his teammates. He has a game that is similar to Jude Wellings. He can be a great center midfielder that shuttles the ball from box-to-box, but he also has that eye for goal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">D Isaiah Martinez, Downtown Las Vegas 07B - It felt like Downtown’s defense did not have to do much in the game, but Martinez is a major reason why they were not called on much. He snuffed out opportunities early on and shut it down. He looked like a man playing against boys at time. The center back has a bright future in the game.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">M Rogelio Berto Mendez Jr., Downtown Las Vegas 07B - The defensive midfielder for Downtown was always in the right spots. He is calm on the ball and proved to be a key lynchpin for his side’s success. Santiago Martinez scored the goal of the day with a driven chip shot from over 35 yards out that hit off the crossbar and went in.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">M Christian Hernandez, Chicago Magic 07 MCL - Hernandez hits the ball with some pace. He zips it around the field. His sweet right foot is a weapon as he hits the ball with power and accuracy to open up the opposition.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">F Mason Diercks, Madison 56ers 03/04 - Diercks is a target forward with good height and athleticism. He did well to finish his chance in the second half.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>