Boys ECNL Playoffs: Monday’s Top Performers

DEL MAR, California - The Boys ECNL playoffs continued on Monday with U16, U15, U14, and U14 age groups in action. The third day of the postseason event featured some standout performances in front of the many coaches and scouts in attendance.  There were heroics of last-second goals plus breakout performances from a number of players. PrepSoccer highlights some of the best individual performances from the games.  [player_tooltip player_id="17636" first="Benjamin" last="Milstein"], Crossfire Premier 07 - Milstein was a standout in the midfield for Crossfire in the win over MVLA on Monday. He did well in connecting passes with one or two touches. He did well moving off the ball too to show for his teammates and then be in the right spot to shut down the opposition.  [player_tooltip player_id="17785" first="Domonick" last="Schauman"], Crossfire Premier 07 - Schauman was one of the best outside backs of the day. He did so well getting up and down the field on his side, the right. He sent in good services and he also tracked back to shut down wingers.  [player_tooltip player_id="7707" first="Hudson" last="Kohler"], MVLA 07 - Kohler was a standout for MVLA. The left center back was always around the ball. He did well getting stuck in on challenges and coming away cleanly with the ball.  [player_tooltip player_id="7720" first="Idan" last="Garten"], MVLA 07 - Garten had a shot hit off the crossbar early in the first half in the game against Crossfire. Garten likes to dance on the ball. He has good skill and good control of the ball.  [player_tooltip player_id="8527" first="Ricardo" last="Moreno"], San Diego Surf 07 - Moreno scored a goal in the 4-2 win over Solar on Monday. The midfielder did well playing box-to-box and even offered a bit in the final third. Moreno was clean on the ball and did well with his movement to find gaps in the opposition.  Jake Basinet, San Diego Surf 07 - Basinet was active throughout the game and was rewarded with a pair of a goals late as he iced the victory.  Abdourrahman Jirani, Solar SC 07 - Jirani saved a chance with a great slide tackle on a breakaway. The center back was called on a few times to shutdown the Surf attack. Roberto Solis had some good moments on the wing when he combined with teammates and then provided service from the wing.  [player_tooltip player_id="10289" first="Pedro" last="Cruz"], FL Premier 07 - Cruz was one of the top performers from the attacking wing role on Monday. He was unstoppable at times. He is a great dribbler and likes to take on the outside back when left on an island. Cruz had an outstanding game.  [caption id="attachment_48931" align="alignright" width="295"]<img class="wp-image-48931 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/06/EthanSafi-Surf06-295x300.jpg" alt="Ethan Safi, San Diego Surf 06" width="295" height="300"> Ethan Safi, San Diego Surf 06[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="14690" first="Ryan" last="Sullivan"], Ohio Premier 07 - Sullivan was a star of the Ohio Premier side. He played in the midfield and did a bit of everything. He was great in aerial duels and won a header over a player nearly a foot taller than him. He was also in charge of set pieces for his side and he put in a few good services.  [player_tooltip player_id="14622" first="Jayden" last="Burdine"], Ohio Premier 07 - Burdine made a great save late to shutout NTH-Nasa. Ohio Premier has yet to let in a goal during two games at the ECNL Playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id="14537" first="Caden" last="Davis"] made a nice block on a sliding challenge late in the game. Colin Barta was a standout for the side as well.  Julian Bretous, NTH-Nasa 07 - Bretous was a standout in the midfield for NTH-Nasa and he nearly grabbed the game-winner on a header but his effort went high. Bretous has good skill on the ball and covers a ton of ground. He has a high ceiling for a center midfield prospect. Ryan Burns, Ethan Manzella, and Matthew Klein were also standouts for NTH-Nasa.  Dalton Meusy, Heat FC 07 - Meusy plays as a deep center back. He likes to be the last line of defense for his side. He is good at the timing of his tackle and using his physicality in the shoulder-to-shoulder challenge. Gavin Flickinger and Cy Adams were also standouts for Heat.  [player_tooltip player_id='11596' first='Blake' last='Lloyd'], Pipeline SC 06 - Lloyd's overhead kick for the game-winner on Monday was spectacular and probably end up as one of the top goals of the event. The winger was good on the ball and was aggressive in trying to get touches on the ball. Daniel Klink was a standout for Pipeline as the target for Charles Greene III's long throw-ins. The midfielder looked smooth on the ball and kept the play move for his side.  Edward Smith III, Pipeline SC - Smith is the captain of his side and led the group with his words and actions. He was one of the top center backs of the day.  [player_tooltip player_id="8348" first="Nathan" last="Rouston"], San Diego Surf 06 - The San Diego Surf style of play is dependent on the midfielders being able to defend and press as a group. Rouston was a standout in that regard. He was very good at point of attack defending. He also made good decisions in the transition and helped set his team up for success. He stood out from the game, and should be on the radar of Division I coaches.  [caption id="attachment_48930" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-48930 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/06/JPYatooma-300x200.jpg" alt="JonPaul Yatooma, Nationals 08" width="300" height="200"> JP Yatooma, Nationals 08[/caption] Ethan Safi, San Diego Surf 06 - Safi scored a goal in the second half that showed off his soccer smarts. He received the ball at the top of the box and had a little space from the defense. Instead of winding up for a strike, he pulled off a quick toe poke that hit the top corner of the net. [player_tooltip player_id="8213" first="Marcus" last="Lightbourne"] was also a standout for Surf.  Isaac Tortola, Nationals 08 - Tortola was one of the best players of the day. He is a midfielder who is good with both feet. He didn't lose the ball once in the second half. He has excellent vision and decision-making skills. He is a player who has a bright future in the game at the highest levels.  JonPaul Yatooma, Nationals 08 - Yatooma scored a great individual goal on Monday as he dribbled through the defense and then placed the shot as Nationals cruised to the 3-0 win. Daniel Stevenson made a great save late in the game on a deflected shot.  Andrez Quinonez, OK Energy 08 - Quinonez hit a great pass to setup a goal early in the win over La Roca. He struck perfectly to pick out his target 40 yards away. Chase Duke flicked on the header and Rogelio Esparza Garcia scored the goal. Nicholas Pitman had a strong outing in defense in the lopsided victory.  Kai Hirano, Eastside FC 08 - Hirano is a center midfielder who is best as an attacking midfielder. He has great skill on the ball and possesses excellent body control even under pressure. He stood out for his technical ability.  [caption id="attachment_48928" align="alignright" width="244"]<img class="wp-image-48928 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/06/Knoblich-Crossfire08-244x300.jpg" alt="Nathan Knoblich, Crossfire Premier 08" width="244" height="300"> Nathan Knoblich, Crossfire Premier 08[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="13873" first="Anderson" last="O'Sullivan"], NCFC Youth Academy 08 - O'Sullivan had a good outing at defensive midfield. He was in the right spots and did well at connecting passes for his side. He played simply and kept the ball moving.  Nathan Knoblich, Crossfire Premier 08 - Crossfire looked the part of the favorite in this age group on Monday with a big win from the second game of group play. Knoblich was a standout at center forward. He was involved in plenty of the goals.  Zachariah Hume, Crossfire Premier 08 - Hume scored on a great goal from outside of the box in the first half. He also added another in the second half as he got on the end of a cross from Knoblich.