Youngsters shine at Girls Academy 2008 Playoffs

OCEANSIDE, California - The Girls Academy League playoffs are being held at the SoCal Sports Complex this week. The nation-wide league had the U14, U16, and U17 playoff teams in action on Saturday. The semi-finals for the U13 and U19 age groups will be on Sunday, along with the quarterfinals for the U14 age group. PrepSoccer highlights the standouts from the U14/2008 games on Saturday, which included some players who should on the US Youth National Team radar in the coming months. [caption id="attachment_48686" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-48686 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/06/ColoradoRush4-08-300x245.jpg" alt="Santa Clara Sporting 08 and Colorado Rush" width="300" height="245" /> Mia Kim and No. 4 on Rush battle[/caption] AnnabelleTurner, Colorado Rush 08 - Turner played as the left back in the first half against Sporting Santa Clara. She was comfortable on the ball and did well joining the attack. She delivered a great service with her left foot. Whitney Birkey, Colorado Rush 08 - Birkey scored a tidy goal on a breakaway in the first half. IT was the second of the game as Rush cruised to a 5-2 win to wrap up the top spot in the group. Makayla Sellyei, Colorado Rush 08 - The defensive midfielder for Rush showed good skill on the ball to cut it underneath herself and take a touch away from a defender and then bury the shot into the upper part of the goal. She was wearing No. 21. No. 4, not listed on roster, was also a bright spot for Rush. Ella Rieben, Colorado Rush 08 - Rieben had an unreal performance in the first half. She made a number of great saves including coming off her line to stop down a breakaway and also a quick reaction save on a very close shot. She is excellent with her feet and plays with a lot of confidence and swagger. [caption id="attachment_48685" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-48685 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/06/SportingSC-GK-08-300x288.jpg" alt="Santa Clara Sporting 08 goalkeeper Addison Bartell" width="300" height="288" /> Addison Bartell[/caption] Addison Bartell, Santa Clara Sporting 08 - Bartell impressed with her communication. She was constantly giving instructions and had a clear message to her teammates. It took some special strikes to score against her in the first half. Hadley Fay, Santa Clara Sporting 08 - Fay was a standout in the attack for Sporting. She was very good on the ball and showed off impressive speed with the ball at her feet as no one could chase her down. She was created a number of chances in the first half that required some outstanding play from Rieben to keep Rush in the lead. Giselle Marquez, IMG Academy 08 - Marquez is a very talented winger. She has natural instincts on the ball and a high work rate. She has all the tools to be a successful player in the future on a big stage. She is a 2026, so a long way off from the college radar, but definitely a player who made a big statement on Saturday. Kelsi Hart, IMG Academy 08 - Hart is the captain of her side. She was active early on in intercepting passes and disrupting the flow of the game. She connected some good long range passes later in the half that opened up the field for her teammates and wingers. Goalkeeper Mak Owens made a good reaction save in the first half. Corinne Rodriguez, LA Surf 08 - Rodriguez was a standout for LA Surf. She is a skillful attacking player. She has a good first touch and she makes quick decisions on the ball. She had a good cross in the first half and created some other chances. Maya Miles and No. 12 were also standouts for LA Surf. [caption id="attachment_48687" align="alignright" width="193"]<img class="wp-image-48687 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/06/TSJFCV-22-08-193x300.jpg" alt="Lily Stevens, FC Virginia 08" width="193" height="300" /> Lily Stevens[/caption] Lily Stevens, TSJ FC Virginia 08 - Stevens scored a great goal on Saturday. She also showed well during the run of play. She was good at scanning the field and taking snapshots of where the opponent was before she received the ball. Maya Engel, TSJ FC Virginia 08 - Engel has a lot of potential. She showed well on Saturday. She put in a tackle in the open field that was one of the best of the day. She did well using her body to knock attacking players off the ball. There are characteristics of her game that suggest potential at the youth international level. Olivia Janusko also had a good showing in the game. She was a pain for the Albion defense to deal with throughout the second half. She pressed everything and made sure the defenders knew she was there. Jailynn Henry, Albion SC Las Vegas 08 - The late goal from Jailynn Henry earned a point on the day for Albion, and clinched a spot in the next round. The right center back hit a shot from over 35 yards out that hit the top corner of the net with some power behind it. Emma Flannery, Albion SC Las Vegas 08 - Flannery showed some skill on Saturday. She had good close control of the ball and a great first touch. She was a difference-maker in the midfield. Makayla Bindrup and No. 47 were also standouts for Albion SC LV. Olivia Petty, Albion SC Las Vegas 08 - Petty was one of the best on the day at decision-making in distribution from the goalkeeper position. She had one long throw that launched a counter-attack for her side.