2024 Recruiting Battles start to heat up

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The recruiting battles for the 2024 prospects continue to grab the headlines even as the 2022 recruits head to campus this week. Over the last few weeks, it was some of the non-traditional powers of the women's soccer grab who managed to land some top recruits from the rising junior class - a few of the players will end up being cornerstone pieces for their respective recruiting classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62ead0f3b1697","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["54066"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Sharp is an early commit to Saint Louis. She is a competitive defender with a high ceiling. She was a bright spot on the Sporting St. Louis side during the Girls Academy season, and earned a spot on the Girls Academy National Talent ID event this summer. St. Louis is getting a player who has already shown that she can battle against the best attacking talent in the club game. Assuming she continues to develop her game, she should be an early contributor for that squad - and is a great player for that coaching staff to help convince other top local talent to join that program in 2024.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["19141"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Utah picked up their second verbal commitment from the 2024 class last week with the addition of [player_tooltip player_id="19141" first="Audrey" last="Shackelford"], an attacking midfielder from Northern California. Callie Blaylock was the first verbal commit for Utah. The Utes are getting a player in Shackelford who earned a spot on the ECNL Northwest All Conference Second Team in 2021 - while playing with the 05 age group which is mostly 2023 recruits. She is a technical midfielder with good vision. Her best attribute is her ability to spring the attack quickly on the counter. Shackelford looks like a great fit for that program.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["23301"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id="23301" first="Grace" last="Pohlidal"] made her verbal commitment to the Naval Academy last month - she is the first verbal commit for the 2024 class for the Academy. She is a top midfielder from Minnesota. She is likely going to play at the No. 8 at the next level because she is good on both sides of the ball. In possession, she really stands out for her ability to navigate out of pressure when there is a defender on her back. She has excellent ball mastery skills - in the sense that she is efficient with her touches and is rarely caught in possession taking an extra touch. She is a smart player with a high ceiling.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["24746"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Johnson made her verbal commitment to Clemson at the end of July - and the coaching staff there could not be happier. Johnson might have been off the radar of some programs after the attacking talent missed most of the 2021/2022 club season due to a knee injury. She came back in the spring at the high school level and looked like she was back to 100%. Before the injury, Johnson was a Youth National Team level prospect. There is no reason to doubt she will be back at that level in the near future, which makes her one of the top players from the class of 2024 to give a verbal commitment at this point - and a big WIN for the Clemson program.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["22828"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Holy Cross landed local prospect [player_tooltip player_id="22828" first="Caroline" last="Bierfeldt"] as their first recruit for the class of 2024. Bierfeldt comes from the storied FC Stars program. She is a center back who should contribute immediately at the next level. She has the physical tools to compete at the Division I level. Her best attributes are in possession as she is a good passer and comfortable on the ball. She is right footed and should pencil as a long-term option at right center back. She likes to play as more of a support role at center back as she can clean up for her teammates. She is good at being in the right spots to provide support. Bierfeldt is a really strong start to the 2024 class for Holy Cross.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->