The best freshman midfielder in California

<!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":85356,"width":256,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/01/DecarloGuerra-IG.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-85356" width="256" height="171" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='7415' first='DeCarlo' last='Guerra'], LAFC</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer Player Rankings for the state of California for the class of 2026 were released last week. Check out<a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/01/updated-2026-california-boy-rankings/"> the full rankings for the class here</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout the past few days, we've done a deep-dive into this class in a positional breakdown for this class. Below is a rundown of the midfielders in this group. The midfield position is especially deep in this class with a variety of players shining bright on a big stage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["7415"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["80801"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Lambert is so fun to watch. It's easy to see why he is a favorite of the Youth National Team coaches. He is a creative midfielder with quick feet and even sharper movement. He had opportunities during the fall to play up an age group and he fit in really well because he played one or two-touch soccer and moved without the ball to support his teammates and get into influential spots. With a good first touch and a razor-sharp soccer brain, Lambert is a top midfielder to watch in California.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["83088"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The Vanney twins have been a bright spot in the LA Galaxy MLS Next midfield this season. They two are technical players that compliment each other well. Dylan is confident and comfortable on the ball. He operates through the center of the pitch. He is capable of playing out from pressure and breaking lines with his passing. Midfield teammate [player_tooltip player_id='85280' first='Mason' last='Dimitrijevic'] is another 2026 to watch from this class. The defensive midfielder is on the radar for the spring after some strong performances at the end of 2022.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["80852"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The way San Jose presses asks a lot of the midfielders on the team. They are required to cover ground, enthusiastically defend, jump into passing lanes if a line is broken, and then make split second decisions when containment is lost. When they win possession, the pace is just as feverish with snappy actions being key to the style of play. Colmenares has shined in that role. He is a center midfielder with good skill. He tends to play the way he faces, but he does move to receive it back while changing his body shape. He has good ball mastery and dribbled through a defe defenders in the box. He is usually on the right side of the midfield triangle trying to create overloads in the channel. He has the tools to be in this game for a long time.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63cefd17dfa4d"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":85366,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/01/MateoColmanares-SJ08.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-85366" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='80852' first='Mateo' last='Colmenares'] and San Jose Earthquakes 08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["83138"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"McDonnell is a player who continues to impress from the Strikers program. The defensive midfielder really stood out for his play during the MLS Next Event in Indio. He had a stellar showing in protecting the defense and controlling the center of the field for his side. He is not the biggest player, but he was impressively strong in the tackle. He is a tactically aware player who does well in being the right spots to make impactful plays. He is one to put on the radar for the spring.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["8172"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Ramans is a top prospect from the ECNL. He is a do-everything midfielder who can physically take over the game at that level. He made the varsity roster as a freshman, which should raise the eyebrows for scouts in Northern California. There is plenty to like about Ramans' game and high expectations for him leading his MVLA side this spring.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63cefd17dfaf2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->