Delaware High School Girls to Watch this Spring

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Girls high school soccer kicked off this week in the First State, giving Delaware the spotlight in the region as the only spring high school being played (Delaware boys play in the fall). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some players I'm looking forward to watching this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["49772"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":120487,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Zapata is everything you want out of a No. 9. She has the pace to get behind defenses, but is also good at holding the ball up, has quick feet and is a handful to defend.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":120505,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Alaina Alston","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Caravel Academy","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Delaware FC","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Alston is an explosive offensive player who has the ability to create for herself and disrupt defenses. She was hampered by injury in the state final last year but still managed to dazzle when she had a chance.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":120489,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Gabriella Riley","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Middletown High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"Sporting Delaware","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Riley is back to lead the Middletown attack after they came up just short in the state final against Padua Academy last year. Whether she's playing with her back to goal, creating off the half turn or splitting defenders off the dribble, Riley is hard to miss in the Middletown attack.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":120488,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Ava Ripanti","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"MIddletown High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"Sporting Delaware","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"While Riley leads the attack for Middletown, Ripanti is the heart and soul of the defense as the keeper who organizes the back line. An outspoken leader who showed off some swagger in the state final, Middletown will be a tough out again with her in goal.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["59718"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":120492,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"After losing the state player of the year in the middle of the midfield in Maddie Schepers, Phillips is poised to play an even bigger role as a sophomore than she did her first year last year. Already she has 4 goals and 3 assists through two games for the defending state champs. Her decision making, ability to execute the press and passing vision make her a well-rounded weapon for the Spartans.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":120491,"_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Madison Mosier","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Padua Academy","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"Penn Fusion","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Mosier is a solid two-way midfielder for Padua Academy who does a lot of the dirty work in the middle of the park while also pulling the strings in the attack. She set up both the equalizer and the game-winner in overtime in Padua's comeback win over Appoquninimink to start what is sure to be a big senior season for her.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":120490,"_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Emma Gioffre","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Archmere Academy","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"Penn Fusion Academy","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"If her two hat tricks, 7 total goals and two assists in the first week of the season are any indication, Gioffre is poised to have a banner senior year. The University of Cincinnati commit is good with the ball at her feet, has strength to fight off defenders and is a solid ball winner with great instincts in transition.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641e7f0bc2e15"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some other players to watch:<br>Lauren Duffy, Senior, Midfielder, Padua Academy<br>Sidney Donovan, Senior, Midfielder, Appoquinimink<br>Halle Geiger, Junior, Goalkeeper, Smyrna<br>Hannah Stewart, Soph., Forward, Archmere<br>Kailey Brady, Senior, Defender, Saint Mark's<br>Haley Schleeweis, Soph., Midfielder, Archmere<br>Jayla Grimes, First-Year, Defender, Charter School of Wilmington<br>Ariell Flaherty, Senior, Midfielder, Charter School of Wilmington<br>Jade Balon, Junior, Midfielder, Smyrna<br>Emerson Brooks, Soph., Goalkeeper, Appoquinimink<br>Kathy Sanchez-Garcia, Senior, Goalkeeper, Sussex Central<br>Maddie Bell, Senior, Midfielder, Archmere<br>Sophia Scurci, Soph., Forward, Indian River<br>Emma Manley, Soph., Forward, Saint Mark's<br>Sofie Aird, Senior, Goalkeeper, Tower Hill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who am I missing on this list? Email me at matthew.r.ralph@gmail.com. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->