Five girls in Florida making a statement
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The state of Florida is a hot bed for athletic talent, as anyone who follows the prep scene knows. And when the Winter season rolls around, it’s not just about basketball. Florida has become one of the premier soccer scenes…
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Continue ReadingThe state of Florida is a hot bed for athletic talent, as anyone who follows the prep scene knows. And when the Winter season rolls around, it’s not just about basketball. Florida has become one of the premier soccer scenes in the country, and from November to March features some of the top teams in the country. It also boasts some of the most well-known clubs and a bevy of future college talent. These five players fit that mold.
Kiara Clarke Kiara Clarke M FL , Outside Defender, Palm Bay Magnet, Class of 2024
Clarke is a special player because she is versatile. She is best as a left outside back, but also plays as a forward and can play on the wings. Clarke competes, no matter which part of the pitch she is on. She works hard, she fights and she competes. She is resilient and is quick to learn from what she gathers. She cares as well, as others find to be her committed to the game. She is bought into this sport 100 percent. This is shown by the fact that she commutes 90 minutes each way for training with her club, which is the 2005 ECNL team at Florida Kraze. She has the intangibles, and also has the skills. Clarke is very fast, very technical and very skilled. She plays her high school with Palm Bay Magnet.
Erin Morgan Erin Morgan 5'7" | D State #286 Nation FL , Central Defender, Cypress Bay, Class of 2025
Morgan was a varsity starter and All-County first team player for Cypress Bay High as a freshman, but decided to focus strictly on club soccer, playing at Florida United. She plays as a left-footed center back, but can also play as a wide player as well, giving her team skill on the left side. Morgan is a leader. She has been the captain of her Florida United team for three consecutive years. She is a very disciplined player, one who is committed to improving and she is very committed. What coaches like about her so much is that she is very accountable. She’s a fierce competitor, she has a high soccer IQ, she displays great leadership and from a physical standpoint shows great tackling ability.
Mak Owens, Keeper, IMG Academy, Class of 2027
Owens is at IMG Academy, a premier program in Florida, starring as an eighth grader as she prepares for her freshman season. She also plays club at IMG, playing up on the U15 Elite team. Owens is a very brave keeper, who is not afraid to make a challenge or come for a ball. She competes, and does not back down. Owens is confident, she can do everything you want from a keeper as she can stop shots, command her back line, close down angles and go up in the air. She is an intimidating force in between the posts, she plays without fear and with an edge and physicality in her game.
Lily Puhala, Central Defender/Midfielder, Land O’ Lakes, Class of 2026
Puhala shows her versatility by playing central defender for her high school team at Land O’Lakes, and by playing midfield for her club, which is Florida Premier. She is an 08 ECNLR player and her team is moving to ECNL this Fall. Puhala is a coach’s dream, and what that means is that she is a very athletic, talented and technically gifted player, but she also puts in the work. She is always looking to improve and will work hard. She is also very dedicated to the sport. Puhala plays with aggressiveness and with a motor that does not quit. Despite playing as hard as she does, what jumps out about her is how calm under pressure she is.
Sadie Zelnick Sadie Zelnick 5'6" | M NSU University | 2027 FL , Midfielder/Forward, Nova Southeastern University, Class of 2027
Zelnick is a very precocious young lady, attending a high end academic school and playing high end soccer. She attends, and plays for, Nova Southeastern University, and has been a varsity starter as a 7th and 8th grader. She plays her club at FC Prime. She is an attack-minded player, featuring as a No. 10 or as a forward for the most part. When she’s on the pitch, she’s tough to shut down. She is very shifty and constitutes a threat at all times. She works hard, she’s determined to make life hard for defenders and she focuses on the challenge at hand. Zelnick also plays the game with a lot of passion, a lot of happiness and a lot of joy as she truly loves being on the pitch.