MLS Next Cup Playoffs Day 1: U15 – Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLS Next Cup Playoffs began this weekend in Frisco, Texas, reuniting the best MLS academies and boys club teams in the country for a nine-day, single-elimination tournament that will determine the season champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer was in attendance on Saturday, when the U16 and U15 teams played their Round 1 matches and took a good look at some of the most interesting prospects in American soccer in action at a critical moment of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/06/mls-next-cup-playoffs-day-1-u15-photo-gallery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Check out our U15 Photo Gallery</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These players had standout performances in the U15 matches we attended:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Austin FC 1 - 0 Inter Miami</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Anton Hofbauer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Austin FC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Much of Austin FC's 1-0 victory over Inter Miami was built on the defensive side of the game, with the Texans doing a very good job of keeping their opponents scoreless during the 90 minutes. Hofbauer played a major role in that, taking great care of his side of the team's backline and stopping several of Miami's attempts. He was very effective with his tackles and was always in a good position to make plays. A lefty, Hofbauer also had a big role in the team's buildup, connecting good passes from the back and distributing the ball well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b412"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1670113891743875074?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1670113891743875074?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alexander Shaw","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Inter Miami","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Inter Miami's captain Shaw was very engaged with the team's play from his central midfield position. A true box-to-box player, he was important on both sides of the ball, helping the team win the ball back and getting involved when they had possession. Defensively, he played with great energy, making hard plays in the middle. Shaw displayed great quality pushing the ball forward himself with quiet and efficient runs through the middle, but also showed up in the penalty box to finish chances created by others. His distribution was also very efficient and free of errors for the most part.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b4c0"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140483,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8079.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140483" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Austin FC vs. Inter Miami</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LAFC 3 - 1 Nashville SC</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ademar Chavez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"LAFC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"LAFC dominated Nashville SC right from the start and Chavez's work in the final third helped the team turn that superiority into goals. The attacking midfielder fluctuated very well between the lines and always found pockets of space to get on the ball and make plays. Although he's a very technical player, it was Chavez's mental strength that made of him a very important piece for the team as he moved really well off the ball and used his vision to find teammates in good spots and connect key passes even when operating under pressure.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b55e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Tyson Espy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"LAFC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Espy's presence in the backline gave LAFC the confidence to keep pushing forward and the ability to maintain possession and use a defender to help the team create chances against a solid defensive opponent. The center back displayed a very complete game, combining physical, technical and mental skills to dominate opponents on the defensive side of the game. Epsy wasn't caught out of position a single time and that allowed to use his physical tools to shut down plays. He's so good and so calm on the ball that appears to flirt with being overconfident at times, but didn't make any mistakes in possession.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b5e8"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140492,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8115.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140492" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">LAFC vs. Nashville SC</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seattle Sounders 2 - 1 Inter Miami</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["18207"],"_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":"Hassan was the big name of the Seattle Sounders' comeback against Orlando City. Playing of the left side of his team's attacking line, he created chaos and was directly involved with both of his team's goals, scoring the first himself and giving the ball on a platter for Ronan Leeming to score the second. On both occasions, he used his main skills, his pace and dribbling ability, to beat defenders in dangerous areas and finish the pay in a few seconds. His goal, the team's first, started with him winning the ball back in Orlando's half and going directly to the goal to finish.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b644"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Hunter Anderson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Seattle Sounders","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Seattle's comeback was only possible because of Anderson's great work between the posts. If it wasn't for him, Orlando City would have probably increased their lead at the start of the second half, when the Sounders had a difficult moment, and that would make theirs lives a lot more complicated. Anderson delivered when called upon, making some excellent saves and giving the team the confidence it needed to keep pursuing the equalizer. He displayed excellent positioning, impressive reflexes and a very high level of safety in his actions.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b6cc"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140500,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8170.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140500" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Seattle Sounders vs. Orlando City</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LA Galaxy 4 - 2 FC Delco</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mathis Albert","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"LA Galaxy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Albert played a big role in the LA Galaxy's victory, getting involved in two of the team's four goals against FC Delco - he drew and converted the penalty kick that resulted in the first goal and initiated the play of the third. A winger with excellent pace and technical skills, he played very aggressively, getting on the ball and going straight toward goal. Albert always looks for 1v1 situations and his never-ending list of moves made him very difficult to defend. He's also very good at making runs off the ball and doesn't limit his play to the left side of the field, drifting inside to find the ball and connecting good passes from there.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b75b"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140507,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8209.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140507" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">LA Galaxy vs. FC Delco</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Oluwakayode Aina","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"LA Galaxy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A striker with a very complete game, Aina was the focal point of LA Galaxy's offense and contributed to the team's victory in a variety of ways. The most important of them was certainly scoring the go-ahead goal before the halftime break, giving the team the ability to enter the second half in control. Aina was brilliant in that play, beating the FC Delco with an incredible body feint and displayed great composure in front of goal to finish. He also did a very good job with his holdup play and even played a little bit on the flanks, showing good footwork.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b7ef"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140510,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8221.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140510" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">LA Galaxy vs. FC Delco</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbus Crew 3 (4) - (2) 3 New England Revolution</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["130928"],"_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":"The Columbus Crew midfielder was excellent during the entire match, adding great dynamism to the team. He got on the ball a lot and moved on from it after just a few touches, keeping the team in motion and making it harder for opponents to defend them. Tortola also supported the attack very well and displayed great intelligence to make the run than ended in the team's first goal, scored by him in a header inside the penalty box. The midfielder also used his vision and passing to assist for the team's third goal with an excellent long ball that found striker [player_tooltip player_id='15957' first='Chase' last='Adams'] free on the far post.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b846"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140521,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8344.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140521" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Columbus Crew vs. New England Revolution</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Cliff-Grova Rwabira","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"New England Revolution","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Rwabira came off the bench and gave New England a new life in the second half, after the team was up a man. He gave the Revs the physical presence they needed up top and played with great energy, pushing the team to look for an equalizer in the final moments of the match. The striker scored the team's second goal with a beautiful header by beating Columbus Crew's defenders in the air and drew the penalty kick that tied the match.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e8d484b8ce"} /-->