MLS Next Cup Playoffs: U-15 – Standout Midfielders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best MLS academies and boys club teams in the country were in Frisco, Texas, during nine days in June wrapping up their seasons with the MLS Next Cup Playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Champions were crowned in each division and several players stood out with excellent performances throughout the week while Prep Soccer watched the action very closely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was in attendance during the first weekend of play and watched as many Round of 32 matches as I could, picking several players to highlight. With the tournament now over, it's time we run that list down, starting with the U-15s. Today we'll get to know some midfielders who were key pieces in their teams:</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":"Ronan Leeming","_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":"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":"Leeming was very active in the midfield for the Seattle Sounders, making a massive impact on the team with his two-way play. He was very good at shielding the team's backline with his high-energy game and excellent positioning. Leeming combines the two main qualities any coach would want in a defensive midfielder, being an excellent tackler and a very efficient passer. Besides helping the team with his distribution, he also showed good instincts in the attacking half, making good runs on and off the ball and arriving in the penalty box to finish chances.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649a1f13d6460"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140501,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8175.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140501" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Seattle Sounders vs. Orlando City</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- 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":"Tortola turned a lot of heads with his play in the midfield of his Columbus Crew team. Very smooth on the ball and intentional with his actions, he displayed great versatility in the middle, circulating through a large area of the field and helping in different ways. Tortola is a player who doesn't need to keep the ball for more than a few seconds to make an impact and his tremendous vision allows him to play one-touch passes that not many other players in the field envisioned. He's also very intelligent with his movement off the ball and often finds himself in good positions to get on the ball or finish chances.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649a1f13d64ef"} /--> <!-- 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_player":["90844"],"_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":"A box-to-box midfielder, Moncrief was very involved with Austin FC's play during the week. He was everywhere around the midfield and made his presence felt on both sides of the ball. The midfielder wanted the ball at all times and often dropped deep to get it from the center backs and initiate the team's buildup. When he got on the ball around the midfield line, Moncrief displayed great vision and excellent coordination to beat defenders with quick turns and changes of direction. His passing was also very precise and efficient, always moving the ball upfield. Moncrief also covered a lot of ground defensively, occupying the space in front of the penalty box very efficiently.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649a1f13d6539"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140484,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8084.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140484" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Austin FC vs. Inter Miami</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":"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":"Chavez displayed a lot of talent playing in an attacking midfield role with LAFC. A player with excellent vision, he was great at finding pockets of space between the lines to get on the ball and feed his teammates up top. Chavez sees the game very well and times his passes perfectly, avoiding offsides. The midfielder shields the ball well from defenders and is also very good when operating in tight spaces, making quick moves to beat defenders and finding interesting solutions to plays in the blink of an eye.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649a1f13d65b9"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/CskNukQpdNi/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/CskNukQpdNi/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["83088"],"_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 son of LA Galaxy's head coach Greg, Vanney showcased great promise playing as an attacking midfielder. He had a lot of talent and players of different profiles around him and knew exactly how to work with each of them, creating good chances in combination plays or simply by reacting well to their movement. He was very intelligent to occupy the space often vacated by left winger Mathis Albert and found himself in good spots. A good passer, Vanney can also finish from distance with power and precision, becoming an additional offensive threat for his team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649a1f13d6601"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140509,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8213.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140509" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">LA Galaxy vs. FC Delco</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->