Southern Duo making waves in Kentucky, South Carolina
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Just about anywhere a college scout looks, they could find talent worthy of playing after high school. And though most of the focus is on players from California, Texas, Florida and Georgia, don’t overlook other places, including two states in…
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Continue ReadingJust about anywhere a college scout looks, they could find talent worthy of playing after high school. And though most of the focus is on players from California, Texas, Florida and Georgia, don’t overlook other places, including two states in the south which are Kentucky and South Carolina. A pair of players from those states are making quite the impression and popping up on radars.
Liv Arauz Liv Arauz D Bowling Green | 2026 KY , Outside Defender, Bowling Green, Class of 2026
Arauz is a player that takes the game seriously. She is a student of the game, she is knowledgable and she is dedicated. Her dedication starts with the fact that she drives nearly two hours one way for training 3-4 days a week. When she’s not traveling to training, or actually training, she’s studying the game, she’s playing with her brothers or working on her own to get better. This has allowed her to learn a lot about the game. She has also used familial resources as her grandfather on her dad’s side is an A licensed coach and has passed down knowledge to her father, and both have now passed it down to her. She has learned more about nuances and subtleties than most players her age. Arauz has learned how and when to move the ball, how to move without the ball, how to maintain possession, how to position herself and when and why. Her knowledge goes very deep. It also runs through her bloodlines as her twin brothers play ECNL, another brother plays for the Nashville SC MLS Academy and the youngest plays pre-ECNL. Having three older brothers has made her a strong player, as she does not back down after growing up playing physically from a young age.
Arauz played as a freshman at Bowling Green High in Kentucky, and crosses over into Tennessee to play club in Nashville for the Tennessee Soccer Club’s 08 ECNL team. She is a left outside back, and though she is right-footed, she has become very good with her left foot and can play on the left side at a high level. This has to do with her physical abilities, and the fact that she remains focused whether training or during a match. She plays without fear as she will make challenges in the air or a well-timed tackle. She has the desire to defend with everything she has and give her team everything she has, and it shows.
Mary Taylor Campbell Mary Taylor Campbell M River Bluff | 2025 SC , Midfielder/Forward, River Bluff, Class of 2025
Campbell attends River Bluff High in Lexington, South Carolina and she plays her club for South Carolina United FC. She plays on the 2007 ECNL team. What she offers her high school and club teams is multi-faceted and one of those things is versatility. She is generally a central midfielder, but has started playing center forward as well. Versatility is proving to be more and more important for coaches and players alike. She also offers total commitment and passion and it shows on the pitch. Campbell works hard, generally working as hard as anyone on the pitch and outworking many others. She does this because she loves to work hard for her teammates and loves to use the sport as a way to channel her energy and tune other things out.
Campbell is also a very confident young player, and for good reason. She shows excellent technical skill and athletic ability that allows her to stand out on the pitch, whether she is turning a defender in the midfield, tracking back to mark or taking on a defender while on the attack. Campbell is a smaller player, but relishes in the fact that being skilled can overcome certain physical attributes. She works hard to improve her physical skill, working constantly on both her creativity as well as her decision-making in order to make her a better playmaker.