MLS Next Cup Playoffs: U-16 – Standout Goalkeepers

<!-- 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, we're running that list down, and this week we'll look at U-16s. These goalkeepers had big performances for their teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["113506"],"_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":"Awarded as the best goalkeeper in the division, Griner played a big role in Atlanta United's title-winning campaign. The numbers tell part of his importance to the team as the goalkeeper allowed just three goals in the team's five matches in Frisco, making of Atlanta one of the top defensive sides in the event. Griner has all the tools of an elite goalkeeper, combining good size, great reflexes and excellent decision-making between the posts and uses them well to make stops and get the job done. He's also very calm on the ball and connects good passes from the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649d749ad9851"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/MLSNEXT/status/1673398390854668289?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/MLSNEXT/status/1673398390854668289?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":"Evan Tubbs","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Tolland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Oakwood Soccer Club","_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":"When a goalkeeper is a strong candidate to be named Player of the Match in a defeat, it's typically because there's something special to him. That was the case with Tubbs, who did everything in his power to help his team Oakwood Soccer Club overcome Strikers FC in the first round of the playoffs. The goalkeeper was under heavy pressure for most of the time and made some incredible saves to preserve his team's lead, displaying excellent judgment, reaction and athleticism. He is also very strong in the air and communicates well with his defenders.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649d749ad98f3"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1670093678914813954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1670093678914813954%7Ctwgr%5E0af5f5eb5d9fbb63642fd0916ced3af8e9e95ae7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10u0026amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fprepsoccer.com%2F2023%2F06%2Fmls-next-cup-playoffs-day-1-u16-top-performers%2F","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/1670093678914813954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1670093678914813954%7Ctwgr%5E0af5f5eb5d9fbb63642fd0916ced3af8e9e95ae7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fprepsoccer.com%2F2023%2F06%2Fmls-next-cup-playoffs-day-1-u16-top-performers%2F </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":"Justin Appel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_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":"PDA","_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":"Although his team PDA was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, falling in the PKs to Chula Vista FC, Appel did a good job of making a strong impression on those who were watching. Appel is very reliable with his play and will make one-time saves every time he can. When that's not an option, he'll typically deflect the ball to his side, avoiding a rebound opportunity for the opponents. Appel is very large, covering a big area of the goal, but also has impressive reflexes, reacting well to short-distance finishes. His communication was also very strong and efficient.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649d749ad997d"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140412,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8060.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140412" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">PDA vs. Chula Vista FC</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["54764"],"_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":"Silva did a good job between the posts for Chula Vista FC, conceding three goals in two matches and helping the team win a PK shootout against PDA. He had an excellent range between the posts, using his athleticism and long arms to get to difficult shots, and was always very intelligent when deciding how to approach each finish that went his way. The goalkeeper also showed good quality with his feet, making a good distribution out of the back when he was passed the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649d749ad99c8"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":140414,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/IMG_8071.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-140414" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">PDA vs. Chula Vista FC</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":"James Rhodes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_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":"Strikers 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":"Rhodes helped his team Strikers FC make it to the Championship match against Atlanta United with solid performances throughout the week. He had a pair of clean sheets, allowing seven goals in as many matches, and came up with big saves in important moments. A very tall goalkeeper at 6'3u0022, Rhodes used his length and explosiveness to have a great success rate in close-range finishes. He also dominated the penalty box in the air and did a fine job when he was called upon to use his feet.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649d749ad9a41"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYNqiASulnI","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYNqiASulnI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->