NXT LVL: Day 2 Standouts, Best XI
The NXT LVL Invitational is bringing together 39 top boys prep and residency programs from 10 states and one from Canada for a weekend of competition in Colonie, N.Y. Each day a new set of teams join the event. Therefore,…
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Continue ReadingThe NXT LVL Invitational is bringing together 39 top boys prep and residency programs from 10 states and one from Canada for a weekend of competition in Colonie, N.Y. Each day a new set of teams join the event. Therefore, each day is an opportunity to learn more about how teams stack up and the players who make the difference. Each day PrepSoccer.com will list the top performers capped with a Best XI for the day.
SATURDAY’S BEST XI
GK: Alastair Hafner Schnee, Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.), Sr.: The senior was in command in the back, even while playing on a wet field during the team’s 1-0 win over Worcester Academy in a clash of NEPSAC A powers. He hasn’t received much recruiting attention since he wasn’t playing keeper last year. NMH had another keeper, which pushed Hafner Schnee into a field position where he has developed good foot skills.
D: Babacar Diallo, Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.), Sr.: Diallo is one of the nation’s top uncommitted seniors. A center back by trade, he’s athletic enough to play anywhere in the back and even can get into the attack. He scored the lone goal in NHM’s 1-0 win over Worcester Academy. He’s great in the air and can play anywhere on the back line.
D: Christian Haikal, Worcester Academy (Mass.), Sr.: The Providence College commit generally plays in the midfield but on this night the team was shorthanded four starters, so he moved to left back. Despite playing out of position, he was Worcester’s top player on the night.
D: Tidiane Thiam, Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.), Sr.: Thiam is a left back who is a great communicator and provides great services. He’s a two-year team captain.
D: Oppong Rapheal Owusu, Kimball Union Academy (N.H.), Sr.: The native of Ghana, was on the ball a lot and the best field player in a high-profile Avon Old Farms-Kimball Union match.
M: Albert Aramayo, Bridgton Academy (Maine), Sr.: He completed passes and got Bridgton into the attack. He runs the midfield and is a bit of a grinder.
M: Jared Pena, Western Reserve Academy (Ohio), Jr.: He’s very composed on the field and he adds another dimension to WRA’s attack. That skillset came in handy as WRA played a man down in the second half and Pena’s play helped lead to a come-from-behind tie.
M: Noa Perez, Combine Academy (N.C.), Sr.: Perez, from France, is back on the Best XI for the second straight night. He’s quick. He’s technical and he’s an upper-level NCAA Division I prospect. Perez has been the best player on the field two games in a row, and that includes over the likes of his Creighton-bound teammate and a Georgetown-bound opponent on Friday.
M: Sean Wareru, High Mowing School (N.H.), Sr.: The native of Kenya controlled the midfield in what ended as a 1-1 tie with Western Reserve Academy. He possesses a lot of composure on the ball, and he distributed well.
F: Santi Marin, Combine Academy (N.C.), Sr.: The Creighton commit scored a goal in Combine’s 2-0- victory, giving him two of the three goals scored by the team at the event.
F: Salvatore Zanzi, Trinity Pawling (N.Y.), Sr.: Zanzi already holds one offer and more should come soon. He netted both of the team’s goals in a 3-2 setback to RMPUS Elite. In addition to his finishing ability, Zanzi’s movement away from the ball and his switches kept him constantly involved.
OTHERS
F/M Chris Bianco, St. Andrew’s School (R.I.), Jr.: The native of East Greenwich, R.I., has a high work rate and really unlocked the defense of RMPUS Gold.
GK: Lukas Coetzee, Hill School (Pa.), Jr.: He made some incredible saves to keep Hill in the game while it was down 1-0. His play kept Hotchkiss School at bay long enough for Hill to get the equalizer in a 1-1 match.
M: Gavin Krauss, Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.), Sr.: The Colgate commit keeps NHM organized in the midfield.
F: Joe Ezzeddine, RMPUS Gold (Canada), Sr.: His speed causes problems for defenders as well as his one-on-one abilities create chances for others and himself.
F: Flavio Gomes, High Mowing School (N.H.), Jr.: A native of Brazil, Gomes netted High Mowing’s lone goal. He runs well up top and he’s a good target player who can hold the ball.
GK: Josh Hancock, Kimball Union Academy (N.H.), Sr.: Delivered six big saves to keep Kimball Union in the match with Avon Old Farms.
W: Ayodele Joa-Griffith, Lawrenceville School (N.J.), So.: He pressures well and was able to generate an attack for Lawrenceville.
D: Tyler Keeney, Worcester Academy (Mass.), Jr.: Perhaps the strongest performer Saturday among Worcester’s talented underclassmen.
GK: Lefteri Ladas, Bridgton Academy (Maine), Sr.: The 6-foot keeper stopped a penalty shot and made seven or eight other key saves to keep Bridgton in the match against a talented Combine Academy side.
D: Juliano Masella, Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.), So.: The sophomore from Canada was comfortable on the ball and broke up the Lawrenceville attack in Choate’s 2-0 win.
GK: George McGlinn, Hotchkiss School (Conn.), So.: Only a sophomore, McGlinn easily was one of the best keepers on the day. He has a strong presence in goal and helped organize the back.
M: Kameron Mohammed, Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.), Jr.: A native of the United Kingdom, Mohammed was all over the place defensively.
M: Tinashe Muhlauri Tinashe Muhlauri null | M Avon Old Farms | 2024 CT , Avon Old Farms (Conn.), Sr.: After spending four years at Kimball Union playing for his father is doing a post-grad year at Avon Old Farms and ended up playing against his former team. He played 90 minutes and was a ball-winner. He really settled the game for Avon Old Farms.
D/M: Davis Novak, Western Reserve Academy (Ohio), Jr.: Moved from defense to midfield in the second half and he brought some defensive stability to the team despite playing a man down.
F: Oscar Pickett, Avon Old Farms (Conn.), Sr.: Pickett came off the bench to give the Avon Old Farms team a spark. He ended up scoring the lone goal in the team’s victory.
M: Preston Quinones, South Kent School (Conn.), Jr.: He played very simple and moved the ball around well.
M: Enzo Silva, RMPUS Gold (Canada), Jr.: A native of Brazil, Silva has incredible work rate. He moves the ball well and he won his battles Saturday.
D: Alex Taylor, Worcester Academy (Mass.), Sr.: His play helped limit Northfield Mount Hermon’s chances in a 1-0 contest.
M: Jake Thomas, Hill School (Pa.), Jr.: He connects with the midfield very well. He also netted the goal that allowed Hill to rally for a tie with Hotchkiss.
D: Jaelen Toole, Hill School (Pa.), Jr.: He held the back line very well and won most of his battles.
F: Arvid Vucetic, Hotchkiss School (Conn.), Jr.: He holds the ball well and was a physical presence. He had a few chances but was unlucky Saturday not to finish one.
ALSO
LB: Zach Britton, Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.), Sr.
D: Alessandro Brondino, High Mowing Academy (N.H.), Sr.
M: Tyler Broude, Worcester Academy (Mass.), So.
F: Pietro Greselle, South Kent School (Conn.), Sr.
M: Jack Houghton, Worcester Academy (Mass.), So.
D: Tommy Kuziak, Trinity Pawling (N.Y.), Sr.
DM: Brady Le, Lawrenceville School (N.J.), Jr.
M/F Geir Magnusson, South Kent School (Conn.), Sr.
M: Cabot McLaren, Kimball Union Academy (N.H.), Sr.
D: Alejandro Ortega De La Luz, St. Andrew’s School (R.I.), Sr.
GK Luis Ignacio Fernandez Garcia, St. Andrew’s School (R.I.), Sr.
D: Samuel Kremer, Bridgton Academy (Maine), Sr.
D: John Senn-McNalley, Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.), Sr.
D: Toler Wreaks, Lawrenceville School (N.J.), Fr.