Rankings Preview: Early look at the best 2027s from Missouri
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The Missouri 2027 state rankings are coming out soon on PrepSoccer. Prior to the release of the rankings, we are taking a look at the top players from the class. The original ranking for this class looked really strong, but…
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Continue ReadingThe Missouri 2027 state rankings are coming out soon on PrepSoccer. Prior to the release of the rankings, we are taking a look at the top players from the class.
The original ranking for this class looked really strong, but a couple of the top players have left the state after being offered opportunities/scholarships with other clubs. Melia Brewer and Khari Hontz would have both been in the conversation as top five talents in this class, but they are now part of the Florida rankings after joining IMG Academy. Brewer is still listed on the KC Athletics 08 ECNL roster, but she appeared in IMG’s game last week so we’ve decided to include her in the Florida rankings for now.
With two top players gone, the top five in the state took a bit of drop but it added a lot of clarity to the rankings for this initial list. Below is a scouting report on the top five from the class in Missouri.
Maddie DiMaria is our top ranked player in Missouri. She is a forward for SLSG Navy 08. She is also part of the US U14 Girls National Team. She was named to the ECNL Girls Conference Cup Best XI over the summer. DiMaria is the latest in the exceptional soccer family. Both of her parents played college soccer – her dad was an All-American. Her older sister is a freshman at Missouri. Her brother John is a top prospect at St. Louis City MLS Academy. Maddie is carving her own path and showing that she might be the best of all of them. She played on the left wing for the Central Team during the ECNL Conference Cup this summer. She scored four goals in the semifinal and final of the event. She was unstoppable. A two-way force that basically took over the game against the best players in that league, DiMaria has all the traits that scouts look for from a winger. With her lightning quick feet and great close control of the ball, she’s proven at the ECNL level that she is one of the best players in the 08 age group even while playing up an age group.
McNeal is the best goalkeeper I’ve seen in the country in this class so far. It’s early on in the process for 2027s, but there is an obvious reason why she is on the national team. The SLSG Navy 09 ECNL goalkeeper can do it all. She is an excellent shot-stopper, great organizer, and excellent distributor. McNeal plays with a ton of confidence is often pretty far off her line. She backs up her swagger with athleticism as she is quick to react in the transition and makes good decisions on when to step up and when to drop back. She has high-level footwork and acts as a great outlet for her defenders. McNeal is a star at goalkeeper and has all of the tools to be a top player for a long time.
Aherns is a defender on the SLSG Navy 09 ECNL team. She is one of the center backs on that team. She has previously been called up to the U.S. U14 Girls National Team at the regional level. Ahern’s is right footed, but comfortable on either foot. Her well-rounded game is one of her best attributes. She is an excellent defender and can match-up 1v1 versus any forward in the country. She reads the game at a high-level and clearly has been well coached up to this point in her career. She could improve on her passing – her ankle can get a little loose at times which causes some of her passes to stray. Ahrens’ game tape shows a defender who is a great two-way player with potential to develop into an even better prospect. Her defensive qualities are pretty advanced at this stage, which shows how high the ceiling is for the youngster.
Lawler is one of the goalkeepers for the SLSG Navy 08 ECNL team. She is a regular call-up to the US Soccer Talent ID events in the region. She is right footed. She is good with her feet and does well in finding her targets. She plays off her line and is an option as a back pass for her center backs. She has sure hands and makes the easy save comfortably. Lawler is a top player in the region in her position.
Pohl is a center midfielder for SLSG Navy 09. I believe she’s played up an age group in the past, but she’s been with the 09 squad for the playoffs at the end of last season and the showcase event to kick off this campaign. She is easy to spot on the field as one of the tallest players. She is the boss of the midfield for SLSG Navy. She controls where the game is played. She is strong in the tackle and reads the game well. She is a good passer, but could improve on her decision-making. She can get stuck on her first option and force the play in that direction. Pohl’s shown she can play at a high level and has been part of the US Soccer Talent ID events.