Rankings Analysis: Best defenders and GKs from PA’s 2027s
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USE PROMO CODE JR30 for a discount on your first subscription The PrepSoccer State Rankings for Pennsylvania’s 20207 were released this week. Check out the full list here. And learn more about the PrepSoccer scouting process here. Pennsylvania’s freshman group…
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The PrepSoccer State Rankings for Pennsylvania’s 20207 were released this week. Check out the full list here. And learn more about the PrepSoccer scouting process here.
Pennsylvania’s freshman group includes a number of standouts among the defenders and goalkeepers. The center back position is especially strong with this group. Read a scouting report on some of the names to know from this class below.
Emswiler is a defender on the Beadling 09 GA team. She plays as the right center back for her club team. She has been part of the US Youth National Team talent ID events in the past. We rate her as the top center back in this class. Emswiler is excellent at anticipating big touches from the opposition. She wins the ball cleanly so often because she reads the body language of her mark and knows when to step and when to drop off. She is athletic and moves side-to-side really well. Her quick feet also shine in duels too as she gets away without the mess of a second challenge. Emswiler is a top prospect in this class.
Highlights
Smith is a center defender for Penn Fusion 09 ECNL. She is a standout in that role and one of the best players we scouted in this class for that position. Smith stands out for a number of reasons including her passing. An aspect of her game that jumped out from game film is her pace. There were a couple of times during a game when she showed remarkable recovery speed. She closes ground in a hurry and she never quits on a play.
Strak is an outside back for Philadelphia Ukrainian Natiaonsl 09 GA. She is one of the top outside backs in this class in the state. I was constantly impressed with her deicison-making on the ball. She never forced the play but rather gave her teammates time to move to get open for her. Being that comfortable on the ball at the highest level of club soccer is a rare trait for an outside back. She is the type of soccer player that has a super high ceiling thanks to her intelligence on the field.
Lazar is the right center back for the PA Classics 09 GA team. She is a tough defender. I liked her approach. She wasn’t trying to be flashy and did well in winning the ball and getting it out of her feet quickly. She could improve on her distribution in terms of hitting more passes over distance with pace, but she’s got an excellent foundation as a defender.
Janssen is a center back for PA Classics 09 GA. She is good on the ball with her composure and vision. She does well in looking through her options and finding the best outlet for her pass. Janssen has good athleticism and cover ground easily. She is a good on-ball defender. She could improve on her tactical understanding on defense as she does have a small tendency to chase the ball too often. Janssen’s potential is obvious though. She has the the framework of a standout center back for the next level.
Braunsdorf is an outstanding center back. Braunsdorf is a key player for the Century side. She is often the starting point for the build-out for her side because she makes good decisions on the ball. In terms of defensive qualities, she shines as a 1v1 defender. She is hard to turn as she uses her body well and stays light on her feet. She could improve on being a bit more physical in this approach as she has the capability to really be a shutdown defender for her squad. On the ball, she has the promise of a top level player. She hit a diagonal ball during the second game of the Winter Showcase that was picture perfect. She’s a top center back from the class.
GOALKEEPERS
Semerjian is a goalkeeper for the Penn Fusion 09 ECNL team. She impressed me with her recent play in ECNL games. She is good off her line and quick to make a decision when she comes off her line. She did well in stopping a breakaway with a sliding challenge that showed proper technique. She is quick to get the ball out of her hands and start the attack in the opposition direction. Semerjian is not challenged all that often considering the strength of the defense in front of her at the club level, but it seems like she had a solid freshman season at the high school level. She is a dual-sport athlete and also plays softball.
Pullar is the goalkeeper on the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 09 Girls Academy team. She was part of the Girls Academy National Talent ID event last season. She is one of the best players from that league – regardless of position. Pullar possesses a high level of confidence in her abilities, but also in her teammates. She plays with that swagger on the field and her teammates have the utmost trust in her to make the big play when needed – she almost always delivers for her side too. Pullar is a rare talent for the spot and should be a top target in this class from that position.
Amato is a goalkeeper for Beadling 09 GA. She was also the goalkeeper for North Hills varsity during her freshman season. She has been called up to US Youth National Team Talent ID events in the past. She’s an outstanding shot-stopper. She has good diving technique and strong hands. She’s confident off her line with quick reflexes to shut down breakaways. Amato has the tools to be a top goalkeeper from 2027.