Six players to watch in the Marin County Athletic League

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Marin County Athletic League continues to be one of the top leagues in Northern California for girls soccer, as it continually boasts North Coast Section champions, Northern California contenders and some of the top players in the state. There are six players in particular who standout as perhaps the best six in the league, three of them being seniors with the other three being juniors. These six are immensely talented and hard-working players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":156328,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/Coco-crop-2481x1629-1702056407.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-156328" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Tanya Kemos</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coco Boyden, Central Midfielder, Redwood, Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boyden is a very technical, left-footed central midfielder who has the ability to influence any match that she plays in. Her technical ability allows her to make precise passes and her foot skills allow her to beat defenders off the dribble. She also boasts a high level of soccer intelligence as she makes great decisions from the middle of the pitch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='54238' first='Ally' last='Hsieh'], Forward, Branson, Class of 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hsieh is in her third year as a varsity starter for the Bulls, and she continues to be a constant threat up top. She has already scored four goals in four matches this season. Hsieh can use either foot, and is so technically gifted that she can beat a backline off the dribble. Hsieh is quick and has great balance. She doesn't have a lot of areas to improve in, but she works hard at the ones she does, including her play with her back to goal, and her ability to make the final pass. As a No. 9, she already has five assists on this young season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='51787' first='Maren' last='Jones'], Attacking Midfielder, Tamalpais, Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones, now a senior, boasts as one of the best players in the MCAL. She has great talent, and shows it with her deft ability to use both feet. She is quick, crafty and creative with an explosiveness to get past the No. 6, challenge the back line and either create for herself or her teammates. Jones is quick and agile, and is excellent in finding space and then operating in that space. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dakota Ledesma, Forward, Redwood, Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A left-footed forward, Ledesma plays as a No. 11 and is a very dangerous player on the outside. She is very crafty on the ball, she shows good speed and she has a great ability to whip a left-footed cross into the box on a consistent basis, making Redwood a dangerous team on the attack when she's on the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='54231' first='Riley' last='Pearson'], Attacking Midfielder, Branson, Class of 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Hsieh, Pearson has been a starter and key contributor for Branson since she was a freshman. She cored 14 times as a freshman, 13 more as a sophomore and that is coming from someone sitting in the midfield. She has already scored five times in this young season. Pearson is very highly regarded for her work rate, which is something that has remained constant her entire career. She plays with a hunger and passion, and loves to get into the box and is fierce in her desire to get on the end of any service into the area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mari Rode, Outside Defender, Archie Williams, Class of 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior at Archie Williams, Rode has been a standout varsity player for the Falcons for two years. She is a versatile outside back that can feature on any side. She not only has good speed and good size, making her a force on the outside, but she has good instincts and displays great control of her body. She's excellent in pushing up, but plays with ferocity when making a challenge in defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->