Rankings Analysis: Midfielders highlight New Jersey 2027s
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USE PROMO CODE JR30 for a discount on your first subscription The PrepSoccer State Player Rankings from the New Jersey class of 2027 were released this week. Check out the full list here. Learn more about the PrepSoccer rankings process…
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The PrepSoccer State Player Rankings from the New Jersey class of 2027 were released this week. Check out the full list here. Learn more about the PrepSoccer rankings process here.
Just as a reminder: the PrepSoccer state rankings use a player’s club for the state ranking. For instance, players in the New Jersey rankings play their high school soccer in Pennsylvania, but their club is located in New Jersey so they are considered for the New Jersey ranking.
The midfielders in this class include some of the best in the nation from the 2009 and 2008 age groups. Below is a scouting report on a handful of players who appear in the state rankings for this class.
Stanislaus is a midfielder on the PDA 09 Blue ECNL team. She is part of the U.S. U15 Girls National Team (2009 age group). She is an attacking midfielder at the club level. Stanislaus was a standout for PDA on the run to the ECNL National Championship last season especially in the final against San Diego Surf. There might be a slight pull to envision her as a No. 8 in the future because she really can do everything. However, Stanislaus qualities in the final third should keep her in the more advanced role. She is an elite finisher and a magician as a playmaker. Stanislaus looks to be a key player at the international level for the US Youth National Team and one of the best in the country in her age group.
Highlights
Smith is a midfielder on the PDA 09 Blue ECNL team. She is a box-to-box midfielder. She is a fun soccer player to scout. She is super slippery to defend – elusive in tight spaces, great at body feints. She uses her quick feet well in duels as she likes to get away from the opposition – rather than seek out contact. She is a good passer. She hits a variety of passes and does a good job of looking off defenders to creating passing lanes. She often plays the pass between the outside back and center back for the attacker to exploit the space when the outside back is too tight on the mark. It’s a clever pass and one that is seen more often at the higher levels of the game. Smith has some elite qualities for her position. She is one of the top players in the state for that region.
Highlights
Rubin is a midfielder on the PDA Blue 09 ECNL team. For my money, I think she is the most valuable player on that team for their style of play. There are only a few defensive midfielders in the country who are comparable to her in terms of the type of all-around game (and competitiveness) they bring in that position. There have been a few times – especially in the playoffs – when Rubin saw opportunities to take over the game. She would make these charging runs forward with the ball at her feet and assume the role of playmaker through the center channel. She’s not the type to do that often though. Her game is disrupting the opposition and getting the ball off her feet quickly. And she does that exceptionally well. Her player profile suggests she is the most likely one of the PDA group to join her two teammates on the Youth National Team in the future.
Craney is a midfielder on the Real JFC 09 GA. She plays as a box-to-box midfielder. She is a standout for her play in all facets of the game. She is excellent on the ball with a good first touch. She does well making quick decisions as she finds outlets quickly and does well with combination play. She takes the penalty kicks for her club team. Craney could improve on her tackling in the open field. She relies on delay and contain, which is effective. But she will need to show more of an aggressive mindset to make that jump to the next level. Her soccer instincts will take her a long way as she has a knack for reading the game and making the correct decision on the ball to keep possession for her side.