Colorado, Utah players ready for high school season

Five players, four from Colorado and one from Utah, are ready for the high school season. Here is a look at the variety of skill and ability these five from the Western Region offer.   Macie Gustin, Forward, Class of 2026   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/08/download.jpeg?w=657" alt="" class="wp-image-203787" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by: Dave Argyle</figcaption></figure>   Gustin is a versatile forward from Utah who can also play as an attacking midfielder. She can play both because of her great quickness and agility. She makes defenders miss when she plays the No. 10 as she shows good change of pace and the ability to change direction. On the outside she's very fast and can get past defenders. She's very good about letting the ball run and fanning out wide and then one-timing a cross into the box, but there are times she will feint as if she's going to let the ball drag her out wide, then cut in on her right foot, drag across the face of goal and get off a rocket shot. She can score in a variety of ways. She attends Tooele High and plays club at Elite FC.   [player_tooltip player_id='74345' first='Maddie' last='King'], Keeper, Class of 2026   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/08/IMG_6229.jpg?w=756" alt="" class="wp-image-204331" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Tim Bourke, MaxPreps</figcaption></figure>   King is one of the more athletic, brave and daring keepers you are going to see in the Western U.S. from the class of 2026. She is very quick and very reactive and makes highlight reel saves. Her film really plays up and she will garner attention from recruiters. With her quickness and athletic ability, she can make diving, sprawling saves look easy as she can cover her posts. She can get up vertically, too. She comes out quickly for the ball, and closes down on attacking players at blinding speed. She shows great feel and acumen for the keeper position. She plays club at Real Colorado Olympico and attends Ralston Valley High.   [player_tooltip player_id='20612' first='Maci' last='Martinez'], Central Midfielder/Forward, Class of 2027   Martinez attends Mullen High and plays club for Colorado Rush. She is a verstaile player than plays centrally, either as a midfielder or a forward and the No. 8 spot is where she usually plays. She receives the ball well offensively, and defensively she steps into the middle of the pitch and fills passing lanes very well. She likes to help transition quickly, and is very good with the ball at her feet moving forward. She also plays a great ball on the ground to a player making a forward run.   [player_tooltip player_id='157745' first='Blake' last='McFadden'], Midfielder, Class of 2025   McFadden is technically a 2025 class member, but is going to be an early graduate, wrapping up high school in December of 2024. He is at Fountain-Fort Carson High and has been at Pikes Peak Rush for club for two years. When you watch McFadden you are instantly impressed with his top end speed. He can absolutely fly. You can see how athletic he is and he controls his movements so well, especially when you consider how tall he is. His speed allows him to get in behind defenders well, but he's also excellent about staying onside as he can flatten out his run if a defender tries to play a high line. Doing that is a bad idea against him as he will burn defenders every time. He scores from tight angles, he can slot a ball home neatly and has excellent control of the ball at his feet. That is what makes him so dangerous in the middle of the pitch. He's constantly in control of the ball and his movements. He turns well and finds runners as he can play an excellent ball out wide, and when he does he is a freight train when he continues his run. McFadden is also a multi-sport athlete, playing for the school's football team.   [player_tooltip player_id='20543' first='Jaslin' last='Roybal'], Keeper, Class of 2026   Roybal is a keeper from Grandview High who plays club for Real Colorado Athletico. She is a keeper who is very comfortable with the ball at her feet, making her very much a modern day keeper. She distributes the ball well, she does not panic under pressure and can help build from the back. She is aggressive in how she attacks balls in the air, coming out and fighting traffic on set pieces and corners, and she is very good about shutting down angles on attackers and making sure her posts are covered.

Five players, four from Colorado and one from Utah, are ready for the high school season. Here is a look at the variety of skill and ability these five from the Western Region offer.