Goalkeepers to Watch in Washington State: High School 3A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having a HS classification lower than 4A in Washington State is all about school size, not skill. Some of the best high school teams in the PNW play in 3A and the abundance of college level talent that packs their rosters is impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The art of goalkeeping is a skill that constantly needs refined and tested. The GK's at the top of their game spend countless hours away from the team training individually to perfect their craft. It is the position on the pitch that gets the most scrutiny as well as the most praise. The preparation that top level GK's put in over their youth career can be seen immediately at the Varsity HS and Top Club levels. When a team has a skilled goalkeeper, they are more likely to have a successful season and help lead their team deep into the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are 4 goalkeepers from the HS girls 3A classification to keep your eyes on during the first half of the season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["140906"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f4b4b67f7e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kenzie is a talented goalkeeper from the eastside of the state who plays for the currently undefeated Mt. Spokane Wildcats in the Greater Spokane League. Shuler has a quick get up after initial saves and puts herself into appropriate angles to thwart dangerous shots. She has good lateral movement and can get to the corners to make high and low angle saves. The Wildcats will lean on last year's 1st Team All-League GK to make a run at the 3A state title in the 2024/2025 HS season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtube.com/shorts/vqWyFY4PbTc?si=mYVnfcbE4nGUTpGB","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtube.com/shorts/vqWyFY4PbTc?si=mYVnfcbE4nGUTpGB </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='264316' first='Ella' last='Conrad']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gig Harbor High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Washington Premier 06/07 ECNL-RL","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f4d18cba898"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ella and her Gig Harbor HS Tides will surely be in the conversation for another league title this season. Conrad brings a calming presence to their back line because she allows the defense to be aggressive knowing she can make the tough save. She has good hands and positions herself to be successful on set pieces. Ella communicates and distributes well and can get the ball to multiple levels of the field. Look for Ella to be vying for post season accolades as she progresses through the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/dNYuKj17j1c?si=XllijFuF61jChNVO","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/dNYuKj17j1c?si=XllijFuF61jChNVO </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["111597"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f4d38a9fea1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Peyton is a phenomenal goalkeeper that has the ability to cover the entire face of goal at almost any shot angle. Her quick reaction saves are not only fast but calculated. Warns reads the field well and understands her angles beautifully. She also anticipates the attacking buildup and moves well in space accordingly. Peyton normalizes acrobatic saves like they are just supposed to happen when she's on the pitch. This Seattle University commit is a special player and should help the Liberty HS Patriots not only stay atop the WIAA 3A rankings but also make a deep run in the post season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/vIlkYsgu3IQ","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/vIlkYsgu3IQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='271316' first='Brooklyn' last='Finch']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Peninsula High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Washington Premier 08 ECNL-RL","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f757295f452"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brooklyn has been the Varsity starter for Peninsula High School for two years. She shows great command of her penalty area, and her first instinct is to be aggressive to the ball. Finch has good shot stopping ability and has the strength to control 1v1 scenarios. Look for Brooklyn and her Seahawks to compete at the top of the 3A Puget Sound League.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://d1vv3r1s83df1b.cloudfront.net/89edd9c2-bf9f-4864-a592-6d7187abbf2f/10822671-as_is-true-Brooklyn-Finch-2026-Elite-2024-3-9-1710047926-534-2023_Sophomore_Year_Highlights_-_Brooklyn_Finch.webm","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://d1vv3r1s83df1b.cloudfront.net/89edd9c2-bf9f-4864-a592-6d7187abbf2f/10822671-as_is-true-Brooklyn-Finch-2026-Elite-2024-3-9-1710047926-534-2023_Sophomore_Year_Highlights_-_Brooklyn_Finch.webm </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->