Scouting report on the top freshmen from New Jersey

The Prep Soccer rankings for the New Jersey 2028 class were released this week. Check <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/10/updated-2028-new-jersey-girl-rankings/">out the rankings here</a>. Learn more about <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/how-we-rank/">the rankings process here</a>.   The freshman group for New Jersey is an exciting pool of players. The regular clubs are well represented on this group, but there are a number of candidates who have surprised during the high school season and earned high rankings on this list.    New Jersey lacks a bonafide player in the Youth National Team pool in the 2010 age group at this point. A couple of the players have been on the cusp, but no one has broke through yet. The lack of clear-cut National Team level talent should not distract from a plethora of very good players who deserve the same level of attention from scouts in the coming years.    PDA 2010 is one of the clubs with a number of prospects on this list. PDA reloaded in the offseason as well and added a few more names to the roster. The powerhouse youth club's U15 team will look a little different when the club season kicks on in New Jersey, and should be considered the favorites for the region.    Another note from this group is the player movement from out of the state. There were a few players who were under consideration as top ten talent who play high school soccer in New Jersey, but they play for a club in New York or Pennsylvania. Those players will be included in those state rankings, as the Prep Soccer player rankings use the player's club for state rankings.    Check out a scouting report on some of the top talent from this group below.     Wallace is a midfielder on the Match Fit Academy 2009 ECNL team. She is a box-to-box midfielder who makes an impact all over the field. Wallace is a dominant force with a well-rounded game. She is right footed with excellent passing range and variety. She can improve on opening up her hips before receiving the ball to utilize the full field for her next pass. She also could be more demonstrative in demanding the ball from her teammates when she is open in the center of the field. Wallace is a competitive player who continues to prove to be a top player at the 2009 age group.     Rivera is a forward on the Match Fit Academy 2010 ECNL. She is also a starter on the MKA varsity team. Rivera is a dynamic attacking talent. She is quick, skillful, and strong. Rivera was a prolific scorer last season in the ECNL. She is left footed and an elite finisher. With his quickness, she did well in creating chances in pressing the opposition, but she also found success in just relying on that pace to get behind the defense thanks to some sublime passing from her club teammates. There is plenty of highlights from Rivera last season that suggest she should be in the Youth National Team pool. There are very few players with her combination of speed, skill, and finishing instincts.     Pauwels is a midfielder/defender from PDA Blue 2010 ECNL. She previously played for Cedar Stars Academy. She was part of the Girls Academy National Talent ID event over the summer. She was called into a US Soccer Talent ID event in October. She has lightning quick feet and dances around tackles. She's been listed as a defender on recent rosters, which might suggest a future as an outside back. She has the versatility to shine in any role on the field. Her clever skill and ball control makes her capable of being an impact player at the top levels of the club game.     Kapeler is a midfielder/forward on the PDA 2010 ECNL team. She was part of the U.S. U14 Girls National Team camp earlier this year. She was also called into the US Soccer Talent ID event in October. Kapler played as an attacking midfielder and as a winger during the ECNL playoffs. She looked more comfortable on the wing. When she had that clear objective to beat a player 1v1 on the dribble, she looked unstoppable. It's obvious why coaches would want her in the center with the possibility she could get more touches in that role and have a better ability to pull the strings for more of the team, but Kapler's elite 1v1 skill makes her a top winger in this class.     Wysocki is a versatile player who I think will be featured in a more a midfield role this season. She started a few of the playoff games in the right center back role. She was good in that spot. Her engine and effort were on full display, but she also tried to do too much at times and chased players, which pulled her out of position. Wysocki can develop a bit more of the tactics of that role if she stays in a center back role, but the future is bright for her in defensive midfield. She is excellent open field defender. She hounds players on the ball. She has quick in the tackle to poke the ball away. All of these traits have earned the attention of US Soccer scouts, as she was recently part of a US Soccer Talent ID event. Wysocki has the potential to be the top player in this class.

The Prep Soccer rankings for the New Jersey 2028 class were released this week. Check out the rankings here. Learn more about the rankings process here.