Standouts from the Girls Academy 09 Champions Cup Final

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tophat 09 GA Gold took home the trophy from the 2025 Girls Academy Champions Cup in Bradenton, Florida on Tuesday. The Georgia club defeated [program_tooltip program_id='276679' first='Michigan' last='Jaguars'] 1-0 behind a goal from [player_tooltip player_id='111690' first='Chloe' last='Layfield'] early in the game. [player_tooltip player_id='277403' first='Ava' last='Hidalgo'] contributed with the assist.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='276679' first='Michigan' last='Jaguars'] were riding high coming into the game with convincing shutout victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals. However, a couple of timely saves and a stout defensive effort shutdown the Jaguars attack in the championship game and gave Tophat the title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:video {"id":281827} --> <figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/Tophat09.mov"></video></figure> <!-- /wp:video --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["150733"],"_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-67d0b63d95753"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What a player. Kersh doesn't show up on the scoresheet in this one, but it's hard to deny her impact. The winger was a force from the opening whistle and gave the opposition all sorts of problems. She continues to improve in her 1v1 quality. Her ability to navigate against tight pressure with quick combination play is the clearest suggestion that this is a player with a professional level upside in the near future.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["111690"],"_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-67d0b63d957b7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Layfield scored the game-winner in the championship tilt. The center forward had a lot of strong moments in this game, and provided the key strike when it mattered most. Layfield's combination play and ability to spring the wingers in the attack were excellent.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["200431"],"_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-67d0b63d957fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Tophat goalkeeper came up with a handful of saves in the game including a great diving one in the first half. The defense in front of her limited the dynamic Jaguars attack. Felton provided the heroics when needed to record the shutout on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["150779"],"_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-67d0b63d95841"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Tophat midfielder felt like she was inches away from scoring a goal on a couple of occasions. Her play on the goal was a great example of the quick decision-making she brings in the center of the field and proved to be the decisive moment in the game. Luna Di Feliciantonio and Ava Ramos were also standouts in the midfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["142883"],"_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-67d0b63d95883"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Tophat center back was part of a stellar performance from the defense. They handled the pressure from the Jaguars side with composure and did well in building out of the back with their skill and decision-making. [player_tooltip player_id='150788' first='Ashley' last='Scott'], [player_tooltip player_id='111886' first='Marley' last='Laguines'], and [player_tooltip player_id='153323' first='Lohgan' last='Ferensick']were also stars of the defense for Tophat.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["273017"],"_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-67d0b63d958c5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Webster had an outstanding game with a difficult matchup against a talented winger. Overall, she handled the constant onslaught of dribbling attempts with good consistency and showed the ability to impact the game in the attack with her long thrown-ins. Eva Fernandez made some excellent saves in the game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /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='285790' first='Lilliann' last='Morrill']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='276679' first='Michigan' last='Jaguars']","_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-67d0b63d95961"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Morrill was inches away from an equalizer late in the game against Tophat. She had a perfect strike of the ball and left the goalkeeper helpless, but it just whisked past the post. [player_tooltip player_id='273019' first='Jovienne' last='Kasgorgis'] was also a standout in the Michigan attack. The winger was a handful with her quick feet and skill.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["139635"],"_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-67d0b63d959a8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Priestap had a number of jaw-dropping passes in the game against Tophat. She split the defense with her grass-cutting driven pass and kept them on their heels with her ability to drop the pass over the top. [player_tooltip player_id='273020' first='Molly' last='McGuire'] was also a standout of the Jaguars side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->