Top California freshmen compete in the winter playoffs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's my post-playoffs recap: featuring some fantastic freshmen. All of the players noted are some of the state's best players, and some are national call-ups. Many of them helped their team to win a postseason championship, and some were the key players getting their team to the playoffs. Some of these players played on the top teams in CA, with Saint Francis (#10 in CA and #32 in the Nation) as the highest-ranked girls team to be represented with three freshmen making an impact on their championship run.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was fortunate to cover some of their matches during the season as well as a few playoff games. Super grateful to cover two of the Central Coast Section (CCS) Championship matches (Archbishop Mitty and Saint Francis &amp; North Monterey County and Sacred Heart Prep). Want to do a shoutout to Michael Mancuso and the rest of the staff at the CCS championship matches as they delivered top-notch service. Lastly, all of the teams and players are deserving of these recognitions, and I hope to continue covering them in the NorCal championships or upcoming season.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players will be organized by their positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forwards - [player_tooltip player_id='268387' first='Ana' last='Pintard'], [player_tooltip player_id='202683' first='Jayla' last='Swindle'], and [player_tooltip player_id='187366' first='Kiyomi' last='Yoshimura'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. [player_tooltip player_id='268387' first='Ana' last='Pintard'] - Bishop O'Dowd - [program_tooltip program_id='278035' first='Mustang' last='SC ECNL'] G10 - Helped Bishop O'Dowd to the North Coast Section Winter Division I semifinal match. Part of an impressive “goal for to goals against” record of 106-10. The Dragons got to the semifinal match by beating #14 Windsor, #11 Miramonte, while losing 3-2 to Monte Vista. Ana is on the PDP Roster for Fall U16-U17 Girls and participated in the U15 Cal North ODP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. [player_tooltip player_id='202683' first='Jayla' last='Swindle'] - Vacaville Christian - Bay Area Surf ECNL - Helped Vacaville Christian get to the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI playoffs. She had an impressive freshman season while scoring 46 goals. Jayla was one of our standouts from our Prep Soccer Girls ID Camp: NorCal 2024. She is also a member of the 2010 ODP National Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. [player_tooltip player_id='187366' first='Kiyomi' last='Yoshimura'] - Saint Francis - [program_tooltip program_id='278033' first='MVLA' last='ECNL'] - Helped the Saint Francis Lancers win a CCS Division I Championship. She made a few goals in big games for Saint Francis. Kiyomi took part in the U.S. U15 Women's Youth National Team Training Camp and the U.S. YNT U14 National ID Camp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1888336806565011943","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1888336806565011943 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Midfielders - [player_tooltip player_id='111113' first='Isabella' last='Rendino'], [player_tooltip player_id='202653' first='Everleigh' last='Porter'], and [player_tooltip player_id='186203' first='Katelyn' last='Wong'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Isabella “Izzy” Rendino - Cardinal Newman - Santa Rosa United ECNL G09 - Helped her team win an NCS Winter Soccer DII Championship. She played a pivotal role in winning a championship as the 15th seed while taking down the #2, #7, and #3 seeds. Izzy was one of our standouts from our Prep Soccer Girls ID Camp: NorCal 2024 and is also a member of the Panama U17 and U20 National Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1895906404323750337">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1895906404323750337</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896286374090973673","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896286374090973673 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. [player_tooltip player_id='202653' first='Everleigh' last='Porter'] - Menlo School - Bay Area Surf ECNL G10 - She helped the Menlo Knights win a CCS Division III Championship. She spearheaded her team to the finals with a solid performance as she scored the opening goal and made the assist for the winning goal. Everleigh is also a member of the U.S. Futsal U16 National Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896072438024454548">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896072438024454548</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1894933959039205793">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1894933959039205793</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. [player_tooltip player_id='186203' first='Katelyn' last='Wong'] - Bishop O'Dowd - [program_tooltip program_id='278035' first='Mustang' last='SC ECNL'] - Helped Bishop O'Dowd win the North Coast Section Winter Division I Championship. Part of an impressive “goal for to goals against” record of 106-10. Katelyn is a member of the Cal North ODP 2024-2025. Player Pool: 2010 Girls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defenders - [player_tooltip player_id='111097' first='Chloe' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='206664' first='Lynn' last='Byun'], and [player_tooltip player_id='262616' first='Aris' last='Yu'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. [player_tooltip player_id='111097' first='Chloe' last='Miller'] - Archbishop Mitty - [program_tooltip program_id='278033' first='MVLA' last='ECNL'] G09 - Helped the Mitty Monarchs to a CCS Division I Final. She is an integral part of the Monarchs defense and is the #1 rated player in CA and #1 in position for 2028 per Prep Soccer rankings. Chloe is also a member of the U.S. U15 Women's Youth National Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896280086795755723","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896280086795755723 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. [player_tooltip player_id='206664' first='Lynn' last='Byun'] - Saint Francis - Bay Area Surf ECNL G09 - Helped the Saint Francis Lancers win a CCS Division I Championship. She was stellar throughout the postseason, and she scored the winning goal in the championship match. Lynn is on the state PDP roster for Fall U16-U17.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1895658457048760377","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1895658457048760377 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1895668889754939499">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1895668889754939499</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. [player_tooltip player_id='262616' first='Aris' last='Yu'] - Sacred Heart Prep - Bay Area Surf ECNL G10 - Helped Sacred Heart Prep win a CCS Division 5 Championship. Was part of the defensive three, which had 9 clean sheets, and she played shutdown defense in the playoffs. Aris is on the PDP U16 state and U15 ODP state teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1895970630186774621">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1895970630186774621</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896060884587594154">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896060884587594154</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goalkeepers - [player_tooltip player_id='111087' first='Anneliese' last='Braun'], [player_tooltip player_id='199882' first='Vivian' last='Baker'], and [player_tooltip player_id='160003' first='Bella' last='Martin'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. [player_tooltip player_id='111087' first='Anneliese' last='Braun'] - Saint Francis - [program_tooltip program_id='278033' first='MVLA' last='ECNL'] G09 - Helped the Saint Francis Lancers win a CCS Division I Championship. She was pivotal in the Lancers championship run and in the final match. Anneliese led her team with 13 clean sheets. Anneliese made critical saves in the final match to bring another championship to Saint Francis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896277295738053070">https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896277295738053070</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. [player_tooltip player_id='199882' first='Vivian' last='Baker'] - Archbishop Mitty - [program_tooltip program_id='278033' first='MVLA' last='ECNL'] - Helped the Mitty Monarchs to a CCS Division I Final. She made some crucial saves and kept a clean sheet as the starter in the first half of the Mitty and Saint Francis CCC DI Championship match. Vivian is also a member of the USYNT Player Pool - U15 ODP Interregional Team (West).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896275902960677339","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1896275902960677339 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. [player_tooltip player_id='160003' first='Bella' last='Martin'] - Valley View - [program_tooltip program_id='278037' first='Legends' last='FC ECNL'] - Helped Valley View to the Quarterfinals of the CIF DIII Southern Section - She led her team with 11 clean sheets and playoff victories over Kennedy and Woodbridge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->