Playoff Round 1 West’s Best Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Round 1 of the Playoffs in the West region kicked off with plenty of matches. Just like in the <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/05/playoff-round-1-east-best-players/">previous case</a>, the West region provided us with 64 matches across the four levels. Each level presented different forms of talent and different visibility. In this case, plenty of players in the smaller levels took advantage of their opportunities. With that, the following list is made up of the best players of the first round in the West region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1A Level</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Surprisingly, the <a href="https://www.nchsaa.org/bracket/2025-1a-womens-soccer-bracket/">1A</a> level provided more visibility for its talents than 2A or 3A. The shortlist for this level was long, and choosing only two for this level was truly difficult. However, the talent of these two players is truly remarkable and helped separate them from the rest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["277490"],"_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-68351346c596a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rylan is a very exciting midfield talent who plays with so much remarkable ease. When she dribbles forward, she'll skip past players as if they were cones. Even in plays where it seems she would lose the ball, she manages to smoothly drive the ball forward, leaving the defender frozen. She continues this habit in the box, even dribbling past the goalkeeper calmly. Her passes are also fantastic, picking out her teammates easily from anywhere. The weight and precision are near perfect, making it easy for her attackers to pounce on danger. She proves this with her 3 assists in this match. Her shooting is fantastic, taking them with a cool head. Whether she's one-on-one or outside the box, she'll find the target. She also proves this with a hat-trick in this match as well.</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":"Gabriella Savaia","_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":"5'1u0022","_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":"Polk County High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']","_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-68351346c5ae5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gabriella, or Gabby, is a striker who is a phenomenal talent with great potential for any project. With her piercing dribbles, she destroys any press without breaking a sweat. When she gets into dangerous positions in the final third, she makes the opposition pay. Whether it be through passes or shooting, she is a constant danger in attack. Her positioning makes her easy to pick out for her teammates, often being in prime areas to pounce on danger. Even in tight spaces, she manages to open it up to find a good shot. But her best attribute in the box is her finishing, beating the keeper for fun. With a hat-trick in this match, she proves how deadly she is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2A Level</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <a href="https://www.nchsaa.org/bracket/2025-2a-womens-soccer-bracket/">2A</a> level had plenty of fantastic performances across the board. With decent visibility, plenty of players stood out, but the following two impressed me the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Bella Lohri","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_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":"Lincoln Charter","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283284' first='Charlotte' last='SA']","_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-68351346c5c10"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bella is a hard-working and talented striker who takes the protagonist role in attack with serenity. She takes full rein of her attack, dropping back to help circulate the ball and create plays while also being a danger in the box. Her passing is great, always looking for danger with them. She creates chances from anywhere in the final third, evident with the assist she got in this match. When she's the one tasked with finishing, she'll do anything to get a clean shot on target. She likes to clear her space through dribbling, especially on the edge of the box. Her goal was a calm and cool finish, beating the goalkeeper when she was rushing.</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":"Addison Reid","_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":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hendersonville High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']","_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-68351346c5d35"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Addison is a fantastic midfield talent who excels in dictating play. On the ball, she helps control play, knowing what the play calls for the most. If she needs to calm down the play, she'll do so wonderfully and create more passing lanes. If she needs to speed it up, she'll dribble or pass it to someone in an even better position. Her vision and passing are also wonderful, knowing exactly where to place the ball. The way she sees passes before pulling them off is a sight to see, creating plays for fun. In the final third, she has an eye for goal, getting a goal in this match. Her shooting, especially from distance, is great, always causing danger for the keeper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3A Level</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately, the <a href="https://www.nchsaa.org/bracket/2025-3a-womens-soccer-bracket/">3A</a> level did not have great visibility for Round 1. However, this doesn't mean that it was wholly invisible. This is an opportunity that the following talent did not pass up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Alexandria Colligan","_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":"null","_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":"Central Cabarrus High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='278271' first='Fox' last='Soccer Academy of the Carolinas']","_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-68351346c5e5b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alexandria is a talented and intelligent striker who allows play to advance smoothly, especially in the final third. Her pace gives her a great advantage over the opposing defense, leaving her in prime positions. On the ball, though, she proves how she combines this pace with her intelligence. She creates space for both her and her teammates, allowing central attacks to be more effective. If she needs to drift out wide to create danger, she'll do so with no problem. Even if she needs to drop back, she won't hesitate, proving how selfless she is. Her finishing is fantastic, even getting a brace in this match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Level</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <a href="https://www.nchsaa.org/bracket/2025-4a-womens-soccer-bracket/">4A</a> level had a remarkable amount of both talent and visibility, which made choosing just a few very difficult. The shortlist was anything but, though the following two proved to nick the rest for these spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Madelynn Campbell","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"[program_tooltip program_id='283392' first='Lake' last='Norman'] High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283284' first='Charlotte' last='SA']","_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-68351346c5f7a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Madelynn is a talented midfielder who can play both in a "10" role or out wide. Regardless of where she plays, her talent is beyond evident. She always looks for a pocket of space to work in, whether she is the one playing passes or receiving them. Off the ball, her movements always keep defenders on their toes, though it's not enough when she receives it. She's vocal and communicates with her team when she makes her runs. On the ball, she's even more dangerous. She'll maneuver past pressure, even when it seems like she'd lose the ball. Progressive-minded, she always looks to finalize plays as close to the goal as possible.</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":"Sadie Hambright","_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":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Asheville High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']","_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-68351346c6098"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sadie is a midfielder whose talent is felt throughout the team without being flashy. Though she puts in remarkable work in both the first and final third, she excels in the second third the most. The way she circulates the ball is near perfect, always looking for an open player who can help advance play. If she needs to pass backwards, she does it with the intention to build out instead of looking for a cheap out. She always asks for the ball at her feet, too, never shying away from the task of helping create plays. Her chance creation is great as well, pulling unexpected passes that catch the defense off guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->