Playoffs Round 3 West’s Best Players

<p>Round 3 in the West region of the playoffs helped to whittle down the talent pool to just a few teams. With 16 matches played across the four levels, there were plenty of players who managed to impress. Though only the 1A and 4A levels provided visibility to their talents, they also gave us great ones. The following list is made up of players who not only shone, but proved to be able to deal with the task that important matches ask for.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1A Level</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Tiniyah is a fantastic central midfield talent who makes her team tick. Her passes are fantastic, picking out players in great positions precisely. She showcases her intelligence and vision constantly, knowing where to find her teammates in a split second. Not only is she great at playmaking, she's also fantastic at providing a helping hand in finalizing attacks. Her runs are great, often getting into the box unmarked. When she's on the ball in deeper positions, she'll showcase her other attribute of carrying it forward smoothly. Another welcome attribute is her interceptions, often cutting out plays from deep.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Kristen is a very talented forward with clear potential to become a special player. Able to play as both a striker and a right winger, she has the quality to perform spectacularly in either. When she's in space, she proves to be fast, making the defenders regret giving her even a little space. On the ball, she's very agile, twisting and turning easily to beat defenders who try to get the ball off of her. Off the ball, she constantly looks for pockets of space to get into to exploit as much as possible. She also moves constantly, making her hard to predict. In the box, she pounces on opportunities, converting loose balls into goals easily.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Level</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Mina plays as a striker for her school and proves to be an uncomfortable player for the opposing team. Constantly pressing and being a physical presence in the final third, defenders can never be sure they'll win a duel against her. She also does not let them play out from the back calmly, forcing them to take other routes. This physicality helps her team to push forward and opens up space for runners to exploit. On the ball, she knows how to find players in better positions to advance plays.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Hannah is a striker who has no problem rising to the occasion when she's needed the most. An uncomfortable presence in the box, she'll do anything to win the ball as close to the box as possible. This even includes taking shots, where she got the match-winning goal from an uncomfortable position. Her movements in the final third also help make her midfielders' jobs easier, constantly moving into places where she can receive the ball cleanly. Link-up plays also come easily to her, helping to circulate the ball in the final third.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Aubrey is a goalkeeper who makes <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/04/4a-matchday-4s-best-performers/">another appearance</a> on a list this season, and once again does so after a monumental performance. A confident and commanding player, she locks down her box even. With 8 saves in a 1-0 win, she made sure that her team would progress to the next round. She is also a leader from the back, instilling her own calm and confidence in her defenders.</p>

Round 3 in the West region of the playoffs helped to whittle down the talent pool to just a few teams. With 16 matches played across the four levels, there were plenty of players who managed to impress. Though only the 1A and 4A levels provided visibility to their talents, they also gave us great ones. The following list is made up of players who not only shone, but proved to be able to deal with the task that important matches ask for.