3A State Finals' Best Players

The <a href="https://www.nchsaa.org/bracket/2025-3a-womens-soccer-bracket/">3A</a> State finals gave us a rugged and hard-fought match between two strong teams. The exciting 6th seed of the West region, <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/belmont/south-point-red-raiders/soccer/girls/spring/">South Point High School</a>, played against the strong first seed of the East, <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/elon/western-alamance-warriors/soccer/girls/spring/">Western Alamance High School</a>. Both teams reached the state finals playing exciting soccer, with either being unlucky with an eventual final loss. The match played out very physically and tactically, where both teams tried to decipher each other for the entire 80 minutes. It was a singular goal 10 minutes into the second half that handed Western Alamance the title. The match presented us with many tactically and physically gifted players, as well as some wonderful technical players. The following list is a mix of the best of the best of these players, in my opinion.    Elle is a talented left-back who dominated her flank defensively all match long. Strong and intelligent, she knew when and where to position herself to anticipate plays out wide. A constant headache for whoever had to go up against her, she asserted herself both physically and mentally. Her insistence on rushing and pressing players made them falter often, helping them regain possession without much trouble. When she did need to go in for duels, she did so brilliantly. Dispossessing players comes as second nature to her, winning duels far more often than she loses them. Her all-around defensive capabilities allow her to kill opposing attacks wherever she is on the pitch. Pressing in the opposing half or her own makes no difference in her effectiveness.     Mia is a physical defensive midfielder who kept the midfield on lock in favor of her team. In a match where the defensive midfielders were called upon constantly, she rose to the occasion. Constantly going in for duels, she always made herself big regardless of the player she was going up against. Both with anticipation and strong tackles, she asserts herself fantastically. If it's an aerial duel, she knows how to position herself to be able to win them despite her height. Her stamina is also admirable, running down the opponents in every moment. When she's on the pitch, she makes sure the opposition is aware of her presence.     Callie finished off a fantastic season with a clutch performance, scoring the winning goal in a tight match. In a match where she wasn't allowed as much freedom as before, she found a way to still perform. In uncomfortable spaces, she found spaces to help circulate the ball forward. Her movements also allowed for her to get into positions once she beat the defenders. Despite the difficult match, she still had a fair amount of chances thanks to her ability. In the box, she demonstrated how dangerous she is if not closed down. The goal she scored was wonderful as well, pulling off a magical shot from a difficult position.     Jyi'Yanna is a talented striker who, despite not scoring, proves how much of a prospect she is. She is an uncomfortable player both on and off the ball, keeping defenders busy in either case. When her team is off the ball, she presses the opposing defence intensely. This forces them into making quick decisions, which leads to more effective ball recoveries in the midfield. When her team is on the ball, she makes constant runs into space. These runs either leave her in great positions to receive the ball or create spaces for the ball to move in the channels more cleanly. When she's on the ball, she always looks to get forward, whether it's through carrying it or passing it to players in better areas.     Kayla is a winger who performs the best as a left-winger and who was the player of the match, in my opinion. Her assistance to take on her marker is remarkable, even if she is unable to sometimes. She tries to get forward regardless of how many players are on her, making magic when she pulls it off. It's obvious how passionate she is as well, expecting the most from both her and her teammates. She constantly looks for the best option for both, allowing her team to advance as effectively as possible. Her passes are incredible, creating chances from nowhere. In fact, she assisted Callie with a phenomenal pass from just about midfield on the opposite wing.

The 3A State finals gave us a rugged and hard-fought match between two strong teams. The exciting 6th seed of the West region, South Point High School, played against the strong first seed of the East, Western Alamance High School. Both teams reached the state finals playing exciting soccer, with either being unlucky with an eventual final loss. The match played out very physically and tactically, where both teams tried to decipher each other for the entire 80 minutes. It was a singular goal 10 minutes into the second half that handed Western Alamance the title. The match presented us with many tactically and physically gifted players, as well as some wonderful technical players. The following list is a mix of the best of the best of these players, in my opinion.