Playoffs Round 4 Best Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Round 4 of the playoffs gave us matches that were much closer than in previous rounds. Serving as the regional semifinals at each level, the teams all knew what was at play. Each match played out with teams proving their desire to win, regardless of how they got it. Many teams were unable to provide visibility for their players, especially at the 2A and 3A levels. Nonetheless, the following players proved to be the ones who took their opportunities the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1A Level</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["278017"],"_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-683e24e65ef21"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Paige is a fantastic goalkeeping talent who has evident potential to have a brilliant career. A monumental performance allowed her team to advance to the next round, registering 17 saves against an immensely talented attack. Her diving ability is remarkable, flying to the ball whenever she needs to. The saves she pulls off are great, proving that she has both the shot-stopping and diving attributes that distinguish a great goalkeeper from a normal one. She plays with the determination to keep her goal as safe as possible, rushing off her line constantly to prove so. Putting her body on the line to make a save or cut out a play is also another great attribute, not being afraid of the ball at all. Her attention is also fantastic, always keeping her eyes on the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Level</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["110304"],"_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-683e24e65f006"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Makayla proves time and time again how immensely talented she is, proving to be a difference maker in tough situations. Even though the opposing team made her life difficult in this match, she still provided moments of greatness. Her typical movements on the ball created space for danger. Her vision helped advance plays from difficult positions. But it was her finishing that made the difference in such a tight match. Under pressure, she shows that she does not crack when she's in front of goal. </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":"Ellie Riechman","_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":"5'7u0022","_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":"Ardrey Kell High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-68435cf876321"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ellie is a midfielder who has made an appearance in an article <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/04/4a-matchday-5s-best-performers/">before</a>, proving how consistently good she is. In a hard-fought match, she offered clarity in midfield to make attacks happen. Her recovery deep in midfield is great, intercepting balls in the middle of the park. This allows for her to spark counterattacks, where she shines the most. Her ability to dribble and drive the ball forward is fantastic, generating danger with her talent. Weaving past a tight defense with ease, she opened up the opposition to open the scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["24820"],"_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-68435cf876382"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jordan is a great defensive midfielder who performed fantastically to help her team win this match. A tight match that was fought mostly in the midfield, she dominated the zone defensively. Her grit is remarkable, showing how much she wants the ball back in her team's possession. The determination to win the ball back is unique, even going in for duels in contexts where she runs the risk of injury. In others, she anticipates passes before the potential receiver even realizes the ball is coming their way. Winning duels also comes to her easily, with her losing one being a rarity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["277965"],"_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-68435cf8763cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Parker is a goalkeeper who, despite the loss, proved to grow to the occasion. Despite the number of shots she faced, she only conceded one. Her ability to close down angles is fantastic, making life difficult for the opposing attackers. In one-on-ones, she makes her body big, increasing the pressure and lowering the chances for the attacker to score. She dealt with the pressure of keeping her team in the match for the entirety of it, allowing her team to attack with hope.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->