Top Uncommitted Talent From VA Heads to ECNL Playoffs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012 [program_tooltip program_id='283449' first='Richmond' last='United'] Girls teams are all in San Diego for ECNL Playoffs. Here are some of the top uncommitted players from that 2008 squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["164462"],"_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-685daae35617c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mackenzie is coming off of winning a VA Class 6 State Championship with Deep Run, adding another accomplishment to an impressive list. Vanags is a very good defender in space. Her height and length make it difficult for opposing attackers to get by her. She also has great awareness, doing a lot of the work before the ball is even near her. She shows this high IQ when playing as a LB, CB, or RB, as she can truly play anywhere in the back line and be just as effective. Her toughness as a ball winner when she contests a 50/50 or a set piece played into the box also stands out as she comes out on top more often than not. Vanags is also a wonderful distributor. She is capable of playing quick, short, accurate passes to break pressure, and also playing accurate, long passes when she is able to get her head up and pick out teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["110423"],"_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-685daae3561d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='110423' first='Olivia' last='Lombardo'] is a midfielder that does a lot of the work you won't find on the score sheet. Lombardo's strong work rate leads to a lot of her success in the busiest part of the field. She does a great job of cutting down space in between her and opposing creative players, winning the ball when the opportunity presents itself. Olivia has a great sense of the balance and flow of the game, understanding when to contain opposing players and force backwards, but also when its time to go all in on a slide tackle to break up a play. This sense of the game also shows up in her distribution, as she moves the ball side to side quickly, changing the attacking angle for her team when needed. </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":289594,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mackenzie Gathers","_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":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Atlee HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283449' first='Richmond' last='United'] ECNL 2008","_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-685daae356276"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mackenzie Gathers is a defensive minded player with athleticism that stands out when you watch her play. She plays as a center back or defensive mid most of the time. Gathers has the strength to hold off attackers and the speed to keep up with most, if not all, of them. She is also strong in the air, and great at winning possession for her team on punts and clearances around midfield. Gathers engine and quick reactions help her to find the ball all game long, which helps her team win the possession battle. She is also comfortable using her speed when in possession to break lines and put pressure on the opposing defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["172624"],"_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-685daae3562c3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">London is coming off of a monster Spring for Godwin HS, in a competitive Region 5C in the Richmond area, which they won. She scored 20+ goals and that does not even begin to tell the story of her affect on games. Her control on the ball and awareness of where her teammates are really make her a great target as a striker or a creative playmaker as a 10. The touch and work she has put in with the ball also shows on her finishing. London is a great example of what happens when attacking players take their coaches saying "attack is out first line of defense" to heart. She constantly puts pressure on opposing defensive players and forces them into uncomfortable positions with her strength and angles she takes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155295"],"_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-685daae356309"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='155295' first='Emerson' last='Moore'] is the only 2027 grad on this list. She has already participated in 3 USYNT camps, and recently was also invited to a Gotham FC ID Camp. Emerson is what a coach would build as a box to box midfielder. She has great close control dribbling and uses it to beat defenders and break the press. Her agility and speed when changing directions helps her to keep her team on the attack and in dangerous areas. She has great strength to win the ball back and rarely comes out on the short end of a 50/50 challenge. Most times I get to watch her play, she covers more ground than any other midfielder on the field as well. She also has great technique passing at all levels and shooting during the run of play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->