MLS NEXT SoCal Spotlight: Rising Stars from Weekend Fixtures

This past weekend, KS SPORTS NETWORK covered a wide range of Southern California MLS NEXT fixtures across the U13 to U19 age groups.   Saturday featured non MLS academy matchups including Albion LA vs Strikers and [program_tooltip program_id='283295' first='City' last='SC'] vs Albion SD. Sunday highlighted MLS NEXT games between LAFC and Albion SD at the U13 and U14 levels.   Below are players who stood out based on performance, impact, and long term potential. These are names that should continue to stay on your scouting radar.   Clubs covered LAFC [program_tooltip program_id='283295' first='City' last='SC'] Albion LA Strikers Albion SD   LAFC   Kane Chi | Forward | U14      A Chinese born prospect who moved to the United States just three years ago, Kane Chi has already made a major impact in his first season with LAFC. With over 20 goal contributions, he has quickly proven his value.   At 5 foot 9, he already has a strong frame for his age group, which allows him to play with confidence and presence in attacking areas.   He scored an outstanding goal this weekend, but what stands out most is his mentality. Kane plays with a natural motor. Nobody has to tell him to work hard.   His ability to adapt to a new environment at a young age speaks volumes about his long term upside. That trait alone separates him as a serious prospect.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX4lmnaP-v1/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX4s8RIp-k3/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   Bryant Mata | Left Back | U14    Bryant Mata continues to elevate his profile. Recently called into a USYNT camp in Atlanta from May 7 to May 23, he is clearly on the radar at the national level. He will also feature in the Club America Cup in San Diego.   At 5 foot 3, Mata does not rely on size. Instead, he separates himself through awareness, timing, and technical execution.   He is a very decisive and forward thinking passer. He had an assist to Kane Chi off what looked like a casual switch, but it is the awareness behind it that matters most. That first time pass is the difference between Kane receiving the ball under pressure or in space.   Keeping offense this simple requires precision and execution, and Mata consistently shows both. His ability to recognize these moments is what separates him.   His national team call up reinforces that point. He is operating at a level that demands attention and he is one to follow closely as his development continues.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX4jADuP2WG/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>     Albion SD   Alex Torres | Left Back | U17    At 5 foot 9, Torres has a balanced frame for a modern fullback, allowing him to compete physically while still maintaining mobility and technical control in wide areas.   Torres continues to prove why he is one of the most reliable leaders in the region. First noticed at MLS NEXT Fest for his set piece impact, he once again commanded the backline and led his team effectively this weekend.   As captain, he embodies Albion SD culture. He is consistent, vocal, and dependable. His presence both on and off the field stands out.   He brings real power and technical quality to the pitch. One of the best examples of this is his ability to deliver dangerous balls over distance. The clip below shows a near full field assist. This speaks to both his vision and execution.   The second clip goes back to when I first noticed him at MLS NEXT Fest. Scoring a free kick like that in a big game against Inter Miami is the kind of moment that puts players on the map. That level of composure and technique is not common.   Of everyone on this list, he may be the most likely to sign a pro contract within the next two to three years. Expect him to be a key figure if Albion U17 makes a deep run at MLS NEXT Cup.    Long Ball Assist:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX24pr6JkF_/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='335396' first='Will' last='Gingery'] | Forward | U14      [player_tooltip player_id='335396' first='Will' last='Gingery'] continues to establish himself as one of the more promising attacking players out of the San Diego region. Since preseason, he has consistently produced.   At 5 foot 8, he already has a solid frame for his age, which complements his ability to play with confidence in attacking spaces and generate power on his strikes.   Even in a tough 5 to 0 loss to LAFC, he was one of the few bright spots. This weekend, he recorded an assist in his squad's other game with a quality long pass, continuing his trend of impacting the game in the final third.   The second clip goes back to the moment I first discovered Will. He scored a long range shot with real decisiveness and won his team a close 2 to 1 game with only a few minutes left to play. That type of confidence and execution in attacking moments stands out.   He has a natural feel for goal and timing in dangerous areas. His ability to create and finish chances makes him a consistent threat. While he has the tools for a pro pathway, he currently projects as a high level Division One prospect with strong upside.    Assist this weekend:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX2tunLv19s/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   Game winning goal:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRFnfh-kjWO/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   Strikers   Alvin Isael Pascual Garay | RW | U15    Garay stood out in a 3 to 1 win over Albion LA through effort and impact.   At 5 foot 4, he may not have the physical size advantage, but the way he competes completely removes that as a factor. His energy and willingness to engage in every moment is what separates him.   There was one play that defined his performance. He chased down a ball where he was initially out of position and did not give up on the play. Instead of conceding possession, he stayed with it, applied pressure, and helped his team win the ball back. It is the kind of effort that gets noticed. If you want to stand out, this is the standard.   Moments like that show a level of competitiveness that cannot be taught. He brings consistent energy regardless of the situation, and that translates at every level.   He also scored a beautiful goal to give his team a 2 to 1 advantage, showing that he can pair effort with end product.    Effort play:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX2Aqb1PtXZ/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   Goal:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX2BgitOAkf/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   Kayden J Lopez | Center Back | U17      Lopez brings a strong combination of experience and IQ. His journey includes time with LAFC Academy and Orlando City before landing with Irvine Strikers.   At 6 foot 1, he has the physical tools that stand out immediately, but it is how he uses them that separates him. He combines size with awareness and composure, which allows him to impact both sides of play.   This weekend, he showed exactly why he is such an intriguing prospect. In one sequence, he stripped an attacker who was coming at full speed and immediately flipped the field with a great long ball. That kind of defensive to attacking transition is what separates high level players.   The second clip shows his speed and willingness to put his body on the line. He competes in every moment and contributes in ways that do not always show up on the stat sheet, but are critical to winning games.   He has size, speed, and a clear understanding of the game. He projects as a strong Division One prospect with positional versatility and the ability to impact both sides of play.    Defensive strip and long ball:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX2RERZhy77/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   Defensive effort and recovery:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXpW3DEEa_M/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   Albion LA   GianFranco Chimi Carrero | LB LCB | U16      At 5 foot 11, Carrero has a strong frame for a defender, allowing him to compete physically while still maintaining mobility across the backline.   Carrero is the definition of efficiency. He does not overplay and simply does his job at a high level.   The first clip in his tape is what immediately stood out. It shows his ability and willingness to disrupt, especially this late in the season when it becomes clear who is still competing at a high level. He steps in, wins the tackle cleanly, and follows it up with a composed interior pass to keep possession moving.   He has a calming ability to read the game rather than diving into challenges. His timing, discipline, and tackling ability were second to none in this match.   While he may not be the flashiest player, his consistency and defensive IQ make him a very reliable presence on the backline.    Clip:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX3V3fsuhvy/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='335020' first='Eli' last='Millner'] | U16        Milner delivered one of the most impressive goals of the weekend, finishing from an extremely tight angle with power and precision off the post.   At 5 foot 10, he has a solid frame for his age and uses it well in wide and attacking positions. His balance and ability to generate power in tight spaces were evident on his goal.   Beyond the finish, he was active throughout the game, operating along the flank and drifting inside to influence play. He looked like a focal point in the attack and consistently found ways to stay involved.   He has the ability to create moments out of nothing, and this type of finishing speaks to his confidence and technical quality.   He looks like a player capable of producing at a high level, especially at the Division One stage.    Goal:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX2an7WS3nV/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   [program_tooltip program_id='283295' first='City' last='SC']   Evangeline Eve Broughton | Attacking Mid | U13      Eve is firmly in the conversation as a top three player in the 2013 age group on the girls side.   At 5 foot 1, she does not rely on size to impact the game. Instead, she separates herself through awareness, timing, and technical ability.   She operates as a true box to box midfielder with elite awareness and decision making. Her ability to scan, move the ball, and connect play stands out immediately.   She continues to break barriers as the first female player to score a hat trick in an MLS NEXT regular season game.   This clip is a great example of how comfortable she looks playing against boys. She demands a through ball, creates separation with strong leverage, outruns defenders, and then combines with her teammate while scanning the pitch. It is simple, but it shows a lot about her ability to keep up and impact the game.   It is often seen that players who compete against boys at a young age tend to succeed when they return to girls competition. For now, Eve continues to develop in this environment. As she progresses, she is putting herself in a position where she will be more than prepared for any pathway that opens up.   Her fitness, composure, and impact are elite. She is on a clear pro pathway trajectory, similar to Rhada Sonthalia.   As long as development continues, she is positioned for the highest levels.    Clip:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX2Gbe7p2h6/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   Freddie Cruz | U15      Freddie Cruz continues his strong run of form, scoring in back to back MLS NEXT weekends.   He followed up his hat trick performance at MLS NEXT Flex by scoring again this weekend against Albion SD, continuing to show consistent production in front of goal.   With at least four goals in his last three matches, he is consistently producing in key moments.   He is one that should be firmly on the radar for top Division One programs on the West Coast. His ability to find space and finish chances continues to show up week after week.   This goal is from last weekend at MLS NEXT Flex, where he recorded a hat trick. It is a strong example of his ability to capitalize and deliver in big moments.    Goal MLS NEXT Flex hat trick weekend:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXpz2_8Dl2g/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>     Here is his Instagram, where his portfolio showcases more of his recent attacking output:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX2Gbe7p2h6/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   He is one to keep watching for sure.   Final Thoughts   As a new scout in the preps soccer space, I am redefining the way I capture and present content through KS SPORTS NETWORK.   There is no such thing as a guaranteed outcome when identifying a prospect. There are many variables that each athlete must navigate before reaching their goals.   Through storytelling, we can begin to understand the small details that separate players. Whether it is their academic background, their development over time, or the decisions they make along their journey, each factor plays a role.   This process is not about labeling finished products. It is about tracking growth.   We look forward to bringing more extensive coverage of MLS NEXT and ECNL postseason soccer as these players continue to develop.

This past weekend, KS SPORTS NETWORK covered a wide range of Southern California MLS NEXT fixtures across the U13 to U19 age groups.