GA Summer Playoffs and Showcase Day 1 Standouts

Day one of the tourney did not disappoint as the class of 2028's led some key matches to produce some standouts.   USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription   There were some really good GA teams with players who left an impression on scouts/coaches on day one of the tourney. The intensity and technical skills were on full display as some really good teams set themselves apart from the rest with some really good players leading the way.   The majority of the games I covered were with the class of 2028 with a sprinkle of 2029s included on their rosters. My first match was one of the opening matches featuring Oakwood Soccer Club vs. Wasatch SC. While talking with an Oakwood parent, he mentioned that a core group of players on the team has been playing together for about 8 years. It was evident as their defenders and midfielders showed some high soccer IQs and played with fluidity for most of the match.   Some of the standouts for Wasatch SC, out of Utah, were Stella Gonzalez (2028), Macie Caldwell (2029), and Hadley Glaittli (2028). Stella's strong defensive play on the backline and Hadley's key defensive stops kept Oakwood off the board. Macie Caldwell was a bruiser up top and made some strong runs to the 18 and provided high pressure to cause the defense to make errors in the back.   Ava Kiss and Gabriella Rosado were the Oakwood SC top performers. Ava played a big part in the Oakwood attack as well as recovering on defense to make key stops around the attacking third. Rosado was the goalkeeper who made critical stops to limit the Wasatch attack, but eventually they could not stop a quick opening second-half goal. Otherwise, both teams played hard, and Wasatch got their first win of the tournament.   Other key players and teams from Day one were [player_tooltip player_id='202678' first='Alena' last='Raymundo'] of [program_tooltip program_id='283672' first='Lamorinda' last='SC'] and [player_tooltip player_id='249536' first='Keira' last='Stone'] and [player_tooltip player_id='248388' first='Sophia' last='Louise Cochran'] of Galaxy SC.   Featured Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='249536' first='Keira' last='Stone'] - 2028 - Midfielder - Galaxy SC 2010G - 2028 - (#8 in IL, #3 in Position, and #144 in Nation)    [player_tooltip player_id='248388' first='Sophia' last='Louise Cochran'] - 2029 - Defender/Forward - Galaxy SC 2010G - (#32 in IL, #7 in Position, and #248 in Nation)   [player_tooltip player_id='202678' first='Alena' last='Raymundo'] - 2028 - Midfielder - [program_tooltip program_id='283672' first='Lamorinda' last='SC'] - 2028 - (#50 in CA and #34 in Position).   Player Evaluations: [player_tooltip player_id='249536' first='Keira' last='Stone']    Her strengths were in making quick passes to runners over the top or in tight spaces. I really liked how she made attackers change their runs by cutting off angles. She also took a few strong shots and made some clean tackles to make the opposing team make their runs from the channels. I can definitely see her making a stronger impact during the next few days of the tourney. Keira played as a box-to-box player and contributed on both ends to let it be a 1-1 draw.    Keira's Match Highlights:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2068201313205354537?s=20 </div></figure>   Player Evaluations: [player_tooltip player_id='248388' first='Sophia' last='Louise Cochran']    Sophia played a solid match. Her technical skills, intensity, and ability to shut down runs to the box were on full display. She jumped into lanes, cut off players making diagonal runs, and won most 1v1 challenges. Her 5'9” height made it nearly impossible for the opposing team to win aerial duels. I can see her getting a few looks for possible YNT invites. Sophia repelled a bunch of scoring attempts in the attacking third to keep it a 1-1 draw.    Sophia's Match Highlights:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2068193962125574525?s=20 </div></figure>   Featured Players: [player_tooltip player_id='202678' first='Alena' last='Raymundo']    One of the things I noticed right off the bat was her ability to remain calm under pressure. Her technical skills are clean and fluid. She also made some quick and precise passes in small windows. Alena was selected for the USYS ODP National Select Team, which previously played matches in Costa Rica. It will be great to see her as a YNT invite, as her skills are definitely on par with the rest. She also got her team's second goal of the match. Alena played as a box-to-box midfielder and contributed on both ends to let it be a 3-3 draw.    Alena's Match Highlights:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2068207518774669613?s=20 </div></figure>   I was also fortunate to have asked Sophia to answer six soccer questions. Here are the questions and her responses.   Sophia's Questions and Responses:   1. What are three of your strengths as a soccer player?   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>The ability to read the ball out of the air on both sides of the field </li>   <li>1v1 defending</li>   <li>physicality/intensity</li> </ol>   2. When did you and your parents decide that you would want to  be a college soccer player   “I wanted to take my soccer to the next level when I was 5 after watching the USWNT win the 2015 World Cup. After that is when I knew I wanted to be a soccer player. I joined club soccer the following fall and never looked back.”   3. What are some of the things you are currently doing to prepare for your college journey?   “I am spending every day working hard to become a better soccer player. I am preparing for college by lifting weights, speed training, and doing extra skills training outside of club practice.”   4. What have been your most memorable soccer moments as a soccer player thus far?.   “I have been fortunate to experience several memorable moments both on and off the field throughout my soccer career.   My most memorable on-field experience was last year when my team finished as Girls Academy Finalists. Other highlights include winning the USYS National Championship in 2024, winning the Super Copa twice, and competing in the Illinois high school state championship this year.   Off the field, one of my favorite memories was being selected for the ODP National Team and having the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica. In addition to competing in games, we visited a school for underprivileged children where we organized games and spent time with the students. As the only player on the team who spoke Spanish fluently, I was able to communicate directly with the children, which helped me build meaningful connections with them. Seeing their excitement and being able to bridge the language gap made the experience incredibly rewarding and unforgettable.”   5. Is there a club, college  or pro soccer player who inspires you?    “Naomi Girma. She has complete control of her backline and she has such amazing vision.”   6. Where do you see yourself or hope to be in your soccer journey in 5-6 years?   “I would love to continue to push my game as far as I can. I don't want to look back and have regrets. I am hoping that my future college coaching staff can push and prepare me to take the leap to the NWSL or Europe.”   Highlights from the Match of the Day: Galaxy SC vs. Century United   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2067789548055417273?s=20 </div></figure>   Scoring Highlight: Galaxy Goal off of a corner kick - Superb kick and Finish!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2067771545674727872?s=20 </div></figure>

Day one of the tourney did not disappoint as the class of 2028's led some key matches to produce some standouts.