Girls’ 8A Best Performers This Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final conference in North Carolina soccer is the 8A conference, and it left us with Myers Park High School as the state champions. They beat Hoggard High School in penalties after a closely contested 1-1 in regular &amp; extra time. The regional runner-ups were Millbrook High School and Hough High School, who each put up a fight against the state finalists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["290466"],"_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-6a343dd36b864"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Amaya is an extremely talented forward who I've written about <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/05/4a-matchday-7s-best-performers/" id="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/05/4a-matchday-7s-best-performers/">previously</a>. She will be headed to Indiana University in a few months, and she'll do so riding high. Her quality as a quick and deadly striker made her stand out throughout her whole high school career. She can also drift wide or drop back if the play needs her to. Her talent makes her a player to keep an eye on for her collegiate career.</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":"Mia Neuwirth","_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":"5'6u0022","_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":"Hoggard High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6a343dd36b8f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mia is an attacking midfielder whose main attribute is her directness in attack. She can play anywhere across the attack because of her ability, but she's most effective behind the striker. Her shots from distance are wonderful, always causing issues for the keeper. She also has really good match awareness, knowing exactly what to do given the context she gets the ball in. This was her final season at the high school level, but it is noteworthy that she had been playing at the varsity level since middle school. Hopefully, she continues the soccer path after high school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["277512"],"_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-6a343dd36b91f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kate is a very talented winger with sky-high potential. She can play on either wing and is effective on either one. The way she attacks the box is different depending on which wing she's playing on. Because she's left-footed, when she attacks on the right, she loves to cut in or cut back. She either starts cutting in when running at the defenders or cuts back when she reaches the touchline. In either case, she leaves herself with great space to take a shot from. There, she finds the back of the net more often than not. When attacking from the left, she is very direct. Being through on goal with her left foot on the left flank gives her an easy angle to get a dangerous shot off. Her dribbling in space is also great. She's agile and quick, skipping past defenders very easily.</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":"Olivia Miller","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hough High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283284' first='Charlotte' last='SA']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6a343dd36b966"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Olivia is another forward talent with much talent and plenty of potential. She's a rare type of forward who combines physicality and technique. Her height puts her at a very favorable advantage over her peers. In the box, this is the most noticeable. Her aerial capabilities are superb. When she gets on the end of a cross, her headers are strong and well placed. This is also capable because of her positioning. She reads attacks perfectly, knowing exactly where to be. This translates to her movements into space in open play. She's fast and has great ball control, allowing her to both beat the defenders and drive the ball forward effectively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->