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Rankings Preview: North Carolina 2030 Defenders on the Rise

Rankings Preview: North Carolina 2030 Defenders on the Rise
Photo: Social Media
JR Eskilson
JR Eskilson October 20, 2026 @ 10:15 PM
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In this article:

Averie Eldridge
Averie Eldridge D | 2030
NC
Madison Alvarez
Madison Alvarez M/D | 2030
NC
Ava Schiener
Ava Schiener D | 2030
NC
Olivia Sellers
Olivia Sellers 5'5" | D/M | 2030
NC
Alexa Dao
Alexa Dao 5'5" | D | 2030
NC
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Soccer state rankings for North Carolina's 2030 class will be updated next week. Prior to the release of the rankings, check out the defenders who have impressed through the first few months of the new club season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415617"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad82c35e5e6d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alvarez is a midfielder/defender on the [program_tooltip program_id='283410' first='NC' last='Courage'] U15 ECNL team. She plays in the center of the midfield as a box-to-box midfielder or as one of the defenders in the back three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alvarez is a dominant presence in the center of the field. She helps link the squad with her passing. She's good at progressing the ball up the field and keeping the spacing to allow the group to spread the opposition. She can ping the ball with accuracy over distance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alvarez also has the tools to be an elite center back. She's got the defensive instincts and toughness in the tackle to star in that role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She has the physical tools and skill to be a top-level player in a versatile role. She could improve on her speed of play, the ball can get caught on her feet in tight spaces. However, her game impact is among the best in the 2030 class in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415616"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad82c35e5ed3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Schiener is a center back on the [program_tooltip program_id='283410' first='NC' last='Courage'] U15 ECNL team. She plays in the center of a back three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She's been outstanding in the ECNL games this season. The Courage style of play is very open, very attacking, and reminiscent of the professional academy teams in other parts of the world. The center back of the squad has a lot of responsibilities in this system - organizing, starting the attack, and stopping the opposition as the last line. Schiener feels irreplacable in that role. She's got a well rounded game that fits the modern direction of youth club soccer. She's got the high level upside as well that should translate well to the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415621"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad82c35e5f1f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Eldridge is an outside back on the [program_tooltip program_id='283284' first='Charlotte' last='SA'] U15 ECNL team. She can play on either side of the formation. She's an attacking outside back who loves to get forward. She has the pace and endurance to cover the whole side of the field from first whistle to last. She hits a great cross and has the speed to race past the defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldridge is a good 1v1 defender. She shows excellent technique in shielding players off the ball and the cleverness to use her body to keep a player away from the ball for an extended amount of time to help her squad win a goal kick or just retain possession. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldridge's defensive quality is excellent, but her ability to impact the game in the attack gives her a boost compared to her peers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["290405"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad82c35e5f63"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dao is a defender on the [program_tooltip program_id='283284' first='Charlotte' last='SA'] ECNL team. She can play center back or outside back. She's a fiercely competitive player who thrives in any role. She impressed in recent ECNL action with her ability to read the game. She had a play against [program_tooltip program_id='283413' first='NCFC' last='Youth'] ECNL this season when she saved a shot off the line because of her anticipation and game awareness. The rare traits for a youth player especially a versatile defender who can do it a bit of everything at a high level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She's confident on the ball and can be the starting point of the attack with her smart decision-making. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["385197"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad82e5f57418"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sellers is a skillful player on the ball. She plays left back for her club team, but she is capable of playing a number of positions for her side. She can created off the dribble at an elite clip for an outside back. She has the trademark toughness that carries through this Charlotte Independence squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sellers is one to watch from the Girls Academy as a playmaker from the outside back spot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->

The Prep Soccer state rankings for North Carolina's 2030 class will be updated next week. Prior to the release of the rankings, check out the defenders who have impressed through the first few months of the new club season.

Madison Alvarez

Madison Alvarez

NC #4
M/D #1
POS M/D
CLASS 2030
View Player
​
Madison
Alvarez M/D
Class
2030
NC
Rankings Preview: North Carolina 2030 Defenders on the Rise
Alvarez is a midfielder/defender on the NC Courage U15 ECNL team. She plays in the center of the...
Written by JR Eskilson
Read more at PrepSoccer​.com
Prep Soccer

Madison Alvarez

State: North Carolina
Club: NC Courage ECNL

Alvarez is a midfielder/defender on the NC Courage U15 ECNL team. She plays in the center of the midfield as a box-to-box midfielder or as one of the defenders in the back three.

Alvarez is a dominant presence in the center of the field. She helps link the squad with her passing. She's good at progressing the ball up the field and keeping the spacing to allow the group to spread the opposition. She can ping the ball with accuracy over distance.

Alvarez also has the tools to be an elite center back. She's got the defensive instincts and toughness in the tackle to star in that role.

She has the physical tools and skill to be a top-level player in a versatile role. She could improve on her speed of play, the ball can get caught on her feet in tight spaces. However, her game impact is among the best in the 2030 class in the state.

Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers. Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Ava Schiener

Ava Schiener

NC #3
D #2
POS D
CLASS 2030
View Player
​
Ava
Schiener D
Class
2030
HS
Millbrook
|
NC
Rankings Preview: North Carolina 2030 Defenders on the Rise
Schiener is a center back on the NC Courage U15 ECNL team. She plays in the center of...
Written by JR Eskilson
Read more at PrepSoccer​.com
Prep Soccer

Ava Schiener

State: North Carolina
School: Millbrook
Club: NC Courage ECNL

Schiener is a center back on the NC Courage U15 ECNL team. She plays in the center of a back three.

She's been outstanding in the ECNL games this season. The Courage style of play is very open, very attacking, and reminiscent of the professional academy teams in other parts of the world. The center back of the squad has a lot of responsibilities in this system - organizing, starting the attack, and stopping the opposition as the last line. Schiener feels irreplacable in that role. She's got a well rounded game that fits the modern direction of youth club soccer. She's got the high level upside as well that should translate well to the next level.

Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers. Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Averie Eldridge

Averie Eldridge

NC
D
POS D
CLASS 2030
View Player

Averie Eldridge

State: North Carolina
School: Providence Day School
Club: Charlotte SA ECNL

This evaluation is available to subscribers.

Eldridge is an outside back on the Rankings Preview: North Carolina 2030 Defenders on the Rise U15 ECNL team. She can play on either side of the formation. She's an attacking outside back who loves to get forward. She has the pace and endurance to…

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Alexa Dao

Alexa Dao

NC #9
D #4
HEIGHT 5'5"
POS D
CLASS 2030
View Player
​
Alexa
Dao D
Class
2030
Height
5'5"
HS
Weddington
|
NC
Rankings Preview: North Carolina 2030 Defenders on the Rise
Dao is a defender on the Charlotte SA ECNL team. She can play center back or outside back....
Written by JR Eskilson
Read more at PrepSoccer​.com
Prep Soccer

Alexa Dao

Instagram
State: North Carolina
School: Weddington
Club: Charlotte SA ECNL

Dao is a defender on the Charlotte SA ECNL team. She can play center back or outside back. She's a fiercely competitive player who thrives in any role. She impressed in recent ECNL action with her ability to read the game. She had a play against NCFC Youth ECNL this season when she saved a shot off the line because of her anticipation and game awareness. The rare traits for a youth player especially a versatile defender who can do it a bit of everything at a high level.

She's confident on the ball and can be the starting point of the attack with her smart decision-making.

Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers. Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.

Highlights

Olivia Sellers

Olivia Sellers

NC #14
D/M #5
HEIGHT 5'5"
POS D/M
CLASS 2030
View Player
​
Olivia
Sellers D/M
Class
2030
Height
5'5"
HS
East Lincoln
|
NC
Rankings Preview: North Carolina 2030 Defenders on the Rise
Sellers is a skillful player on the ball. She plays left back for her club team, but she...
Written by JR Eskilson
Read more at PrepSoccer​.com
Prep Soccer

Olivia Sellers

State: North Carolina
School: East Lincoln
Club: Charlotte Independence Girls Academy

Sellers is a skillful player on the ball. She plays left back for her club team, but she is capable of playing a number of positions for her side. She can created off the dribble at an elite clip for an outside back. She has the trademark toughness that carries through this Charlotte Independence squad.

Sellers is one to watch from the Girls Academy as a playmaker from the outside back spot.

Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers. Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.

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