GA Champions Cup: Standouts from 09 age group

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NORCO, California - The Girls Academy showcase event in Southern California wrapped up this week. The event featured some of the best teams in the country in the U13 through U19 age groups. The U15 age group had the Champions Cup teams in action. PrepSoccer was on hand for the action. Check out some of the individual standout performances from the 09 games below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor Lincoln, South Shore Select - Lincoln is a standout defender and showed it during the Champions Cup. She is a two-way player who can lock down the opposition and also offer an attacking element for her side. She strikes the ball well and can put in a great service. She was outstanding against TSJ FC Virginia. [player_tooltip player_id='168128' first='Taylor' last='Bello'] and [player_tooltip player_id='171988' first='Shelby' last='Hodges'] were very good at center back for South Shore Select. Ilona Chisholm did well at left back in the second half.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='157649' first='Siun' last='Salmon'], South Shore Select - Salmon impressed scouts with her play at attacking midfield for South Shore. She's been a standout at the club level for some time and been part of the ODP at a regional level. Salmon has a great first touch and always has complete control of the ball. She is a clever player too and pulled off a few nifty tricks against TSJ FC Virginia. She is one to watch from the Northeast.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='167652' first='Delia' last='Loughnane'], South Shore Select - Loughnane scored the only goal for South Shore in the game against TSJ FC Virginia. Loughnane is a very effective player. She rarely wastes touches and seems to know what she is going to do with the ball before she receives it. She can play with her back to the goal, but she also showed the ability to drift out wide and face up against outside backs. She has excellent ball striking technique and had a shot from 30 yards out hit off the crossbar in the second half against TSJ FC Virginia.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='156163' first='Maya' last='Penetrante'], TSJ FC Virginia - Penetrante and TSJ FC Virginia went undefeated at the event. Unfortunately, the three draws weren't enough to make it to the top of the group. The center forward showed well against South Shore Select. She was a willing presser and had good activity off the ball. She kept close control of the ball when she did receive service and tried to create chances for her side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maura Lamb, TSJ FC Virginia - Lamb made some great saves in the second half in the game against South Shore Select. She had a diving save on a long range effort and then did well in securing the shot cleanly on a shot from inside of the box. Lamb was a bright spot for the FC Virginia side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andie Jones, Nationals Blue - Jones scored a spectacular goal against Florida United. She went through the legs of her defender on the turn with her first touch and then tucked her shot into the lower corner of the net. The attacking talent from Nationals showed a good two-way game during the event. She was sound in the press and won the ball for her side a few times. She was a difference-maker in the final third.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isabella Ortiz, Florida United - Ortiz took advantage of a gifted chance in the game against Nationals and made the most of it with her goal against Nationals. I believe Ortiz is playing up an age group as a 2010. She's got big-time potential. I love the way she defends. She uses her body well and picks the ball off of opposition when they turn blindly into her. She is skillful on the ball with quick feet and plays with her head up. Ortiz looks like a top prospect from 2028.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jorja Lewis, Nationals Blue - Lewis was one of the top defenders at the event. The center back for Nationals was excellent in the tackle and defensively. She helped set the line for her squad and kept them organized. She also supplied a great service on dead balls as she had a couple of excellent passes into dangerous spots for her teammates.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maggie Baginski, Nationals Blue - Baginski is exactly the type of midfield who shines in the Nationals system of play. She is quick of thought and plays 1-2 touch soccer. The game looks easy for her, which show her high-level understanding of the tactics and strong technical foundation. She was excellent against Florida United. Elizabeth Mathews was also very good in the midfield for Nationals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooke Pennie, Florida United - Pennie is a very good midfielder and showed her quality during the Champions Cup last week in Southern California. She is calm on the ball and comfortable playing out of pressure. She impressed me with her preference to always bring the ball down to her feet. There are a number of midfielder who would just try to whack the ball away, but Pennie values possession of the ball and keeps good control of it and sets up her teammates with good passes. Belen Cassina was also excellent in the midfield for Florida.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abigail Gilbertson, City SC - Gilbertson impressed with her play at left back. She is a capable defender and can shutdown the opposing winger. She is at her best when she is flying forward into the attack. She is excellent on the ball and can deliver a perfect cross on a full sprint. She also takes free kicks for her side because she strikes the ball so cleanly.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zoe Vandervelden, City SC - Vandervelden is a commanding presence in the center of the pitch for City SC. She is dominant in duels. She wins the ball at a higher rate than many other midfielders. With a strong base and excellent technique in the tackle, she comes away from the challenge with the ball cleanly and jump starts the attack for her side. She is also a willing challenger for the aerial duels and regularly wins possession of the goalkeeper's dropkick clearance. Vandervelden was a top midfielder at the event for how she dictated the game for her side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Natalia Shepherd, Wasatch - Shepherd was a standout at right back for her team. She was excellent defensively and then was a weapon in the attack as she showed good pace an great endurance for the long runs up and down the touch line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyler Sabo, LA Surf - Sabo is an attacking midfielder on the LA Surf side. She had some standout moments in the game against Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals. She has a good first touch and quick feet, which allowed her to escape pressure and play combination passes off her teammates. She was also good at plucking the ball out of 50/50 duels and retaining possession for her team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stella Robinson, LA Surf - Robinson is a handful for the opposition. The LA Surf center forward is active and physical. She likes to uses contact to create space and does not shy away from challenges. She was a difficult player for defenders to mark at the Champions Cup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kiera Sleicher, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals - Ukrainian Nationals was the most dominant team at the event with a 3-0-0 record, 14 goals scored, and only two conceded. Sleicher got the party started with the opening goal against LA Surf from the first game. The center midfielder is a skillful player who can score and create with the best of them. The goal she scored in the first half was a great strike from a tough angle, but it was equally as impressive how she operated later in the half when she had less time on the ball and space was limited. She still made an impact with her off the ball movement and quick passing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryleigh Bakley, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals - Bakley played as the defensive midfielder for her side. She was excellent at picking off the ball and immediately creating chances going forward. She did a good job of recognizing when she should play the pass and when she should keep it herself. She showed that she is good with both feet and even attempted a shot with her left foot when the opportunity presented itself. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='286174' first='Phoebe' last='Reilly'], NEFC - Reilly starred as a box-to-box midfielder for her side. She covered a ton of ground and dictated the play with her actions. Reilly was good on the ball and could switch the point of attack quickly.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tia LaBreque, NEFC - LaBreque is a dynamic attacking talent with quick feet and a good grasp on how to spin off defenders. She made a mark in the game against South Carolina Surf with her close control of the ball while dribbling at pace as she ran around defenders. LaBreque operates in an attacking midfield role and did well pulling the strings for her team in the final third.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophia DeMarco, South Carolina Surf - DeMarco was a standout in the midfielder for Surf. She was always looking to provide the key pass for her side and she played a few diagonal balls against NEFC that created chances for her teammates.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kailyn Whitehead, South Carolina Surf - Whitehead was excellent in goal during the first half against NEFC. She was playing with the sun in her line of sight for most of the half and she still secured each save. Whitehead is a promising prospect for the position. She's comfortable on the ball, which helps her team in the build-out, and also accurate on the drop kick to finding her outlets.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bristol Kersh, Tophat Gold - I thought Kersh was excellent against Beadling. The Youth National Team player showed why she is one of the best in the nation in this age group. She was a dangerous attacking option for Tophat and the team found success playing through her. Her slaloming run through the opposition midway through the half showed off her quality and vision as navigated through multiple defenders on the dribble and through combination play with teammates. Kersh has all of the tools to be a top player in this class. Brooke Barnes was excellent for Tophat too.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudson Joyner, Tophat Gold - Joyner scored on an unstoppable shot against Beadling. The world class rip showcased the quality she offers to her side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allie Emswiler, Beadling - Emswiler was outstanding against Tophat. She was playing in the center of the defense and did well with a lot being thrown at her. She organized the defense well, got into the right spots to cut out crosses, and found her targets on the outlets. She's a player to watch from the 2027 class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='268432' first='Makayla' last='Szykowny'], Beadling - Szykowny was another standout for Beadling against Tophat. Not afraid to get stuck in on a challenge, she set the tone early with a couple of hard but legal tackles. She was good at being an outlet for the midfielders when they needed a pass to get away from pressure and she did well playing up the line to get her teammates involved down the right side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gabby Beinecke, Beadling - Beinecke scored a great goal against Lamorinda. It showed off her skill, defensive work, and quick thinking. The forward from the class of 2028 has a bright future.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kendall Conway, Lamorinda - Conway is a fun player to watch. Two-footed and unafraid to take on defenders, Conway immediately stands out from her play in the midfield. She was brilliant against Beadling with her smooth moves on the ball and clever passing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rebecca Aguerrevere, Colorado Rush - The Rush attacker impressed against Albion with her smart play. She pulled off a great dummy to create a chance for her side. She was a game-changer for Rush in the victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nora Speziale, Albion SC - The Albion goalkeeper put on a solid showing against Rush. She was confident on crosses and did well when called upon. The result wasn't in her side's favor but she had a good showing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->