Rankings Analysis: The best defenders from VA’s 2027 class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer State Rankings for Virginia's 2027 class were released last week. Check <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/12/updated-2027-virginia-girl-rankings/">out the full list here</a>. Read more<a href="https://prepsoccer.com/how-we-rank/"> about the PrepSoccer Ranking process here</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As part of the debut rankings, we take a in-depth look into some of the names to know from each of the position groups. Below is a scouting report on some of the defenders and goalkeepers to know from this class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155296"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Engel is a defender on the TSJ FC Virginia 08 Girls Academy team. She plays as one of the center backs on her club team. Engel was one of the standouts for her club team during the recent Girls Academy National Event in Southern California. Engel is an impactful player at the 08 level - check her tape from the Champions Cup - but she has an even higher ceiling. The defender does not make flashy plays that often but she almost always makes winning plays. The way she dispossessed forwards with her ability to anticipate which direction they were cutting and then pluck the ball off their feet while still keeping full control of the ball was elite level defending from a 2027. Her 1v1 defending is probably her best strength, but her passing is a very close second. She is the best in both categories in this class and one of the best in the nation for her position. Engel continues to impress at the club level and will be one to watch for a long time.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["157452"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Alexiades is a defender on the VDA 09 ECNL team. I've mainly seen her play as the left center back for her club team. She is also a part of ODP. Alexiades impressed me with her defensive instincts. She was excellent at anticipating the opposition's pass and cleanly winning possession of the ball by stepping in front of the forward. She did well using her body in shielding off forwards when the ball was played over the top. Alexiades could improve on her decision-making in possession. She forced a couple of passes during the games I scouted. She's got the framework to be a very good center back.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["157451"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Binkowski is a defender on the VDA 09 ECNL team. She listed as a forward on her player profile, but I've only seen her play right center back for her club team. Binkowski also had the opportunity to play up with the 07 team during a recent ECNL showcase event. She is athletic and competitive - she comes from an athletic family with three older brothers who play football. The first attribute that jumped out to me from game film was her pace. She covers ground quickly without much effort. It's going to take something special to beat her for pace. Binkowski is good in aerial duels and a weapon on set pieces. Her competitive drive is going to make one of the top defenders in this class in the future.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["110284"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Wilhelm is a defender on the NVA 09 ECNL team. She is listed as a midfielder on her player profile, but I saw her play as the left center back for her team. She was a standout player for her club team. She was under a lot of pressure in the game as the opposition dictated most of the play, but Wilhelm stood her ground and did not make a mistake. She was exceptional in not allowing the forward to turn on goal and did well in cutting out passes intended to be played over the top of the defense. The center back has good instincts and reads the game well.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6581d651c6ac2"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mPziAOxgf8","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mPziAOxgf8 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["110285"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Wilson is a goalkeeper on the NVA 09 ECNL team. She bas been part of the US Youth National Team Talent ID events in the past. Wilson is an excellent shot-stopper. Agile and quick, she is a standout in the position for her diving ability. She is good at getting to the ground and smothering the ball in traffic on close chances. She could improve on her distribution as she prepares for the next level in the future.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["157477"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Patten is a defender on the Richmond United 09 ECNL team. She can play in the midfield or defense, but I've recently seen her slot in as the center of a back-three. She's one of the best in this class in distribution from that position. She plays with her head up. She hits the ball with pace to get it to her teammates feet in a hurry. She also understands support angles and does well in dropping her level in order to provide a better outlet for her teammates. Patten is a solid defender. She can put in a tackle and does well in using her body, but she is not the type of defender that will physically set the tone for a match. She relies on her intelligence to outsmart the competition and it has worked out well for her so far.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["157991"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Martin is a defender on the Richmond United 09 ECNL team. She plays on the left side of the back three. She can be a left center back or a left back in the future. She impressed me with her vision. She made some passes in the games I scouted that opened up the field for her teammates. She was always playing the ball to the correct foot to set her teammate up for success.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["110275"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Dockery is a defender for NVA 09 ECNL. She has been part of the US Soccer Talent ID events in the past. She is playing as the right center back for her club team. She is one of the key reasons why NVA has four shutouts in eight games during ECNL play this season. She has been a top defender and difficult to beat. Her long legs and anticipation help cut out a lot of passes. Her game awareness helps slow down any counter. She is pretty good on the ball and can pick out outlets passes with pace and accuracy. Dockery has the tools to be a standout at her position for a long time.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["157550"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Green is a defender on the NVA 08 ECNL team. She plays as the left center back for her club team. Green is right footed but comfortable on either foot. She has good pace and does well getting stuck into challenges. She is physical and has a knack for bumping attacking players off balance with her good lower body strength and balance. Green's distribution and vision is a strong point of her game. She is one of the top defenders from this class.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6581d651c6bfd"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->