California players who show great instincts

There are some players that understand the game, then those who understand it at a deeper level. These five players from California are the latter as they demonstrate a tactical and situational awareness that comes with putting in time and work.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/IMG_6375-crop-513x337-1725645142.jpg?w=512" alt="" class="wp-image-223668" style="width:905px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: NorCal PDP</figcaption></figure>    Martinez is a midfielder that just seems to be on another level in terms of her vision and understanding of the game. She has the daring and the ability to play balls that most players would not and could not play. She can drop a precise pass, splitting defenders, and do it with either foot. She understands when to come for the ball and when to let the ball run and her combination play is as good as you will see. She understands what space to occupy, whether she's doing so to be dangerous or to be available for her teammates.     Katter makes life miserable on defenders by just being absolutely relentless. If a defender is on the ball, Klatter will pressure that defender and she forces mistakes and turnovers, and is there to pounce. She is very agile with the ball at her feet as she can navigate traffic in tight spaces, and she can score in a variety of ways, including with power, finesse and on headers.     A smooth operator, Davis is an incredible facilitator of the ball. She is calm and collected and never panicked when the ball is at her feet. She picks a pass with the best of them, moving it effortlessly, playing clever balls that find their way to the feet of a teammate. She is very tactical, showing an understanding of space and she can also be very attack-minded and simply go past a defender and get a shot off. She is very good at dragging defenders with her, especially across the face of goal, and then laying the ball off to an open player in the area.     Magana is a very instinctive forward, and that allows her the ability to read a situation more quickly than those around her. If there is a ball that can be won in the final third, she will be after it. She finishes well and is able to get a ball home through traffic, because she shows good core strength and the physicality to take on central defenders.     Tufo's ability to take on multiple players and beat them is uncanny. She's incredibly balanced, and incredibly strong as she does not get knocked off the ball. She challenges defenders and is able to keep the ball and continue to look towards goal. She has great stop and start ability, she turns defenders incredibly well and once she has a sliver of space, she will get moving quickly. She also plays a pretty ball and shows an understanding of how to best open the game up.

There are some players that understand the game, then those who understand it at a deeper level. These five players from California are the latter as they demonstrate a tactical and situational awareness that comes with putting in time and work.