Seven impressive 2027’s from Kansas

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class of 2027 is very rich in Kansas, and these seven players exemplify that. They play a variety of positions and display the best of what those positions have to offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='150287' first='Sophia' last='Cocumelli'], Forward, Kansas Rush</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cocumelli is a forward with good size and athleticism. She has a tall, athletic frame and she has very long strides, which makes her seem to glide past defenders. She's much faster than she appears, even. Her movements are fluid and she is very much in control of her body on the pitch. She is a fantastic dribbler, using the dribble often to beat a defender, oftentimes more than one as she can create for herself. She is also very good when she gets on the end of a ball after a well-timed run as she finishes very well, showing accuracy with which to beat the keeper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='143773' first='Aniston' last='Crabtree'], Defensive Midfielder, Sporting Blue Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crabtree is not your traditional No. 6. She is a bit of a unicorn. She has the skills of a No. 10 or a forward. She can really possess and really dribble the ball. She weaves in and out of defenders, showing an attack-minded approach and can create for herself. She also carries and looks to lead the transition, making sharp, precise passes to build the momentum forward. She is 100 percent effort and plays on both sides of the pitch as she moves up and down so well, so quickly and does not lose sight of her defensive responsibilities where she is a force. She is a physical force who can dominate attackers and win the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='150661' first='Ieshia' last='Everest'], Midfielder, Sporting Blue Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everest is a versatile midfielder who can play in different spots and in different formations. She's dynamic because she doesn't just exist in the middle of the pitch as she is very active, she goes touch line to touch line, she comes back to receive the ball and she can lead the charge by carrying the ball or by making a quick pass. She has a lot of fight in her as she is very physical and she is a ball winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abby McKelvy, Kansas Rush, Outside Defender</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She's very clever. McKelvy is very subtle in her movements, but you can see a lot of planning and thought behind it, showing an ability to play a cheeky ball, make a one-touch pass and do so with very little wasted movement. She's very fast getting up the pitch but does not just stick to the touch line. She's great when it comes to overlapping and underlapping, she plays the ball to the right places and then occupies the right space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='150088' first='Morgan' last='Robinson'], Forward, Sporting Blue Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robinson plays as a wide forward and can play the No. 11 or the No. 7. She can use either foot, and does so well. It's hard to tell which foot is her dominant one. This means she can change pace quickly and she can cut back on the opposite foot and either deliver a shot on goal or send a cross in, and her crosses are lethal. She's got good speed, but she's more than just speed on the outside. Her footwork is very good and you can tell she works at it, and her on-ball skills are very good, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='168663' first='Abby' last='Schmitt'], Central Midfielder, Union KC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schmitt is what you would consider an all-around player. She goes box-to-box from her No. 8 spot, and contributes equally on both sides of the pitch. She has a great shot from her right or left foot, and she does like to give it a go from range when space opens up in the middle of the pitch. But, when it comes to the attack, her first and foremost priority is facilitating and she really does play a nice ball, whether she splits center backs or goes out wide. She reads the game well on the defensive end and does a good job of stepping into passing lanes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='177081' first='Lauryn' last='Welsh'], Keeper, Sporting Blue Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welsh's reactions to balls with pace is impressive. Attackers can hit high-velocity shots at her, and she does not spill, she does a good job of parrying the ball into a dangerous area and she shows strong hands. She moves well with the flow of play, allowing her to have her near and far posts covered and with her reaction time and her athleticism, she gets to most balls. Something that really stands out about her is her ability with the ball at her feet. She's incredibly calm and composed, even when players are bearing down on her and her distribution is excellent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->