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Southern California 2025 defenders with good foot skills

Southern California 2025 defenders with good foot skills
Photo: Adolfo Dizon
Matt Smith
Matt Smith
December 10, 2024 @ 09:35 AM
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In this article:

Edra Bello
Edra Bello D | 2025
CA
Geline Dizon
Geline Dizon D | 2025
CA
Riley Crooks
Riley Crooks null | D | 2025
CA
Samantha Marella
Samantha Marella 5'7" | M/D | 2025
CA
Jordyn Dunn
Jordyn Dunn D | 2025
CA
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defenders are just an extension of the attack and if you wanna earn time on the pitch, you need to be good on the ball. These five defenders are players from Southern California who have caught my eye over the last year in terms of their ball skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["19599"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8854f4e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dunn leaped in the rankings in the last update, and I praised her defensive skills, her combination of physicality and strength, and her skills on winning balls in the air. I did, however, undersell her ability to play to play the ball out of the back as she is a weapon in the build up. She really can possess the ball very well, and can break lines, can move the ball calmly and let things develop and can carry it forward to create space. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["20138"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8854f550"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Marella will push up and try to put shots on frame as she has a wonderful ability to hit the ball, hitting through it cleanly and well. She is very comfortable on the ball, and can possess the ball like a midfielder. She can take players on, she can deliver pinpoint balls that break lines and she is comfortable enough on the ball, and possesses great processing ability to be able to pick out a pass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["54292"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8854f596"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Crooks is a very versatile defender, as she can play any of the four spots, and she shows how dynamic she is with how well she can take on many different roles on the pitch and cover a lot of ground. One thing she can do is get up the pitch with the best of them. She is very nimble and agile and is very technical. She can push and possess and take players on, doing so while never forgetting her defensive duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["99235"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8854f66f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bello has No. 6 type skills, because she can act as a bridge between the back line and the attack. She can hold players off, she can turn them and then she can play a ball to a running player. She can also play a ball long, and hit it with accuracy. Her ability to move with the ball and take players on demonstrates that she has midfield experience and could likely play just about any position on the pitch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["78007"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6757b8854f6b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I just featured Dizon recently, but she fit this profile too well to not feature her here again. She gets up and down the pitch so effortlessly when the ball is at her feet as she seems to travel with it so gracefully. Her ability to spot a player making a run and deliver the ball right at there feet is impressive as she can spray it all over the pitch and play a variety of balls. She has tremendous foot skills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->

Defenders are just an extension of the attack and if you wanna earn time on the pitch, you need to be good on the ball. These five defenders are players from Southern California who have caught my eye over the last year in terms of their ball skills.

UCLA
Jordyn Dunn

Jordyn Dunn

CA
D
POS D
CLASS 2025
View Player
​
Jordyn
Dunn D
Class
2025
HS
RANCHO CUCAMONGA
|
CA
Southern California 2025 defenders with good foot skills
Dunn leaped in the rankings in the last update, and I praised her defensive skills, her combination of...
Written by Matt Smith
UCLA
Read more at PrepSoccer.com
Prep Soccer

Jordyn Dunn

State: California
School: RANCHO CUCAMONGA
Club: SLAMMERS HB KOGE
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Miami (FL)
Samantha Marella

Samantha Marella

CA
M/D
HEIGHT 5'7"
POS M/D
CLASS 2025
View Player
​
Samantha
Marella M/D
Class
2025
Height
5'7"
HS
Viewpoint
|
CA
Southern California 2025 defenders with good foot skills
Marella will push up and try to put shots on frame as she has a wonderful ability to...
Written by Matt Smith
Miami (FL)
Read more at PrepSoccer.com
Prep Soccer

Samantha Marella

Instagram Twitter
State: California
School: Viewpoint
Club: Legends 07 ECNL
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Texas A&amp;M
Riley Crooks

Riley Crooks

CA
D
POS D
CLASS 2025
View Player
​
Riley
Crooks D
Class
2025
Height
null
HS
Edison
|
CA
Southern California 2025 defenders with good foot skills
Crooks is a very versatile defender, as she can play any of the four spots, and she shows...
Written by Matt Smith
Texas A&amp;M
Read more at PrepSoccer.com
Prep Soccer

Riley Crooks

Twitter
State: California
School: Edison
Club: Slammers
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

USC
Edra Bello

Edra Bello

CA
D
POS D
CLASS 2025
View Player
​
Edra
Bello D
Class
2025
HS
Torrey Pines
|
CA
Southern California 2025 defenders with good foot skills
Bello has No. 6 type skills, because she can act as a bridge between the back line and...
Written by Matt Smith
USC
Read more at PrepSoccer.com
Prep Soccer

Edra Bello

Instagram Twitter
State: California
School: Torrey Pines
Club: San Diego Surf Girls ECNL
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Geline Dizon

Geline Dizon

CA
D
POS D
CLASS 2025
View Player
​
Geline
Dizon D
Class
2025
HS
Los Osos
|
CA
Southern California 2025 defenders with good foot skills
I just featured Dizon recently, but she fit this profile too well to not feature her here again....
Written by Matt Smith
Read more at PrepSoccer.com
Prep Soccer

Geline Dizon

Instagram
State: California
School: Los Osos
Club: Slammers FC
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Prep Soccer

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