ECNL North Carolina-U16 Top Goalkeepers

The final position to look at for the U16 category in the ECNL NC event is the goalkeepers. The impressive goalkeeping performances in this event ranged from the best-ranked teams all the way down to the lower mid-table ranked teams. The list of goalkeepers with potential is long, which made choosing only five difficult. The following five impressed me more than the rest, and also represent teams from across the table.    Anna is a raw talent who clearly has plenty of potential. A goalkeeper whose main attribute is their reaction is always welcome, and that's exactly who she is. Whether a shot is coming with power from far out or a placed shot from near, she tends to react on time. Her shot-stopping is good, typically keeping the ball close to recollect it in time. Though sometimes she parries the ball uncomfortably, this is something that can be ironed out easily.     Sylar is an extremely talented goalkeeper with no real weaknesses in her game. Brave, reactive, secure, speedy, and great jumping, detailing every single one of her attributes would be difficult. One of her most impressive attributes is her bravery. Rushing out with no fear whatsoever allows her to collect the ball, even if it seems dangerous. She has no problems going to ground, even including fantastic slide tackles. Being so brave requires her to be secure, which she does with no problem. Even when she comes out far from her goal, she knows how to get back up to get back into position quickly. When she's in the box, she locks down her goal. After making a save, she'll either make sure she's in possession of the ball or parries it away from danger.     Virginia is another extremely talented goalkeeper who has plenty of attributes. She has the added benefit of being tall, which gives her an advantage when making saves or in defending set-pieces. The latter is noticeable especially in corners, where she makes catching the ball look simple, even if she's surrounded by attackers. The former is noticeable in every other aspect of the match, but especially so in one-on-one situations. When she rushes out, she makes her body big. This makes her the dominant party in these situations, bailing out her team every time. Her saves from distance are also fantastic, reaching shots in difficult angles. When she jumps, she gets great airtime too, allowing her to fully defend her goal.     Camila is a promising goalkeeping prospect who impresses for her age. With still some years left to reach higher heights both athletically and in actual height, she plays as if she's a seasoned player. Quick and reactive, she constantly makes impressive and acrobatic saves. Near-post shots tend to be difficult for some goalkeepers, but not for her. She is able to reach shots in time where most goalkeepers would only be ballwatching. Rushing off her line is also another strength of hers, pressuring the attacker into making a decision. With her conviction to come out on top, she tends to make the attacker take the wrong decision.     Jayce is a goalkeeping talent who is destined for the top with both her mental and athletic strength. Her height gives her the physical advantage over the attackers, forcing them to work harder. However, given how great her reactions and dives are, their extra effort is often futile. She makes impressive saves in every match, making them seem easy. She also tends to come far off her line to get the ball. This is typically dangerous, but not for her. With her conviction to get the ball and her physical advantage, she wins the ball back constantly. She dominates both the 6-yard box just as she does the 18-yard box calmly. When she makes catching saves, she also has the modern goalkeeper wit to lie on the ball, allowing her team to regroup.

The final position to look at for the U16 category in the ECNL NC event is the goalkeepers. The impressive goalkeeping performances in this event ranged from the best-ranked teams all the way down to the lower mid-table ranked teams. The list of goalkeepers with potential is long, which made choosing only five difficult. The following five impressed me more than the rest, and also represent teams from across the table.