Top DIII girls players in the NCS playoffs

Generally speaking, as you move down through the divisions of California's Interscholastic Federation, the number of top players generally diminishes a little bit. But that is not true in the North Coast Section's Division III. The amount of girls talent is overwhelming and plenty of players could be huge differences in the playoffs, which start this week. <strong>Brenda Armenta, Alhambra, Senior, Attacking Midfielder</strong> Armenta is a dynamic playmaker with goal scoring abilities from anywhere on the pitch and she can use either foot which makes her hard to defend. <strong>Hailey Barry, Petaluma, Senior, Defender</strong> Barry is a very versatile player. She is a quick defender, very solid 1v1, and is very active in going forward. <strong>GiGi Betti, Alhambra, Senior, Holding Midfielder</strong> Betti will be playing in Rome this summer. She is a terrific holding mid that can distribute, shows great vision, and involves the whole team. She can switch the ball very quickly, she is very calm when the ball is at her feet making her hard to dispossess and great in 1v1 situations. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="19959" first="Mila" last="Bettinelli"], Cardinal Newman, Senior, Forward</strong> Bettinelli plays club for the Santa Rosa United ECNL team, previously playing for the MVLA 04 team that was two-time national champs. She also had a spell playing ODP. She has good size, strength, and technical ability making her tough to matchup with. She holds the ball up well under pressure and has the ability and vision to play in a combination. She has great aerial prowess and can score off set pieces. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="19260" first="Charlotte" last="Block"], Archie Williams, Senior, Central Defender</strong> Block is what you want out of a central defender. She is a leader, she is tough, strong, and keeps the defense organized. She is great at winning the ball in the air or with a perfectly-timed slide tackle. <strong>Rashell Diaz, Terra Linda, Freshman, Attacking Midfielder/Striker</strong> Diaz is a highly technical, crafty, and creative player with a great ability to read the game and unlock a defense on the dribble or with a pass. Diaz had a pair of game-winning assists in MCAL play and will look to add to that tally in the NCS. <strong>Megan Efhan, Petaluma, Senior, Forward</strong> Efhan is a speedy player who is very good in 1v1 situations. She is a goal-scoring threat for the Trojans. <strong>Bella Hunter, Cardinal Newman, Senior, Forward</strong> Hunter is an attacking threat. She is great going forward and is very athletic. She is a player that can score goals or create for others. [caption id="attachment_39148" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-39148" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/02/Lardner-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> <strong>Anna Lardner.</strong> <em>Photo: Devon Johnson</em>[/caption] <strong>Anna Lardner, Branson, Senior, Right Wing</strong> Lardner shows great pace and has a relentless work rate. She has the ability to beat players off the dribble and deliver service to her teammates. She is also very good at finding the other end of a cross. She has been a very invaluable player for the Bulls. <strong>Kayla Lash, Terra Linda, Senior, Central Defender</strong> Lash is the leader at the back for Terra Linda and recorded a league-leading six game-winning goals in the MCAL this year. Her ability to read the game, dominate in the air, and stretch the field with her range of passing set the tone for the Trojans. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="29273" first="Natalie" last="Means"], Acalanes, Senior, Striker</strong> The two-footed striker is a dangerous player. She shows great speed, pace, and ability to change direction and speed with ease. She can be a target striker or get moving forward with the best of them. She is strong and technical and is committed to Georgetown. <strong>Jacque Peacock, Acalanes, Junior, Defender</strong> Peacock can play outside or central defender. She is very, very fast and loves to push forward. She has the innate ability to know where to be and is very calm on the ball. <strong>Riley Pearson, Branson, Freshman, Attacking Midfielder</strong> An impact player as a freshman, Pearson has an engine that doesn't quit and is a workhorse in the midfield. She's great at winning the ball and is an impact player for the Bulls. <strong>Katrina Rodrigues, Petaluma, Senior, Defender</strong> Rodrigues helps lock down the back line for the Trojans. She is a very good defender who is very fast and can keep up with attacking players. [caption id="attachment_39147" align="alignright" width="214"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-39147" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/02/DSC_8795-copy-214x300.jpeg" alt="" width="214" height="300" /> <strong>Camryn Salazar.</strong> <em>Photo: Chuck Johnston</em>[/caption] <strong>Camryn Salazar, Acalanes, Junior, Holding Midfielder</strong> Salazar is rock solid for the Dons as a holding mid, and can also play up top. She is great technically, very calm on the ball, and is a great distributor. <strong>Claire Sawin, Alhambra, Senior, Keeper</strong> Sawin is one of the top keepers in Northern California, not only for her ability to stop shots but because she is athletic and smart. She can also play forward that can score goals any time she comes out from between the posts. <strong>Silvanna Sessi, Petaluma, Senior, Keeper</strong> Sessi could be an X-factor for the Trojans in the playoffs. She is very solid in goal, and a good shot stopper, and in a tournament where games go to PK's she could help the Trojans move on. <strong>Caroline Studdart, Sonoma Valley, Senior, Midfielder</strong> The captain for the Dragons, she is such a hardworking player in the midfield. She is very tough, a good leader, and reads the game at a very high level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="19785" first="Lena" last="Sugrue"], Branson, Senior, Central Defender</strong> The lynchpin of the Branson defense, and she showed why in the MCAL final. She was a force in the box and on the back line. Sugrue is a physical player who uses her body well to dispossess players and she is also great in the air. <strong>Tatum Zuber, Acalanes, Junior, Left Wing</strong> Zuber has a rare combination of size and speed. Because she is so calm on the ball with great 1v1 skills, she loves to take players on. Zuber is a team leader with a great attitude and great work ethic.