PrepSoccer Girls Academy Playoffs Best XI

The Girls Academy playoffs wrapped up last week from Oceanside, California. The six age groups in attendance featured some of the top individual talent in the country in club soccer. PrepSoccer was on hand for the event. Below is the best XI (Team of the Event) for PrepSoccer from the Girls Academy 2022 Playoffs in Southern California. Only one player per team was included in the roster. There were no players included from the U13 and U19 age groups, as we did not scout those games as closely as the other age groups. [caption id="attachment_49436" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-49436 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/07/KaileyCarlen-LVSAHunterBorgel-IG-300x233.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id="33316" first="Kailey" last="Carlen"], Albion SC 06" width="300" height="233" /> [player_tooltip player_id="33316" first="Kailey" last="Carlen"] (GK) Albion SC[/caption] GK [player_tooltip player_id="33316" first="Kailey" last="Carlen"], Albion SC SD 06 - Carlen made an outstanding save on a penalty kick in a group stage game for Albion. Her spot on this team is a credit to the depth of her squad. Fellow goalkeeper Alexa Peterson also made a great save for her side. Albion finished the event with only one goal conceded from the four games in Oceanside. D [player_tooltip player_id="33320" first="Jocelyn" last="Travers"], FC Bay Area 07 - Travers was outstanding at left back. She is going to be a priority recruit from the 2025 class. She has all of the tools to be a long-term player in that role. She is a shutdown 1v1 defender: physical in shoulder-to-shoulder challenges, smart with the timing of tackles, and great at anticipating when to step into tackles. She is skillful on the ball and makes great decisions in possession. D Conamora Ndana, Nationals SC 08 - Nationals went through the four games in Oceanside without conceding a goal. Ndana is a BIG time talent. She shuts down everything. She’s an unforgiving tackler and makes sure you feel the impact. She is strong, and forwards tend to bounce off her. She can get the ball stuck in her feet, but her footwork is excellent and she is rarely caught in possession. Ndana is a long way away from the college game (she is a 2026 recruit) but every coach is already aware of her. D [player_tooltip player_id="33324" first="Shea" last="Boyle"], Oakwood SC 05 - Boyle and the Oakwood defense only let in two goals in four games. She was the key piece of a backline that shutdown a talented TSJ FC Virginia side in the quarterfinal. M Rylie Morse, Cincinnati United Premier 07 - Morse was a standout for how she moves on the field - certain players just seem to glide around and make it look effortless. She is an advanced player in her actions, as she plays with a sophistication to her decisions. She is clever on the ball and deceptive in her passes. Morse helped crack the FC United defense in the quarterfinal round. There is a reason why CUP has been so successful in this age group in the past, and Morse is a major part of that puzzle. [caption id="attachment_49437" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-49437 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/07/IndiraNaylor-IG-2-300x200.jpg" alt="Indira Naylor, Lamorinda 06" width="300" height="200" /> Indira Naylor, Lamorinda 06[/caption] M Mason Mireur, Lonestar SC 05 - Mireur was a standout for Lonestar in the quarterfinal victory over Tophat. The defensive midfielder showed the quality that every coach looks for from a player in that position. She made a couple of key tackles in the second half to shut down attacks. She connected the lines in possession. She also looked forward and tried to find direct balls when the opposition pressed numbers forward. She is a smart player with a high work rate. She is a 2023 recruit who should be on the radar for most college coaches. M Indira Naylor, Lamorinda SC 06 - Naylor impressed throughout the event. She was one of the best attacking midfielders in the playoffs. She combined her skill on the ball with a determination to beat the opposition into a dynamic attacking talent. Naylor has a really high ceiling and probably did the most to improve her stock with college coaches from the class of 2024 recruits at the event. M [player_tooltip player_id="20924" first="Ashley" last="Pennie"], Florida United 05 - Pennie is a known name thanks to her previous club success and appearances with the youth national teams. She lived up to the reputation during the Girls Academy playoffs. She has a great first touch, and really understands the game. She escapes pressure with her quick thinking and appears to always be in the right spot for her team. She looks like she could be a No. 6 or a No. 8 at the next level. F [player_tooltip player_id="28469" first="Anna" last="Sikorski"], SC Wave 05 - Sikorksi was active on the wing in the quarterfinal win for SC Wave. She had the assist on Ella Luna’s goal in the second half. The play was a good demonstration of the attributes that Sikorski brings to her team. She is quick, determined, and a heads up player. She pounced on a clearance in the box, picked out a teammate, and provided the perfect pass. The winger from the class of 2024 has a very high ceiling on the field. She showed her quality during the GA Playoffs. [caption id="attachment_49440" align="alignright" width="273"]<img class="wp-image-49440 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/07/MyaTownes-IG-273x300.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id="27574" first="Mya" last="Townes"], TSJ FC Virginia" width="273" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="27574" first="Mya" last="Townes"], TSJ FC Virginia[/caption] F [player_tooltip player_id="27574" first="Mya" last="Townes"], TSJ FC Virginia 07 - Townes had one of the most dominant performances of the event in her showing against Lamorinda. Her team got into a shootout against the Northern California side. Townes delivered goal after goal to keep her side in the lead. She had the skill, speed, and finishing instincts to be an unstoppable force for her team. F Kyah Montano, NEFC 07 - Montano made winning plays for her team. When her team had the lead, Montano was relentless in her approach. She would press until the opposition gave away possession of the ball. With hold of the ball, she offered a bit of creativity on the dribble. She also had the pace to get behind the defense on direct balls. Honorable mention: Nadia Young (Lamorinda 07), [player_tooltip player_id="33314" first="Ashlyn" last="Puerta"] (Albion SC 06), Lizzie Boamah (Albion SC 06), [player_tooltip player_id="32993" first="Paige" last="Dziedzic"] (FC United 05), [player_tooltip player_id="33356" first="Chloe" last="Zipprich"] (FC United 07), [player_tooltip player_id="42484" first="Lily" last="Patterson"] (Lou Fusz 05), [player_tooltip player_id="23024" first="Aubree" last="Ciampa"] (Nationals Blue 07), Addy Hess (TSJ FC Virginia 06), [player_tooltip player_id="27550" first="Allie" last="Flanagan"] (TSJ FC Virginia 06), Lily Jeakle (Nationals 08), Micayla Johnson (Nationals 08), Faye Battersby (NEFC 07), Madi MacDonald (NEFC 07), Milla Lee (FC Bay Area 07)