If you could cook up the perfect defender, it would be Naomi Girma. The 24-year-old is off the charts when it comes to leadership, intelligence, decision-making, mental toughness, technical ability, speed, competitiveness, resilience, and reading the game. Peterson not only checks all of these boxes but she combines physical strength with technical finesse, making her difficult to dispossess. 

Her understanding of attacking patterns and ability to drift inside creates tactical flexibility. Her delivery from wide areas is precise, and she has the stamina to contribute in both phases throughout the match. What makes her special is her ability to create overloads in attack while never compromising defensive stability. Look for her to be an integral part of Rebels success in the Surf Cup this coming weekend. 

Position: Outside Back | Class: 2026 | Age Group: U17

When college recruiters talk about Amaya Peterson Amaya Peterson 5'5" | D Francis Parker | 2026 CA , one word comes up repeatedly: speed. The Chula Vista native has turned heads all season with her ability to cover massive amounts of ground as an outside back for Rebels SC . But it’s not just her pace that makes Peterson special – it’s how she weaponizes that speed in both phases of the game.

Peterson’s versatility allows her to excel on either flank, but her real magic happens when Rebels transitions from defense to attack. She has an uncanny ability to time her overlapping runs perfectly, often catching opposing teams off-guard as she bombs forward from her defensive position. Her technical ability at full sprint is what separates her from other pace merchants – Peterson can deliver dangerous crosses while running at top speed or cut inside to create shooting opportunities.

What makes Peterson truly dangerous is her relentless attacking mentality from the outside back position. She doesn’t just defend and distribute – she actively hunts down opportunities to join the attack and create numerical advantages in the final third. Her ability to “walk down” opposing wingers and fullbacks with her combination of speed and technical skill has become a signature of Rebel’s strategy.

Peterson was an integral part of the Francis Parkers defense that made a strong CIF playoff run this past high school season, showcasing her defensive reliability alongside her attacking prowess. Playing in front of her hometown crowd, with Division I programs from coast to coast tracking her development, Peterson is ready to show why she’s considered one of the most dynamic outside backs in the country.

“Amaya changes games,” says one Pac-12 scout who’s been tracking her all season. “She can shut down an attack defensively and then create a goal on the other end two minutes later. That kind of impact from the outside back position is rare.”

When elite athleticism meets tactical discipline, you get Amaya Peterson Amaya Peterson 5'5" | D Francis Parker | 2026 CA —the defensive anchor whose presence on the pitch changes the entire calculus for opposing attacks. The Francis Parker standout has emerged as one of the region’s premier shutdown defenders, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors and a coveted spot on the CIF All-League First Team in the competitive Coastal League.

What immediately jumps out when watching Peterson patrol the flank is her exceptional pace—the kind that transforms promising counterattacks into frustrating dead ends. Her recovery speed provides a safety net that allows her entire backline to play with greater aggression, knowing she can erase mistakes with stunning closing bursts when needed.

Peterson’s physical development speaks volumes about her approach to the game. Her superior muscle definition and athletic frame aren’t accidents of genetics but testaments to relentless dedication in training. While many players her age are still developing physically, she already possesses the strength and conditioning profile of a collegiate athlete—a difference-maker in those crucial 50/50 challenges that often determine outcomes in tight matches.

Perhaps most striking is the duality of her personality—the infectious smile that lights up sidelines and team huddles transforms instantly when the whistle blows. That mental switch from approachable teammate to focused competitor reveals a maturity beyond her years. The joy she clearly takes in the game never compromises her business-like approach between the lines.

Whether executing her defensive responsibilities for Francis Parker or matching up against elite attacking talent in the ECNL circuit with Rebels SC , Peterson performs with the consistency that coaches crave. College programs seeking that rare combination of athletic gifts, defensive intelligence, and championship mentality need look no further. The foundation of future championship backlines often begins with players cut from precisely this cloth.