Maya is a goalkeeper that any possession-based team would love. She’s adventurous and brave, more often than not coming far off her line to aid in building out from the back. I previously said that she plays a role similar to that of a defensive midfielder in possession. When you watch her play, you see exactly what I mean. Her passes are also just as good as you would expect from a defensive midfielder in teams like this. Though there aren’t many teams that require such an extreme involvement from their keeper, they will 100% benefit from her ability and mentality. Her goalkeeping is also just as secure. The stereotype of a ball-playing keeper not being a good shot-stopper is not present with her.

Maya is the model to look at when looking for the modern goalkeeper. Her main characteristic is her ability to participate in plays. She often offers herself as another passing option for her team whenever they need some clarity. It’s almost as if she’s a deep-lying midfielder. When she gets the ball, she receives and controls it with remarkable serenity. This is especially interesting when she’s very far off her line. Though it’s not something she does too often, she is not scared to travel well into almost midfield to help circulate the ball. Her goalkeeping is very correct as well. She constantly looks to keep danger as far from the goal as possible. Her determination to do so is remarkable to watch.

Miller is the top ranked goalkeeper in this class. She is playing an age group up this season with the NC Courage 08 ECNL team. She’s been a regular call-up to the US Soccer Talent ID events over the last few years. Her ability to play out of the back with the ball at her feet is a strength of her game. She is as confident as a center midfielder back there and she sends forwards chasing shadows when they try to press her. Miller shows good instincts with her distribution and keeps the ball with side thanks to her accurate passing and vision. As a shot-stopper she has good reflexes and good hands. She’s capable of making the game-deciding block, but thrives more in keeping the defense organized and rarely needing to play the hero.