Standouts at Penn Fusion Girls Winter Showcase
Penn Fusion hosted its annual winter showcase for girls teams across multiple sites over the long Presidents’ Day holiday and PrepSoccer.com had a chance to attend several games at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken, Pa. Here’s a look at some of the players that impressed:
Elizabeth Estrada, Midfielder, FC Revolution Dynamo
Estrada made a big impression early in a match against FC Delco when she rocketed a shot from distance. Arguably the best goal all weekend, the Wilson High School senior’s play sitting back as a deep-lying midfielder may have been even more vital and helped create a number of promising counter attacks.
Ava Goodman
Ava
Goodman
F
PA
, Midfielder, FC Revolution Dynamo
There’s a reason the Pottsville High School senior has received so much attention. The type of player who can influence a game just with her presence, Goodman did a great job of finding the game against FC Delco both by controlling play on a swivel in midfield and finding space to run at FC Delco defenders in a 3-1 win.
Leilah Salee, Forward, FC Revolution Dynamo
The Fleetwood senior was a handful for FC Delco to defend going forward with her hold-up play and movement with and without the ball. She doubled Dynamo’s early advantage when she was the beneficiary of a play started by Goodman near midfield and a strong move and pass in behind from Taylor Mentzer. Her finish from a tight angle shows a finishing ability that had her finding the back of the net 25 times in her senior season last fall.
Natalee Vicari, Midfielder, FC Delco ECNL 2004
Vicari had a battle on her hands in a match against the talented FC Revolution Dynamo with star midfielder
Ava Goodman
Ava
Goodman
F
PA
patrolling the midfield but when FC Delco was able to move forward and challenge it was through the strong midfield play of the Wilson High School senior.
Molly Starner, Midfielder, FC Keystone 2005
The Boiling Springs HS junior scored a lovely goal from distance and led an attack that kept a PA Classics team on their toes in a 1-1 draw. Her work rate and strength fighting for 50-50s balls stood out.
Sophia Holgado
Sophia
Holgado
F
Padua Academy (DE) | 2024
PA
, Forward, Penn Fusion 2006
In a tight defensive battle where one goal would decide it, the Padua Academy sophomore showed off her pace when she raced forward and delivered the game-winner for Penn Fusion in a 1-0 win over a well-organized SJEB FC team. I didn’t need to Google her to find out that she also runs track at the Wilmington school, but the finish was as impressive as the burst of speed so late in the match.
Sarah Johnston
Sarah
Johnston
F
PA
, Winger, Penn Fusion 2006
Johnston, a Rustin High School sophomore, was also instrumental in the build-up to Penn Fusion’s lone goal in their 1-0 win over SJEB FC. Her mobility and ability to get into tight spaces to win the ball and transition into offense was on display even before the goal but she got it just right in picking up the hockey assist with her feed to
Mary Kate Walker
Mary
Kate Walker
F
Avon Grove (PA) | 2024
DE
, who played the ball for Holgado to run onto.
Addison Etter
Addison
Etter
GK
Moravian Academy | 2025
State
PA
, Goalkeeper, Penn Fusion 2006
The Moravian Academy freshman did well to command her box and fight off chances throughout the match against SJEB FC. She was quick off her line to make a big save late that could’ve very well been the go-ahead goal for SJEB. A clean sheet in the tight back-and-forth game was no easy feat.
Loren Gehret, Forward, Penn FC Lightning 2004
Gehret is a more recent addition to the defending USYS national champions Penn FC. She helped lead Southern Columbia to a state title in the fall and showed some of the same attacking prowess in staking Penn FC to an early lead in a 3-0 win over Sporting Delaware.
Liza Suydam, Midfielder, Penn FC Lightning 2004
The Manheim Township junior got things rolling early for the defending USYS national champions in their first match with a clean finish early on Saturday in a 2-0 win over Metro United and was at the center of multiple waves of attacks in their 3-0 win on Monday. Her ability on the ball, movement off it and general IQ make her the type of player that makes those around her better.
Katelyn Economopoulos, Midfielder, Penn FC Lightning 2004
One of the key leaders in the national championship run, Katelyn has dropped into more of a defensive role in the midfield but provides so many of the intangibles to make this team run it’s hard not to be drawn to her play. She was particularly dangerous putting out fires when Sporting Delaware was able to get attacks going the other way and stepping into space to serve in balls to the team’s many attacking weapons. She also scored a lovely free kick – the equivalent of a bank shot in basketball that hit cleanly off the far post – in the 2-0 win on Saturday.
Kylie Seckinger, Goalkeeper, FC Europa 2004 Elite
The Downingtown West junior not only had to deal with a snow squall that kicked up during FC Europa’s match against FC Bucks on Saturday but she had to deal with wave after wave of attacks from her opponent. FC Bucks ended up winning the match 1-0 but Seckinger did everything she could to keep her team in the game with a number of big stops in challenging conditions.
Camryn Williams
Camryn
Williams
F
Central Bucks East (PA) | 2023
State
PA
, Forward, Warrington FC United
It’s usually a good sign when a player on a different field than the one where you are watching a game catches your eye. That was the case with the Central Bucks East junior, who is strong in hold-up play, silky smooth on the dribble and very quick going forward. I didn’t personally see any highlight reel goals like she has on YouTube from her over the weekend but I was mighty impressed with what I did see.
Alexandre Barish, Defender, Warrington FC United
While Warrington FC United was more the aggressor in their 2-0 win over SJEB FC on Saturday, Barish stood out as a steady presence in the back cutting down balls and starting attacks with her passing.