California: Girls NorCal DIII players to watch
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When navigating the CIF State website, it’s easy to jump to the Division I or Division II brackets and see what the bigger-named teams are up to. But if you gloss over Division III, you’ll be missing a very high…
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Continue ReadingWhen navigating the CIF State website, it’s easy to jump to the Division I or Division II brackets and see what the bigger-named teams are up to. But if you gloss over Division III, you’ll be missing a very high concentration of talent, a lot of which is heading to Division I schools after the season.
Here are several players to watch when the DIII bracket kicks off on Tuesday afternoon.
Jessica Anderson Jessica Anderson D CA , Los Altos, Sophomore, Central Defender
Anderson is a 6-foot sophomore center back who plays ECNL for MVLA, making her one of the elite young defenders in Northern California. She’s hard to turn, she can play the ball with the best of them, or mark an attacker and take her out of the game. She has great touch, shows great balance, and reads the game very well.
Faylinn Berkowitz Faylinn Berkowitz F CA , Pleasant Valley, Senior, Central Midfielder
Berkowitz is a very smart player. She is good at finding space, getting open, and operating in tight areas. She is good with the ball at her feet and finding the next pass. She is a strong player who plays club for Davis Legacy.
Tyra Bogan Tyra Bogan GK State CA , Los Altos, Freshman, Keeper
Bogan is perhaps the top keeper in her age group in the Western Region, and for good reason. She is a fantastic shot-stopper and is incredibly technically sound. She showed her chops by stopping three 1v1’s in the first half in the CCS final against Santa Cruz, keeping the Eagles in the match, allowing them to eventually win in penalties.
Reese Burke, Chico, Sophomore, Central Defender
Burke is a player that does not get a lot of praise, but she should. She is very smart, she is a ball-winner and knows when to step and when not to step. She is not the biggest defender, but she is fearless, she fights for every ball and on top of that she is very fast and very smart.
Ella Colombini Ella Colombini F CA , Campolindo, Senior, Midfielder
The UC Irvine commit is a very skilled player, who is very technical. She shows fantastic vision when reading the defense and knowing where to go with the ball. She is a very creative player, who can create for herself or her teammates.
Mia Colombini Mia Colombini M CA , Campolindo, Senior, Midfielder
Also a UC Irvine commit, she is a very talented and sophisticated player. She sees things other players don’t, and she is able to make moves other players wouldn’t try. She has great vision, can pick a pass and is great in setting up goals but is also very adept at scoring them herself.
Katya Davis, University, Sophomore, Striker
A very tall striker, who is very good in the air but she can play the ball at her feet, as evidenced by her 19 goals. Davis is a great goal scorer despite not playing club anymore. She used to play for SF Elite, but wanted to play multiple sports in high school and is a star volleyball player.
Taylor Dever Taylor Dever M CA , Chico, Senior, Defensive Midfielder
Dever is a UC Davis commit who is a great leader. She displays great vision, she can really pick a pass, and she dictates the game and wins most of the balls that come into her area, either on the ground or in the air. She is a very strong player who controls the middle of the pitch.
Kaitlyn Garcia, Lincoln-Stockton, Senior, Forward
Garcia may not be the biggest forward, coming in at just 5-3, but she is fierce, quick, crafty, and relentless. She scored 34 goals for the Trojans this year, but is not just a goal scorer. She also creates opportunities for her teammates as she had 10 assists on the season as well.
Esha Gupta, Los Altos, Senior, Forward
Gupta is the heartbeat for the Eagles. She went on a heater in the quarterfinal and semifinal wins over Notre Dame-Belmont and Carlmont in the CCS playoffs, scoring seven goals. She is the leader, and when she talks, the team listens. She has a very high soccer IQ and is also very talented with the ball at her feet. She is a very fast, dangerous attacking player.
Emma Gyllanhammer, Chico, Senior, Striker
The transfer student from Norway has brought an excellent attitude and work ethic to the Panthers program, and on top of that is very well-liked. She moved from the back line to striker, and is a very good target player. She wins the ball in the air, but also has great skill and is very good with the ball at her feet, and also has great vision in tight spaces.
Halle Hanna Halle Hanna F CA , Marin Academy, Senior, Forward
Hanna is going to play at Amherst next season, and she will bring a big personality with her. She is a great leader with an infectious personality, displaying great leadership. She is also a great finisher, who can run with pace and power at the defense, and is adept at drawing defenders with her on her runs.
Hetti Hsia, University, Senior, Midfielder
Hsia has had to fill the shoes of Grace Schneider, who has been hurt, and has done a great job. She has shown a fantastic work rate, dropping back in defense quickly and with energy. She is a great passer from the middle of the pitch and has also contributed nearly 10 goals.
Ella Klingelhofer, Marin Academy, Senior, Holding Midfielder
Klingelhofer is a player that does so much and does it well. She dictates the game from the middle of the pitch. She has great awareness and can create numbers for her team because of it. She is a great passer. She is hard as nails and is a great tackler, she is great in the air and she maintains a positive attitude, and is a great leader.
Sami Kolin Sami Kolin D Campolinda | 2022 CA , Campolindo, Senior, Central Defender
Kolin is committed to Cal State Northridge, giving the Cougars three top players in this division. She is a versatile player, who can play all over, including up and down the spine. She is not flustered easily or forced off the ball. She is calm and decisive. She is also a player who gives every bit of what she has on the pitch.
Kate Mazzucco, University, Senior, Defensive Midfielder
Mazzucco is a dynamic and versatile player. She was a standout central defender for the Red Devils and moved into the defensive midfield spot this season and has been outstanding. She is a great tackler, and she is tenacious in her effort and work rate. She is a player who always strives to get better and is very competitive.
Kat Montoya, Acalanes, Senior, Outside Defender
Montoya can also play central defender because she is a versatile and dynamic player. She was dealing with injury for a lot of the season but is coming back into her own. She is a very fast player and is a great 1v1 defender.
Nicole Nguyen, Acalanes, Freshman, Central Midfielder
Nguyen is a very calm and poised player, especially for her age. She has fantastic touch and can maneuver between defenders with ease. She is also getting more comfortable and confident as the season goes on.
Isabella Ong, University, Sophomore, Forward
Ong is a very dynamic winger who is a prodigious goal scorer and great about setting up her teammates with 19 goals and also has 16 assists. She is very versatile, as she can play in the midfield as well. She is a player who can take on defenders, beating them often with ease. She also draws a lot of attention, freeing up her teammates. Ong is good with the ball at her feet, is very fast, and can score from anywhere on the pitch.
Calista Poulous, Marin Academy, Senior, Attacking Midfielder
The Johns Hopkins commit is a very fast, dynamic, and creative player. She is also very powerful, using her power and speed combo, she is great about taking on players, running at defenders. She has a rocket for a shot, is great at getting behind the defense, and can create for her teammates. She can make passes at great ranges, including crosses or long passes from deep.
Becca Sherry, Marin Academy, Senior, Striker
Sherry is a big, strong player who is left-footed. She plays with great pace, she takes on defenders, and is very technically sound. She is good with the final ball and can score with the best of them. She is versatile and can play just about anywhere on the pitch. Sherry is committed to play at Princeton.
Aiofe Turner, Los Altos, Sophomore, Outside Defender
Turner can play multiple positions as she has split her time between outside back and wing. She is dangerous going forward, accounting for eight goals and six assists. Turner is a great athlete who reads the game incredibly well, and she recently made her debut for the U-16 Irish National team.
Priscilla Ward Priscilla Ward F CA , Chico, Senior, Forward
Ward is a true wonder. The St. Mary’s commit broke the Eastern Athletic League and the Chico High scoring record, putting away 58 goals this season. But she never stops working, despite her success. She has put in so many hours outside of practice, putting in the time to get better. She has great foot skills, she’s good at separating from defenders when she has the ball and making runs and getting away from them without the ball.
Lauren Yee, Acalanes, Senior, Attacking Midfielder
The Dons are fortunate enough to be loaded in the midfield with a hard-working Yee at the No. 10 spot. She is one of the hardest working players on the team and has fantastic stamina, never getting tired. She puts pressure on defenses, getting forward. She has great vision and can get behind the defense and can shoot from anywhere.