Best of Saturday from GA Showcase
Saturday was the final day of competition for the U19 age group at the 2022 Girls Academy Spring Showcase in North Carolina. For some players, it was the last chance to impress the over 300 college coaches in attendance. For…
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Continue ReadingSaturday was the final day of competition for the U19 age group at the 2022 Girls Academy Spring Showcase in North Carolina. For some players, it was the last chance to impress the over 300 college coaches in attendance. For other players, it was an opportunity to leaving a lasting legacy in the club game.
The U19 age group was no the only age group in action on Saturday. The U17 and U16s were playing as well. The U17 teams offered a glimpse at some of the top juniors in the country including a couple of uncommitted prospects. The U16 teams featured some sophomores that scouts should be lining up to see.
PrepSoccer highlights the players from some of the games on Saturday below. Check out the standouts from Thursday and Friday.
Eva Blatz, Century V 05 GA – Blatz is getting the spotlight here because she is a fascinating player to watch. She is a verbal commit to Buffalo, and should project as an immediate impact player at that level – she has the quality to be a difference-maker in the MAC immediately. On Saturday against South Carolina Surf, Blatz showed her potential. She is a ball-hungry center back. She is willing to take possession of the ball and run at the defense from a deep position if no one steps to slow her down. Defensively, she can be caught ball-watching at times. She will drift in and out of her lines especially if her team has to chase the game – which they rarely had to do on Saturday. She could be a center back or a defensive midfielder at the next level. Her enthusiasm to join the attack might lend to a future as a center midfielder. Her versatility will get her on the field at Buffalo. Her quality on the ball will keep her there. Chloe Leonard was a standout for Century V at left center back. She is the more conservative of the center backs. She plays the simple pass and values possession for her side. She won two aerial duels on corner kicks.
Merritt Delk, Century V 05 GA – Delk is an attacking talent. She can play any role in the attacking trio or as a forward in a two-forward system. She impressed on Saturday with her ability in the final third. She made some good runs off the ball and also delivered a couple of good crosses. She is a touch passive defensively. If she adds a bit more bite/nastiness when pressing, Delk should be considered one of the top forwards from the region for the class of 2024. Sara Felder and Anna Bundy were also standouts for Century V.
Giulianna Gianino Giulianna Gianino M MA , South Shore Select 03/04 GA – Gianino made me remark, who is she? During the game on Saturday, which is close to the ultimate compliment. She is a Boston U commit for the class of 2022, which is great news for the Terriers. The way Gianino moves before receiving the ball is picture-perfect to how coaches teach that part of the game. She adjusts her body to receive the ball into space and does an excellent job of scanning the field while in possession. She has a great change of pace on the ball and showed good body feints to throw off the defender. She is capable of racing past defenders when in possession. Gianino lost out on a couple of duels on Saturday because she reached for the ball with her leg outstretched rather than moving her whole body into the tackle. It’s a subtle part of her game that will need to improve at the next level. Gianino has the tools and potential to have a meaningful role with her college side in the fall. She showed her talent on Saturday in the win over PA Classics to finish the event with a 2-1 record.
Kate Runyon Kate Runyon 5'10" | F Jefferson Academy (CO) | 2023 State CO , Broomfield Blast 05 – This is pure speculation but considering what has transpired at Florida over the last week, Runyon’s play certainly caught the attention of scouts in attendance. The Broomfield star is a verbal commit to Florida for the class of 2023. The Gators dismissed their head coach Tony Amato this week after only one season in charge. With a coaching change, I’m sure some scouts are taking another look at Runyon. She was the best center forward of the day. She has every skill you could want from that role including exceptional game awareness – her attempt on goal from 40 yards out when she saw the goalkeeper off the line exemplified this asset. Regardless of where Runyon ends up for her college ball, she is a talent that is going to make a mark in the game for a long time.
Bailey Giddings, Broomfield Blast 05 – Giddings, the captain of her side, was another standout from the game against OL Reign. She did well against a talented Reign side. She uses her body well when shielding the ball. She has a good first touch and knows how to navigate with pressure on her back. She has a strong foot and likes to spread the field with her passes. She’d be a good fit at a program that plays through the attacking midfielder. A system with speedy wingers to spread the field and a double pivot behind her would really unleash her talent for the next level.
Chelsea Mohammed, SJEB FC 06 – Mohammed had two outstanding plays in the first half of the game against Colorado Rush on Saturday. Her first highlight was her snagging a cross in traffic and holding onto the ball through contact. She showed a good ability to read the flight of the ball and athleticism to pick off the ball at the highest point. Plus she has strong hands to withstand the bumps and keep hold of the ball. The second moment for the goalkeeper was when she made a diving save on a header to the far post. It looked like the shot was past her, but she reacted quickly and pushed it away. Her distribution was solid, with some room for improvement. Considering her shot-stopping abilities, she is a goalkeeper that should be on every scout’s radar for the class of 2024.