Scouting analysis: Big Ten lands some of PA’s best
The PrepSoccer player rankings for Pennsylvania were released earlier this month. The Pennsylvania 2023 class is full of talent and already features a number of players committed to top Division I programs. The state has some of the best club…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepSoccer player rankings for Pennsylvania were released earlier this month. The Pennsylvania 2023 class is full of talent and already features a number of players committed to top Division I programs.
The state has some of the best club teams in both the ECNL and the Girls Academy as well as the US Youth Soccer and the various other leagues. The high school soccer scene also attracts the best of the regions as well.
For consistency, the PrepSoccer player rankings use the player’s club location for the state rankings (i.e. a player who goes to school in Delaware but plays for a Pennsylvania club would be listed in the Pennsylvania rankings). The full list for the 2023 class can be viewed here.
Penn Fusion midfielder Elly Slensky Elly Slensky M State PA is the No. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania for the class of 2023. She is a verbal commit to Boston College. Slensky impressed scouts with her play at ECNL Phoenix earlier this year. She is a defensive midfielder with quick feet and excellent instincts. She has the characteristics of a midfielder who will contribute immediately at the Division I level. Improving her speed of play and decision-making will really take her game to the next level.
Ava Boyd Ava Boyd F Pine-Richland (PA) | 2023 State #65 Nation PA is the No. 1 forward in the class of 2023 for Pennsylvania. Michigan State landed the verbal commitment of Boyd and Samantha Miller Samantha Miller F Butler (PA) | 2023 State #95 Nation PA , which gives the Spartans both of the top forwards from the class. Boyd is one of those players who looks like she has jets taped to her boots. She could be five yards away from a defender and the defender will look comfortable in possession then in the blink of an eye she has stolen the ball, scored a goal, and ran back for kickoff. Her speed translates on film as she bursts off the screen with how quickly and easily she runs away from defenders. She plays as a center forward for her club team, but I wonder if her future might be as a support striker in a 4-4-2 to play off the shoulder of Samantha Miller Samantha Miller F Butler (PA) | 2023 State #95 Nation PA .
Miller impressed scouts at the Girls Academy event. She is a prototypical center forward. She is very skilled for the position too. She can control just about any pass into her part of the field. Once she is on the ball, she will hold off defenders and link up with her teammates. On paper, it’s a dream pairing with Boyd’s skills. At the next level, chances are hard to come by so both could afford to improve as finishers, but they both have the instincts and potential to be great in their roles.
Maya Naimoli Maya Naimoli GK Episcopal Academy (PA) | 2023 State PA is the No. 1 goalkeeper in the class. Naimoli is a verbal commit to Ohio State, so she will be seeing a lot of Boyd and Miller in the future. The goalkeeper has a lot of solid fundamental skills that translate to a bright future in the net. She is excellent at getting her feet set before a shot so she has a good base to jump off of in an attempt block an attempt that’s outside of her close range. She is good at organizing her defense. And excellent at distribution. Nancy Soccio Nancy Soccio GK State PA , Sofia DeCerb Sofia DeCerb 6'0" | GK Greater Latrobe Senior | 2023 State PA , and Sydney Slusser Sydney Slusser 5'10" | GK West Chester East (PA) | 2023 State PA are also top goalkeepers from the state in this class.
Delaney Evers Delaney Evers M West Allegheny (PA) | 2023 State PA is the top ranked uncommitted player in this class. Evers is another player who impressed scouts at the Girls Academy event last month so she likely won’t be the top uncommitted player for long. She is a player who excels in the wide areas. She is great at running into space and providing service from the wide channels. Evers has good speed, track speed, and is a two-way player which offers the chance of her playing either outside back or winger in the future.
Check out the full player rankings for the Pennsylvania class of 2023.