Girls Academy Playoff Preview
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The Girls Academy playoffs kick off this week from Oceanside, California. The postseason for the national league includes teams in the U13 through U19 age groups. PrepSoccer will be on hand throughout the event. Use the code Club30 for 30%…
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Continue ReadingThe Girls Academy playoffs kick off this week from Oceanside, California. The postseason for the national league includes teams in the U13 through U19 age groups. PrepSoccer will be on hand throughout the event. Use the code Club30 for 30% off your first payment for a subscription to the site to read our coverage of the event. Check out our preview to all of the age groups below.
U13
Favorites: Colorado Rush 09 (24-1), Houston Dynamo Dash (20-1), Nationals Blue (18-1-2), SDSC Surf (16-1-2)
Houston Dynamo Dash looks like the team to beat in this age group. The Texas squad only conceded six goals in 21 games this season in Girls Academy action. However, two of those goals were in the 2-1 loss to Nationals Blue back in December. Dash is the top seed in Group A while Nationals Blue is the top seed in Group B. Colorado Rush, the top seed from Group C, led the national in goals scored on the campaign with 92 in 25 games. The relentless attack will be looking for revenge after suffering a 0-2 loss to Houston Dynamo Dash as the only defeat of the campaign for the squad.
Dark Horse Pick: South Shore Select (18-3-1), NEFC (16-2-1)
South Shore Select finished the season tied for second in the nation in this age group for best goal differential. The Northeast squad can run away with a game quickly. They were also the victors in the Champions League competition in April. NEFC is a team that is capable being competitive with any team in the country. The squad was undefeated during the national event in December with two wins and a loss.
Player to Know: Sisi Groo, Colorado Rush
The left winger for Rush is one of the top attacking talents in the league. She is an excellent finisher with her left foot and does well timing her runs to get behind the defense. Her team really does a good job in looking for her out wide and setting her up for chances.
U14
Favorites: Nationals Blue (27-0), NEFC (18-0-1), Tophat Gold (20-1), Lou Fusz (16-1-3), Indy Premier (24-3)
Nationals Blue have been on a differently level than anyone else in this age group this season. The Michigan club finished the regular season with 101 goals scored and only six goals conceded. A perfect record and a plus 95 goal differential makes Nationals Blue the clear favorite in the 08 age group – also combined with Nationals winning the Champions League event in Bradenton, Florida in April. NEFC also finished the campaign without a loss. NEFC played to a 1-1 draw against STA on September then went perfect for the next eight months of Girls Academy play. NEFC and Indy Premier face off in Group F on June 25, which will be a must-see matchup in the group stage. Lou Fusz is another favorite in this age group. The Lou Fusz team is incredibly difficult to score against (they only conceded six goals this season), and takes advantage of the opposition’s mistakes.
Dark Horse Pick: STA (12-3-5), Beadling SC (20-5-2)
The aforementioned STA is a tough team to play against. They battled NEFC to a 1-1 draw early on in the season. They also managed to finish the campaign with only three losses. Beadling had the sixth best goal differential in the Girls Academy 08 age group this season. They win big when they get going early.
Player to Know: Maren Swan, Nationals
Nationals is loaded with top talent. Conamora Ndana, Micayla Johnson, and Lily Jeakle have already been in the US Soccer Talent Identification Center. Swan is another one to keep an eye on. She is a defensive midfielder who was excellent during the GA Mid-America Talent ID. She reads the game well and makes intelligent passes.
U15
Favorites: TopHat Gold (21-0-2), Lamorinda SC (19-2), Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals (18-04), SC del Sol (21-1-3), Lou Fusz Athletic (15-1-2)
TopHat Gold and Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals were the only two teams to go through the campaign without suffering a loss during Girls Academy games. TopHat ended up finishing in first in the overall standings and earned the top seed in Group D. Ukrainian Nationals was placed in Group G and has a big early challenge against Cincinnati United, the defending National Champion in this age group. Lou Fusz, the finalist from last season, had another strong campaign with only one loss and should be one to watch for a deep run.
Dark Horses: Florida United (12-3-8), FC Bay Area (13-2-3), Cincinnati United Premier (19-3-5)
Florida United, previously Weston FC, was a semifinalist last season. The club adjusts rosters often during the season and tends to promote top talent from younger age groups to the level where they can still be challenged and contributed. They’re still fully capable of taking on any challengers in this age group. FC Bay Area is also in Group H with Florida United. FC Bay Area’s 07 group is full of promising talent that likes to play possession-dominant attacking soccer, and they are fun to watch.
Player to Know: Ansley Pochmara, TopHat
Pochmara is a central defender who is tough on the tackle and quick to get her head up to find teammates. She is eager to attack the ball in challenges and does well in using her body to win duels.
Lauren Zamora Lauren Zamora GK CA , Lamorinda
Zamora is a goalkeeper who was part of the Northwest Talent ID event this season. She is excellent at her footwork. She does well at staying active in moving her feet to get her body behind the save. She has soft hands and does not allow many rebounds on long shots. She is good off her line and can stop breakaways with her aggression. Her distribution can shift where the game is played too so the opposition needs to drop off when the ball is in her hands.
U16
Favorites: TSJ FC Virginia (20-0), IMG Academy (21-1-1), Colorado Rush (22-1-2), TopHat Gold (20-1-2), Albion SC San Diego (19-1-2)
The U16 age group will have the most college coaches in attendance because this is where the majority of 2024s play – and June 15 was the first day of communication for coaches and that class. There is plenty of talented players at this event from the 2024 class. Many of them play on the favorites in this age group. TSJ FC Virginia should be considered the favorite to win it all. After going through a perfect regular season campaign, there will be a massive bullseye on the squad which is the top seed in Group H. TSJ FC Virginia was a quarterfinalist in this age group last season. Colorado Rush won the age group at the Champions League event in April.
Dark Horses: West Coast FC (11-6-2), Washington Timbers (17-0-1)
West Coast FC finished as a semifinalist in this age group last year. This year’s campaign has not gone as swimmingly, but the squad still has the potential to go on a run like last year. Washington Timbers earned a tough draw in the same group as IMG Academy, which was the national finalist in this age group last season. The Timbers were undefeated in conference play during the campaign.
Players to Know:
Addy Hess, TSJ FC Virginia
Hess is one of the best forwards in the country. She is going to have her pick of schools for the next level. She is incredibly fast on the pitch. She can get past the defense in a blink of an eye. She is an excellent finisher in a variety of ways. She is skillful on the ball and unrelenting in her approach.
Riley Macdonald Riley Macdonald M State CO , Colorado Rush
MacDonald is an obvious talent. She is a center midfielder who has every tool in the bad. She is a sharp passer, excellent ball striker, high work-rate, and tactically intelligent. She can be the most dominant player in this age group.
Mia Sena, Washington Timbers
Sena is a center midfielder who does a bit of everything for her side. She is an excellent passer and can hit a 40-yard ball in the air with accuracy just as well as she can play in a pass on the ground to split the lines. She is a pretty good finisher too, which makes her a real threat from the midfield.
U17
Favorites: Utah Celtic (20-1-1), Oakwood Soccer Club (17-1-), TSJ FC Virginia (17-2-2), Florida United (20-2-3)
After finishing as a semifinalist last season, this feels like it might be Florida United’s year in this age group. Florida United has a stacked roster with skillful players who want to keep possession of the ball. With a few 2024s and younger on the roster, they will attract the attention of quite a few scouts. Florida United also won in this age group at the Champions League event in April. Utah Celtic has been very good this season in the U17 age group. The squad was 7-0 against competition from outside of the conference with a 2-0 victory being the closest result from those games.
Dark Horses: Cincinnati United Premier (16-7-4), Colorado Rush (16-4-5)
CUP won the National Championship in this age group last season. The squad snagged a spot in the postseason this campaign, but it was not an easy trip. Paired with one of the favorites, TSJ FC Virginia, in group play, this is going to be a tall task to advance from the group for CUP. But they have the tested squad that knows how to battle in this situations. Colorado Rush holds the distinction as one of only two teams to beat Florida United this season. Rush faces off against LA Surf, Lonestar SC, and Michigan Jaguars in Group F.
Players to Know:
Bella Woods, Utah Celtic
Woods is one of the standouts on the Celtic squad. She is a dominant force in the attack and an excellent finisher. She is a good ball striker and puts a lot of power behind her shots. She is a player that the opposition has to mark in order to slow down Celtic.
Ashley Pennie Ashley Pennie M Lourdes (FL) | 2024 State #13 Nation FL , Florida United
Pennie pulls the strings for Weston. She is a delightfully electric midfielder who is most likely to make her impact with an exquisite pass. Sophia Brelage is another player to watch from the Florida United side.
U19
Favorite: FC Bay Area (17-0)
The question from the U19 age group is can anyone stop FC Bay Area’s dynasty? The FC Bay Area 2004 age group has won pretty much everything over the years. This is the swan song for the majority of the team as they look to repeat at the U19 level after winning it last year while playing up an age group. TopHat Gold (18-2-2) could be the top challenger after finishing as a finalist last season in this age group.
Dark Horses: City SC (15-2-2), TSJ FC Virginia (16-1-4), IMG Academy (19-3-1)
TSJ FC Virginia played a close battle against FC Bay Area back in April. The squad has the pieces to pull off an upset if they meet FC Bay Area in the knock out rounds.