Best Defensive Units in the Girls Academy’s Southeast Conference

(Pictured Above: Class of 2025 defender and SoccerWire Featured Player Jada Graham has been a key contributor again this season on the Florida United 2007 back line.)

With the 2023-24 season well underway, SoccerWire checks back in on the Girls Academy’s Southeast Conference. In a conference that produced multiple GA National Playoff finalists and champions last season, strong defense has a proven track record of helping teams win silverware.

Here are some of the top defensive performances from teams from across the GA Southeast Conference in the U15-U19 age groups.

Tophat 09 Gold: Sitting atop the U-15 Southeast division with a 7-1-4 record on 25 points, Tophat have taken the division thanks in large part to their stout defensive work. The 2023 GA National Finalists have allowed just 2 goals (the lowest among all teams in the U15 Southeast Division), while pulling off ten shutouts. Defender Bristol Kersh, who was recently called up to the U.S. U-15 Women’s Youth National Team, and Paxton Battaglia have led a backline that has held opponents to an 0.17 Goals Against Average on the season thus far.

South Carolina Surf 09: After making the Quarterfinals in last year’s GA Playoffs, Surf have followed it up with an equally impressive effort, earning 5 strong wins to pull in at second place in the Southeast Conference. Defender Emmi Cence leads an established backline that has pulled off two key victories over IMG Academy (4-0 and 6-3) and strong results against Tophat 09 Gold (1-1) and West Florida Flames (0-0).

Florida United 09: United enter the break having earned points in 4 of their last 5 matches (3-1-1, 10 points) and a third place showing in the Southeastern Conference (7-5-2, 23 points). Grinding out results has become a calling card of theirs with the group pulling off over South Carolina Surf (2-1) and Tophat Gold (1-0).

Tophat 08 Gold: Anytime a team can start out the season with 5 wins and a goal differential plus 31 is usually a positive sign of things to come. After having won last year’s National Championship at the U15 level, Tophat emphatically answered the question of whether a championship slump was on the horizon with a strong defensive showing.  Goalkeeper Lexi Goodman has earned seven clean sheets alongside defenders Jordynn Gunn, Brynna Burns, and Kennedy Kelly, forming one of the tougher backlines in the GA.

IMG Academy 08: With two games left before the break, IMG have put themselves in a strong position to make it into the GA playoffs, going 9-1-1 on 28 points. Defensively, they started the season strong going undefeated in their first 4 matches, 3 of which were shutouts (2-0 over Wake FC and Southern Soccer Academy and 4-0 over AFC Lightning).

Florida United 08: Finished the fall season with back-to-back 3-0 shutouts over South Carolina Surf and Wake FC and having allowed just nine goals total over the course of 14 games. Goalkeeper Ashley Smith was a wall for Florida against some tough opponents in the U16 age group, earning  seven clean sheets during the stretch.

IMG Academy 07: Averages a Conference-best .67 Goals Allowed per game and has earned 6 shutouts to start the season. SoccerWire Featured Player Kensington Morgan and goalkeeper Ava Yamas have led a defensive unit that have allowed just 8 goals, helping push the team into first place in the U17 standings (10-1-1, 31 points).

West Florida Flames 07: Pulling in at second place in the U17 age division are the Flames (9-1-2, 28 points), who have dominated conference play with their stingy defensive work. After two close wins to start the season (3-2 over South Carolina Surf and 2-1 over Wake FC) they ripped off 3 consecutive shutouts (7-0 over Southern Soccer Academy, 0-0 draw against AFC Lightning, and 4-0 over Tophat Navy). Their strong defensive form has been a hallmark throughout the season, allowing just 11 goals in 12 matches.

Florida United 07: At the midway point of the season, Florida United 07s have conceded only twelve goals to put them firmly in third (9-3-2, 29 points). SoccerWire Featured Players Gabriela Sussman and Jada Graham have formed a strong partnership along the backline that has proven difficult for attackers to break down all season.

Florida United 06/05: At the U19 level, Florida United (12-1-1, 37 points) have stifled opponents, allowing only one goal through 14 matches. Goalkeeper Sami Anes, who has committed to UCF, has been lights out for United while also playing for their UPSL team. Their .07 Goals Allowed per game average is the lowest among all U-19 teams that have played more than 5 games.

IMG Academy 06/05: Just trailing Florida United is IMG (9-1-2, 29 points), who hold a key 1-0 win over their rivals. Captain Abby Gemma, who has previously been called up to the U-17 USWYNT, leads a seasoned group of defenders that are looking to build upon their appearance in the GA National Playoffs last year. So far they have shown that they are up for the task, conceding just 9 goals in 12 games.