Best Defensive Units in the Girls Academy’s Frontier Conference (2023-24)

(Pictured Above: HTX Soccer’s 2007 GA squad)

As we enter 2024, SoccerWire checks back in on the Girls Academy’s Frontier Conference with a look at some of the top defensive units.

In a conference that produced multiple teams that advanced deep in the GA National Playoffs last season, strong defense has a proven to be a key marker for success in giving team’s the best chance at success.

Here are some of the top performing units from teams from across the GA Midwest Conference in the U15-U19 age groups.

HTX 09: Blanked Lonestar SC 3-0 in November to earn their eleventh win on the season and their sixth clean sheet in conference play. Goalkeeper Caelyn Moore has led an HTX defensive unit that has held opponents to a .93 Goals Against Average and an undefeated record (11-0-3, 36 points).

St. Louis Development Academy 09: Held opponents to a conference-low .47 Goals Against Average, including shutouts against Louisiana TDP Elite and Lou Fusz Athletic (both 2-0 scorelines). Goalkeeper Addison Tomlinson (who was also recently called into the USYNT ID Center camp, and defenders Reagan Williams and Livi Enwright St. Louis have created a system that gives opponents little room to operate within their eighteen yard box.

Louisiana TDP Elite 09: Shut out St. Louis Development Academy 1-0 to end a strong fall season which saw them earn eight shutouts. en route to a 10-4-1 record on 34 points. They continued their strong run of form at the Showcase portion of the Champions Cup, finishing atop their group (2-0-1, 7 points) while allowing just two goals.

Lou Fusz Athletic 09: Earned shutouts in three of their final five matches (2-0 over RISE and Renegades SC and 3-0 over Lonestar SC) to help secure their top four position in the U15 age group (10-3-4, 34 points). SoccerWire Featured Player Tatum Douglas alongside fellow keeper Claire Benoist and defenders Natalie Repp, Kirby Scarborough, Emery Austin, Bailey Lucas, Ella Miller, Meg Myckatyn, and Lucy Savala have formed an imposing unit that can hold tight leads late and help set up long, sustained possessions.

Lou Fusz Athletic 08: Allowed just one goal in their last ten matches, pushing the team’s record to 16-0-1 on 49 points. Last year’s GA Semifinalists are led by goalkeeper Lily Selvy, who has been called into multiple USYNT ID Center camps. At the Champions Cup, defender Parker Dieck was instrumental in booking their spot into the next round, scoring the equalizer in their 2-1 win against Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals.

HTX 08: Downed Lonestar SC twice in their final two matches (2-0 and 2-1) to pull off a 9-2-3 record on 30 points in Conference play. Defenders Bisan Abdallah, Madeline Garrou, Sophia Magoulas, Madelaine Lovland, Sofia Arnold, Kaytee Chen, Addison Hunt, and Taryn Lynch have worked seamlessly together in HTX’s defensive third to form a tight knit group that can make the decisive stop in crunch time. Their .71 Goals Against average is second lowest among all U16 Frontier Conference teams.

St. Louis Development Academy 08: Closed out their fall season with a strong defensive effort, blanking BVB International Academy Texas 6-0. In Conference play, their defense was integral to their strong in conference play (9-3-5, 35 points), allowing more than two goals just three times.

Lou Fusz Athletic 07: The defending GA National Champions have started their 2023-2024 strong, dropping points just once in sixteen matches (15-1-0, 45 points). Center-backs Gabrielle Williams (GA Frontier Conference Talent ID invitee) and Addison Baldus (2025 Michigan State verbal commit have anchored a defense that has allowed just four goals in league play and allowed two goals at the Champions Cup.

Lonestar SC Red 07: After making a Quarterfinal appearance in last year’s GA National Playoffs, Lonestar has come out of the gate this season playing consistent, efficient defensive work in a tough U17 Frontier Conference. With five shutouts on their resume, including a 1-0 win over Lou Fusz, Lonestar’s persistent play in their defensive third has paid off handsomely. Defenders Sloane Guion, Olivia Clark, Kayla Pelter, Maria Reyes (Texas-San Antonio verbal commit), JaKeyra Bryant, Sofia Peters (Texas-San Antonio verbal commit), and Renee Valentine alongside goalkeeper Brooklyn Escobar to form an impenetrable wall inside their eighteen.

HTX 07: Finished off 2023 with a solid effort in the Champions Cup, shutting out Utah Celtic (5-0) and holding off Lamorinda SC (3-2) to finish second in Group E. Outside back and SoccerWire Featured Player Tamir Shaw has been a difference maker for HTX in the defense, using her speed to cut off counter-attacks and help jump start her team’s own attacking endeavors. Fellow defenders Emma Bates , Zoeh Byrd-Figueroa, Elizabeth Dornic, Dayla Henderson (GA Frontier Conference Talent ID invitee), Paula Walker, Madison Burchfiel, Emily Fowlkes have created a formidable backline that has helped goalkeeper Paddy Staton maintain control of the match.

Lou Fusz Athletic 06/05: Earned a hard-fought shutout over Renegades SC in their fall Conference finale, marking the end of strong run in play where they lost just once (16-1-0, 48 points). Defensively, the team has been on point all season earning eight shutouts in league play and nine across all GA competitions. Goalkeeper Reese Potts, a 2024 Kansas State commit, and defenders Rian Moore (2024-Western Kentucky), Elizabeth Kundert, Abigail Wiedermann , Ava Scorfina, and Anna Zichella lead a highly experienced team looking to improve upon their U17 Quarterfinal showing at the GA National Playoffs last year.

St. Louis Development Academy 06/05: Stymied the opposition’s attackers all fall season, limiting opponents to a .88 Goals Against average. Their defense pulled off an six game shutout streak during the middle of the season. Currently sitting in second (13-2-2, 41 points) they face a critical test on Sunday against Lou Fusz.