Best Defensive Units in the Girls Academy’s Mountain West Conference

With the 2023-2024 season entering the final stretch, SoccerWire checks back in on the Girls Academy’s Mountain West Conference with a look at some of the top defensive units.

Last season, the Mountain West Conference produced multiple playoff teams across all age groups, with four teams reaching the Quarterfinal round. Defense played a major role for the sides coming out of Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah and has continue to be a key reason for their success this season.

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

Wasatch SC 09: Started their 2023-2024 Mountain West campaign in fine fashion, earning points in each of their first nine games while rocketing to the top of the conference (6-0-3, 21 points). Their defense has played a major role in their success with the team yet to concede more than two goals in a league match. Goalkeeper June Joseph, a recent USYNT ID Center and GA Mountain West Talent ID invitee, has smothered attacks all season earning four shutouts.

Colorado Rush 09: Finished off their regular season by holding off a potent Utah Celtic team 4-2. Thanks to their stout defensive work, Rush never allowed more than two goals in a conference match this season, pushing the team to an 8-2-4 record on 28 points. Defenders Lakeryn Gutierrez, , Carley Butler, Kylie Anfield (March 2023 USYNT ID Center invitee), Sky St. Louis, and Paige Jasinowski have worked seamlessly together to form a tight bond in Rush’s defensive third with goalkeepers Teagan Hode and Riley Mulberry providing superb work between the posts.

ALBION SC Las Vegas 09:  Booking back-to-back shutout results over Colorado Rush (0-0) and Broomfield SC (1-0), Albion have finished their season strong to give their playoff chances a boost. They ended the month in equally fine form, earning a tough 1-1 draw against Wasatch SC to improve their record to 5-3-2 on 18 points. Albion’s .82 Goals Against average is the second lowest among all U15 Mountain West Conference teams. Goalkeeper Julie Johnson was recently selected to participate in the GA’s Mountain West ID Center event and have had strong seasons for Albion and will play key roles in their final three games.

ALBION SC Las Vegas 08: Allowing just seven goals in ten conference games this season, Albion Las Vegas’ 08s have dominated league play and surged to the top of the table (10-1-0, 30 points). Center back Jailynn Henry (Albion National Team selection) has worked effectively alongside fellow defenders Posie Armstrong, Kloe Abdalla, Brianna Lee, and Mattie Levesque to build an imposing backline that held off Colorado Rush 1-0 to start their season. Goalkeeper Olivia Petty has also played a critical role in between Albion’s posts all season, earning six clean sheets.

Utah Celtic 08:  After placing sixth in last year’s National Playoffs, Celtic stormed out of the gates in the Mountain West winning their first six matches while conceding just one goal. Goalkeeper Isabelle Bramble (2023 GA National Talent ID invitee, September 2022 USWYNT U-15 Talent ID Center invitee)runs a tightly organized defense that shut out Las Vegas Sports Academy over the weekend to lift their record to 7-2-0 on 21 points.

Colorado Rush 08: Limited opponents to two goals over their final five conference games while earning shutouts over Wasatch SC (3-0 twice), Las Vegas Sports Academy (5-0), and Utah Celtic (1-0). They ended regular season play with a .5 Goals Against average, which is the lowest among all U16 Mountain West Conference teams. Defender Ellyse DeBolt has had an exceptional season playing both center back and in the defensive midfield for Rush and was recently selected for the upcoming USYNT ID Center event in Denver. Alongside her defensive partners in Madison Miller, Nina Remmick, Annabelle Turner, and Taylin Gimbel Rush have formed a cohesive unit in front of goalkeeper Ella Rieben.

Colorado Rush 07: Held off Utah Celtic 3-2 in their Mountain West regular season finale two weeks ago, with their defense playing a key role in the final minutes. The win capped a five game run in which Rush earned all 15 points while allowing just three goals. Rush’s defensive unit of Teagan Myers (2025-Kentucky verbal commit, May 2025 USYNT ID Center invitee), Addie Mercer (2025-uncommitted), Sophia Ashbrook (2025-uncommitted), Lexi Yi (2026), Alysah Messenger (2025-uncommitted), and Teagan Herbers (2025-uncommitted) and goalkeeper Anna Scott all played pivotal roles in the team placing fourth in the Champions Cup and will be

I am so proud of my team the amazing weekend we had at IMG! We fought hard and finished 4th place! pic.twitter.com/kcKPFztaYM

— Anna Scott (@Annascott2025) March 17, 2024

Wasatch SC 07: In just their first eight Mountain West matches this season (6-0-2, 20 points), Wasatch have proven themselves to be a tactically disciplined, highly difficult team to break down. Defender Ava Talaei, a 2025 verbal commit to Utah Tech, has proven to be a difference-maker along the backline for Wasatch and in the center back position. Wasatch goalkeepers Lexie Lund (2025-uncommitted) and Beth Manwill were both selected to participate in the Mountain West Talent ID camp in March and have combined to earn four clean sheets in league play this season.

New Mexico Rapids SC (formerly Rio Rapids SC) 07: Shut out New Mexico Soccer Academy 1-0 two weeks ago to earn their fourth win of the season and their fourth shutout. The Rapids have given up more than two goals in a match just twice this season in conference play and held their own in some difficult matches (4-4-4, 16 points). Defender Addyson Carpentier (2025-uncommitted) and goalkeeper Caitlin Sanchez (2025-Mercer) have both had strong seasons for Rio and will factor prominently in the team’s final two league matches.

Colorado Rush 05/06: Ended their regular season with five consecutive victories while limiting their opponents to two goals. Rush have already had a strong season, making the finals of the Champions Cup while finishing the Mountain West regular campaign with a 12-2-0 record on 36 points. They will be looking for even higher honors this summer, especially after both their 06s and 05s made the National Playoffs last season with the U17s going to the Quarterfinals. Their defense includes multiple 2024 players whose experience will be counted during their final run: Jordan Whiteaker (TCU), Camille Kolar (Idaho State), and Sophia Nickel (Kansas), and Zoe Whiddon (Tampa). SoccerWire Featured Player Lucy Krumwiede (2025-uncommitted) and Rebecca Winton (2024-Marshall) have formed a dynamic 1-2 combination between the posts for Rush, booking a combined nine shutouts in conference play this season.

New Mexico Soccer Academy 05/06: Held opponents to a 1.42 Goals Against average in conference play this season, which is the second lowest among all U19 Mountain West teams. Their persistent work in the defensive third has paid off in the form of five shutouts, including a 1-0 victory over Colorado Rush in January. Goalkeepers Cara Anderson (2024-California Polytechnic) and Dylan Rees and defenders Ella Lent Koop (2024-Messiah), Rylie Pengelly (2024-Florida Southern), Riley Espinoza, Rina Suarez,  and Ashlee Mora (2024-Texas El Paso) have led an experienced NMSA group to new heights in their final club season (7-2-3, 24 points).