Players To Watch: Girls Academy 2023-2024 Mid-America Conference

The Girls Academy 2023-2024 season is officially underway, with clubs from across the United States kicking off league play this fall.

To help preview the competition, SoccerWire will be providing Players To Watch from across all 10 Conferences in the U15-U19 age groups. You can check out our running archive on SoccerWire’s Girls Academy homepage.

For this edition, we will be focusing on the Mid-America Conference, which has teams in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky.

Players are listed according to their graduation year. To submit additional nominations for Players to Watch, click here.

2027

Lily Jeakle | Forward
Nationals SC 08 Blue (MI)

Earned Golden Boot honors in last season’s GA Playoffs for her standout performance for Michigan’s Nationals SC. In even the smallest of spaces, Jeakle can break through defenders and hit a shot on target with a variety of speeds. She has represented the U.S. Youth National Team at the U-15 level and played over the summer with Detroit City FC in the USL W League.

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Melania Seay | Forward
Cincinnati United Premier 09 (OH)

Scored four goals and tallied two assists for CUP in their run through the Champions Cup this season. Seay is a speedy forward that can immediately connect with a pass in open space and go directly towards goal. While her hammer of a left foot makes a dangerous inside the box, she also has superb vision and can pick out on an open teammate in space.

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Leah Nalichowski | Forward
Nationals SC 09 Blue (MI)

A polished center forward that can take on multiple defenders but also serve as a holding forward, Nalichowski is coming into her own with Nationals. Last season, she was one of the top goalscorers for the team in the U14 age group leading them to a GA Playoff spot. She is a multi-sport that excels in cross-country, basketball as well as soccer and will be looking to make an even deeper run in the playoffs this season.

2026

Maren Swan | Center Midfielder
Nationals SC 08 Blue (MI)

Positioned herself as one of the top center midfielders in her age group with a standout 2022-2023 campaign. Although she can shift to either the defensive midfield or the attacking midfield, Swan is master orchestrator in center midfield. Using her speed and pace to direct the flow of possession, she can control the tempo of the match with expert precision. Swan has previously been called to a U-15 USYNT ID Camp.

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Sloane May | Forward
Indy Premier SC 09 Blue (IN)

Led Indy Premier up top a spot in the GA Playoffs, after a strong regular season. May can create chances for her teammates both inside and outside of the eighteen yard box. She is also unafraid to take a crack at goal if the opportunity presents itself. The 2009 striker was called up last September to the U-15 USYNT camp in San Diego.

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Rylie Morse | Forward
Cincinnati United Premier 07 (OH)

Was an integral part of CUP 07’s run to the GA National Championship final, creating countless goal-scoring opportunities for her teammates to capitalize on. Morse has excellent field vision and can move into dangerous space in the attacking third with little pressure on her. Was part of the U-15 USWYNT training camp back in February.

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AvaLee Pomper | Midfielder
Nationals SC Gray 08 (MI)

A technically sound midfielder who led her team in goals last season, Pomper has been selected to multiple Talent ID Showcases while playing in the GA. She is a two-way player in the midfielder that can break up plays created by attackers while also creating chances for her teammates.

2025

Graduation: 2025

Mya Nugent

Midfielder

Minnesota Women

FC United Soccer Club

Girls Academy

A Swiss Army knife in the midfield, Nugent can play at the number six, eight, or ten positions and immediately make an impact. In last year’s playoffs, Nugent scored two goals and added two assists in Chicago’s two wins. Nugent has verbally committed to playing college soccer next season at the University of Minnesota.

Graduation: 2025

Jacqueline Keller

Goalkeeper

Minnesota Women

FC United Soccer Club

Girls Academy

After playing in the GA’s Mid-America Talent ID Event, she trained hard all summer and is ready for a successful fall U19 season. Jacqueline is decisive and unafraid, very explosive prior to diving, has great footwork and her overall shot stopping ability is excellent.

Olivia Bevilacqua | Midfielder
Nationals SC 07 Blue (MI)

Joining the Nationals GA Blue team after leading the Michigan Hawks 2007 ECNL in goals and assists in 2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023. Last season, she scored 10 goals and tallied 10 assists in 14 conference matches to help win the Midwest Conference. Played for the Puerto Rico U17 National Team at the 2023 CONCACAF Qualifiers and scored a second half hat trick in her first international appearance against the US Virgin Islands and played the entire 90 minutes in tough wins against Nicaragua and Honduras to help the team to a 3-0 record and secure qualification to the 2024 U17 CONCACAF Championship.

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Emeline McClenehan | Goalkeeper
FC United Soccer Club 07 (IL)

One of the top shot stoppers in the GA, she also possesses strong foot skills and distribution ability. Emeline led her team to the GA playoffs the past two seasons, reaching the quarterfinals in 2022.

2024

Graduation: 2024

Jaime Elias

Defender

Texas Tech Women

FC United Soccer Club

Girls Academy

Spearheaded the Chicago FC defense two wins during last year’s Girls Academy playoffs. Elias can track down attackers on the counter-attack with her precise, timely runs off of the ball and her professional, clean tackles. Elias has verbally committed to playing college soccer at Texas Tech in 2024.

Graduation: 2024

Amalia Villarreal

Forward Midfielder

Texas Longhorns Women

Solar Soccer Club

ECNL Girls

An immediate game-changer when she is on the field, Villarreal is one of the top forwards in her class heading into her senior season. The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup veteran uses her speed to break through defenses and has a clever first touch when creating a goal-scoring opportunity. In addition to playing for the Jaguars and the USWYNT, she also plays for Solar SC in the ECNL. She also spent this summer playing for Michigan Jaguars PRO in the United Women’s Soccer where she scored a hat trick in the semifinals and won the National Championship. Villarreal has verbally committed to playing college soccer in 2024 at Texas.

Graduation: 2024

Kyra Treanor

Defender

Brown Women

Sockers FC

Girls Academy

Anchored the Sockers defense that gritted out a strong 1-1 draw against RISE in the U17 GA Showcase last year. Treanor is a patient defender that will wait for the right moment to engage with an attacker to make a perfectly timed interception. She is also an asset on set pieces and crosses into the box, using her height to head down shots on target. Her versatility will be key as she will be joining an 05 contingent that won the U19 National Championship. She has verbally committed to playing college soccer in 2024 at Brown University.

Megan Murray | Forward
FC United Soccer Club 05/06 (IL)
Murray is a key player in FC United Soccer Club’s attacking play and excels at beating defenders with her speed on the run and with her quick movements and feints on 1v1 duels. She times her runs well when she sees spaces, ensuring that opponents have as little time as possible to react. Her crossing accuracy is a big strength for the winger as she led her team in assists. Murray is a U20 Philippine WNT pool player and has verbally committed to the University of Denver in 2024.