Players To Watch: Girls Academy 2023-2024 Mid-Atlantic 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. For more GA coverage, check out our running archive on SoccerWire’s Girls Academy homepage.

For this edition, we will be focusing on the Mid-Atlantic Conference, which has teams in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

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

2027

Maya Engel | Defender
TSJ FC Virginia 08 (VA)

Anchored a TSJ defense that finished the GA National Playoffs last season with two strong wins over Renegades SC (2-1) and VSA Rush (4-0). Engel is one of the leaders in TSJ’s defensive third, constantly talking to her teammates on their positioning and how to prepare for counterattacks. She can also jump start the counter attack with long crosses to the outside or quick one-touch passes on the ground. Engel recently participated in the USYNT 08 Regional ID Camp in Richmond.

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Emerson Moore | Midfielder
Skyline Elite FC 07 (VA)

As a 2008, Moore plays up a year on Skyline’s 2007s and looks more than comfortable against older competition, pulling the strings in the midfield. With her superb vision, she is lethal on the dribble and can cover box-to-box. Last year she was invited to USYNT Talent ID Centers as well as the GA National Talent ID Showcase. The rising ninth grader looks to continue to make an impact for her club this season.

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Leah Raab | Midfielder
Skyline Elite FC 08 (VA)

A spark plug for Skyline’s 2008s last season, Raab led the front line in scoring. This season, she has dropped into the midfield as a playmaker, already racking up assists and goals in a tough preseason. Leah has a knack for finding space between the lines and unbalancing defenses.

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Alex Devory | Goalkeeper
Skyline Elite FC 08 (VA)

The tall, strong-handed goalkeeper has had one of the better shot-stopping and save percentages in the last few years. But it is her class distribution that sets her apart. Alex can pick out a teammate through a variety of passes and is a threat to set up attack.

2026

Daryn Barnes | Forward
Baltimore Celtic 07 (MD)

Led the Celtic SC attack to an appearance in the GA National Playoffs last season with crisp passing and precise shots on target. Barnes possesses break neck speed and can take on multiple defenders with relative ease. She has participated in the USYNT Regional ID Clinics in 2021 and 2022 and has played in the Maryland Olympic Development Program.

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Katy Haransky | Goalkeeper
TSJ FC Virginia 08 (VA)

Stifled defenses all last year for TSJ’s 08 team, allowing just eight goals in league play last year. Haransky possesses quick reflexes and can asses and execute a diving stop on even the most difficult of shots. She also has an excellent sense of timing, slowing down and speeding up the pace of the match depending upon the situation. A three-time USYNT ID Camp Call-Up, expect big things between the posts from her this season.

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Lily Stevens | Midfielder
TSJ FC Virginia 08 (VA)

A spark plug in the TSJ midfield, Stevens can take even the smallest amount of space to work with and turn it into a goal-scoring opportunity. Her passes into open space always seem to find her teammates at the right time and at the right place to create a shot at goal. She is also a major asset on set pieces, able to deliver accurate service in for her teammates.

Great goal @delainey_duggan!!! https://t.co/Z3A8fpnxS0

— Lily Stevens (@Lily_Stevens22) June 29, 2023

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Elsie Sullivan | Defender
Skyline Elite 07 (VA)

The anchor for one of the toughest defenses in the GA Mid-Atlantic Conference, Elise is a tackling machine and has the distribution skills of a center mid. She is also an asset on set pieces for Skyline’s 07s, scoring four goals and adding one assist in her last five games.

2025

Mikayla Gray | Defender
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 07 (PA)

Anchored one of the top defensive units in the GA units in the 2007 age group to an appearance in the National Playoffs. Gray can cover large swaths of space on the pitch with her speed and pinpoint diagonal runs at defenders. She is also unafraid of making a tackle in tight space, timing her defensive work to end attacking chances.

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Angelique Banks | Forward
Skyline Elite 07 (VA)

Broke through with Skyline last season, to become one of the top goalscorers in the GA in her age group. Her attacking prowess led Skyline to two big victories at the GA U16 Showcase where they outscored opponents 8-2. Banks can hit shots from a variety points inside of the eighteen yard box, but can also hit the narrow pass into dangerous space for her teammates to exploit.

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Taylor Maxwell | Defender
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 07 (PA)

Alongside Gray, Maxwell shut down Mid-Atlantic opponents all last year, using her tight-marking skills to limit shots on target. In one-on-one situations with attackers, she can either force the player to go wide or make the decisive stop to end the chance. Maxwell has verbally committed to playing college soccer in 2025 at Syracuse University.

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Maya Raghunandanan | Midfielder / Forward
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 07 (PA)

Slots in either the midfield or up top and immediately makes an impact for Philadelphia. Her dynamic first touch and blazing speed make her highly difficult for defenders to break down either in close or open space. The Jamaican U17 and U20 international can also hammer a shot from both long and short range.

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Mya Townes | Forward / Winger
TSJ FC Virginia 07 (VA)

Placed third with TSJ’s 07s in last year’s GA National Playoffs, using her scoring touch to lift her team up when they needed it the most. Her hat trick against TSJ’s Group B Finale helped punch their ticket into the quarterfinals. She also scored a critical goal in their second match, a 2-1 win over IMG Academy. Townes has verbally committed to playing college soccer in 2025 at the University of Georgia.

So exited to score this goal at the @GAcademyLeague National Playoffs to help my team to a 2-1 win over an amazing IMG team!! Can’t wait for more of these over the next few games!! GREAT TEAM WIN!! @TSJ_FCVirginia @bobbypup @tt7 @CCZ_FCV pic.twitter.com/0rQi6RSkbr

— Mya Townes (@MyaTownes23) June 23, 2023

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Maddy Murphy | Forward
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 07 (PA)

An old school back-to-goal center forward, Murphy can inflict damage on opponents in a multitude of ways up top. Last season, she used her speed, strength and physicality to bully defenses, setting up the potent Ukrainian attack during their second straight undefeated Mid-Atlantic season.

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Ava Skaggs| Midfielder
Baltimore Armour 07 (MD)

Serves as the field general for the Armour midfield, maintaining possession and controlling the pace of the match. She works wells with her center-backs to help organize defensive stands and build chances out of the back. At the high school level, she led Mount Hebron to a Maryland State 3A Finals appearance last season.

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Ally Mace| Midfielder
Baltimore Armour 07 (MD)

Led Armour in goals last season thanks in part to her superior vision and ability to find space in between defenders. Armour had a strong end to their 2022-2023 season, winning both of their matches in the U16 GA National Showcase, outscoring opponents 10-1. Mace will called upon to lead the attacking charge once again this season for Armour.

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Keagan Williams | Goalkeeper
Baltimore Armour 07 (MD)

On the other side of that impressive effort from Armour at last year’s Showcase was the stifling defensive work by their defense and goalkeeper Keagan Williams. She earned an impressive clean sheet in their opener, a 6-0 clean sheet over Silicon Valley SA.

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Maddie Smith | Forward
SJEB FC 07 (NJ)

Smith, who has verbally committed to play Division I soccer at USC-Upstate, uses her footwork, speed, and nose for goal to contribute to SJEB’s attack across all of the forward positions and in the midfield. Known for her attacking in one-on-one situations, Smith tallied 23 goals and seven assists during the 2022-2023 GA club season.

Awesome 4-2 win w/ @SJEBFC 07 GA at the @GAcademyLeague Showcase. Thanks to the 70+ coaches who’ve watched us play! I was happy to score 2 goals & get 1 assist to help us win! 6 goal contributions in 2 games so far this week! #GASummer @JREskilson @travismclark @ImYouthSoccer pic.twitter.com/cTAUtpNLP6

— Maddie Smith (@MaddieSmith2025) June 23, 2023

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Caroline Chao | Midfielder
Skyline Elite 07 (VA)

Spent last year playing on the 2006 team as a center-back, giving her seasoned experience that will immediately benefit the 2007s in the midfield this season. Her toughness and pace make her difficult for opponents to break down. As a defensive midfielder glides around the pitch and sets up her team for success while being a force in one-on-one defending.