Players To Watch: Girls Academy 2023-2024 Mountain West 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 Mountain West Conference, which has teams in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah.

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

2026

Ellyse DeBolt | Midfielder
Colorado Rush 08 (CO)

Provided a high-level of consistency and organization along the Rush backline all season, leading the side to an appearance in the GA National Playoffs Group Stage. DeBolt has an excellent sense of timing when making tackles and can track down attackers in open space, setting angles that limit the attackers ability to hit a shot on target. She was called up to the U-15 USWYNT camp last September.

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Ambry Plate | Midfielder
Colorado Rush 08 (CO)

Alongside DeBolt, Plate provided Rush last season with a tight and consistent spine which helped the side transition from a defensive posture to an attacking one. Plate can provide excellent service into the box for her attackers, either through her pacey low passes or her high crosses. She can also manage a game clock effectively, slowing down and speeding up the pace of the match when called upon.

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Isabelle Bramble | Goalkeeper
Utah Celtic FC 08 (UT)

Shepherded Celtic’s 08s to a Quarterfinal appearance in last year’s playoffs, including earning a clean sheet over NEFC in the Group Stage. In one-on-one situations with an attacker, Bramble takes tight angles that forces the opponent to either lay off and wait for reinforcements or take a wild shot. She represented the USYNT at the U15 level last September.

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Ryann Jensen | Forward
Wasatch SC 08 (UT)

Playing her inaugural season in the Girls Academy League last year, Ryann Jensen led her team with nine goals and two assists. Her hard work, perseverance and relentlessness make her an impact player. After attending the Mountain West Talent ID, she ended the season with a hat trick.

2025

Sydney Torres | Midfielder
Wasatch SC 07 (UT)

Wasatch placed second in their group in the GA National Playoffs thanks in large part to the midfield play of Torres, whose work on the counter-attack galvanized the team to a win over STA (2-1). A former USYS National League Best XI player, she showed few nerves in her first season in the GA last year and will be looking to improve upon Wasatch’s strong 2022-2023 season.

2024

Sophia Neves | Defender
Utah Celtic FC 06 (UT)

Led Celtic to an appearance in the GA Showcase, where they scored an impressive eight goals in just two matches. Neves was the catalyst for the Celtic attack, using her explosive speed to break through defenders and create chances for her teammates. She has verbally committed to playing college soccer next fall at Alabama.

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Riley MacDonald | Midfielder
Colorado Rush 06 (CO)

Lit the spark in the Rush midfield all season long, pushing the side to an appearance in the GA National Playoffs Quarterfinals. In the Group Stage, her dangerous balls into open space helped the team score eleven goals, which was the third highest among all U17 teams. She is also more than willing to take a crack at goal, as evidenced by her bicycle goal in last year’s Champions Cup. MacDonald has verbally committed to playing college soccer at LSU in 2024.

Day 4 at Champions League! Scored a bike off of Reese’s cross. @GAcademyLeague @ColoradoRush pic.twitter.com/bh7UndHxIH

— Riley MacDonald (@Rileymac6_) March 12, 2023

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Sophia Nickel | Outside Back
Colorado Rush 06 (CO)

Rush’s ace on the counter-attack, Nickel can make the deep runs on the outside that would open up space for her teammates to exploit. In addition to her speed on the outside, she possesses a strong foot that can deliver precise service into the box. Nickel has verbally committed to play college soccer in 2024 at Kansas.

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Kayla Kirchoffner | Goalkeeper
Broomfield Soccer Club 06 (CO)

A classic shotstopper, Kirchoffner makes even the most difficult of saves look easy with her strong footwork and acrobatic abilities. In last year’s GA Showcase, the 2006 goalkeeper limited two strong attacking teams in Sporting Athletic Club (3-1 win) and City SC (1-1) to just two goals. Kayla has verbally committed to playing college soccer next season at Arizona.