Players to Watch: Girls Academy 2024 Spring Showcase

The Girls Academy National Events calendar continues with the GA Spring Showcase from April 18-22 at the Bryan Park Soccer Complex in Browns Summit, North Carolina. (College Coaches)

The GA Spring Showcase will feature U15-U19 teams from across the league playing non-conference opponents. To view the schedule, click here.

Ahead of the weekend’s action, here are some players to know from this year’s event. Players are listed according to their graduation year.

You can also nominate a player who has stood out this season that will be attending the event through the following link. Players attending the Showcase portion of the event can also be nominated.

2027

Julia Ivanova | Goalkeeper
IMG Academy 09 (FL)

Earned the clean sheet against a tough Palm Beach Kicks team last weekend, making multiple saves to help earn the 1-0 win. In league play this season, Ivanova’s acrobatic efforts have helped IMG earn seven shutouts and push them into the top five of the Southeast conference. At 5’10” Ivanova can knock down high crosses and dangerous headers to halt goal scoring opportunities.

———————

Camryn Woods | Forward
Century United 09 (PA)

After featuring for the ODP National Team down in Costa Rica, Woods has come back to GA play and made an immediate impact for Century. In back-to-back victories over Baltimore Armour and Baltimore Celtic, Woods scored twice including a game-winner giving United an attacking spark during critical junctures of the match. While featuring primarily as a forward, she also excelled in the midfield this season allowing her to grow as a player and a leader. She has participated in the GA National Talent ID event as well as multiple USYNT Talent ID Centers and a previous U14 USYNT East ID Camp.

———————

Preslie Houp | Defender
Lexington Sporting Club 09 (KY)

Provides a physical presence along the backline for Lexington, using her strength and expert marking abilities to cut off attackers and stop goal-scoring opportunities. Houp can scan the field and assess when the perfect time is to disrupt a possession sequence, a skill that is difficult for defenders to develop. She has previously participated in a USYNT ID Camp as well as the Kentucky and Midwest ODP Camps.

———————

Gabrielle Waite | Midfielder
New York Rush 09 (NY)

A two-way player for Rush, Waite is integral to the team’s efforts in moving the ball through the midfield and building possession out of the back. On the defense, she impedes opponent’s attacking ambitions by making timely interceptions and providing consistent pressure. Her touches and patience on the ball are a testament to her futsal skills and being a member of Beestra and the US Futsal Select National team player pool (she also participated US Futsal U16 All-Star Game). At the high school level, Waite made the varsity roster for South Colonie Central High School as a freshman, scoring five goals and tallying three assists.

———————

Elyssa Hernandez | Midfielder
Santa Clara Sporting 08 (CA)

Recently debuting with the U17 El Salvador National Team, Elyssa Sporting’s captain and starting center-back is acclaimed for her exceptional vision and precise passing, pivotal in shaping her team’s tactics. Her composed demeanor on the field acts as a stabilizing force for her teammates, crucial for her leadership role. At the CONCACAF Championships, Hernandez displayed her defensive mastery, creating pressure situations that led to scoring chances, enhancing her reputation as a dependable and strategic player.

2026

Sadie Shapiro | Forward-Midfielder
Cedar Stars Academy Bergen 08 (NJ)

Possesses excellent field vision and can time her runs towards goal so that she gives herself the best opportunity to score on any play. Whether playing in the midfield or at top, Shapiro can break through defenses with her blistering speed and tight, consistent ball control. She headed home a key goal in their 2-0 win over Long Island SC last month in Northeast Conference play.

Here's my rebound header goal 🤯 from our 2-0 win vs @LISoccerClub in yesterday's @GAcademyLeague
game. @ImCollegeSoccer @ImYouthSoccer @TheSoccerWire @PrepSoccer @TopDrawerSoccer @travismclark @JREskilson @mattsmithsoccer @SeanMaslin pic.twitter.com/gQQ8nyxADT

— Sadie Shapiro (2026) (@SadieShapiro26) March 11, 2024

———————

Hayden Goldstein | Center Back
City SC 07 (CA)

Anchors a City defense that are coming off of back-to-back shutout victories over FC Tucson (2-0) and SDSC Surf (6-0). Working out of the center back position, Goldstein is effective at getting her team out of jams deep in their defensive third. Goldstein can also slot into the midfield and at either position she helps maintain City’s shape and can build long, sustained possessions out of the back.

———————

Gabby McCuistion | Midfielder-Forward
HTX Soccer 08 (TX)

Sliding in at either the midfield or forward positions, McCuistion is a difference-maker in HTX’s attacking ambitions. Using her strong right foot, McCuistion can weave through defenses with simple, quick touches and then either hammer a highly-accurate shot or lay off and find an open teammate. With Tomball High School, she led the team to a Texas Regional Semifinal appearance.

Highlight from yesterday’s Rd 3️⃣ team Victory!! Great ball from @karlygershon!!! 🔥🔥 @ImYouthSoccer pic.twitter.com/4bABz1WDUp

— Gabby (2026) (@gabbymccuistion) April 3, 2024

———————

Brooke Langlois | Midfielder
Seacoast United 07 (NH)

After earning Division 1 All-State First Team honors for Timberline High School last fall, Langlois has followed up her strong school campaign with an equally impressive effort for Seacoast. Thanks to her quick passing and darting diagonal runs towards goal, she earned an assist in their 3-1 win last month over Rochester NY. Langlois is a two-time ODP Northern NE Select team member and is the club’s GA Representative.

———————

Ava Lee Pomper | Midfielder
Nationals 08 Gray (MI)

Scored two goals in friendlies for Nationals 07 and 08s against St. Clair College last weekend, earning victories for both age groups. In open space, Pomper can turn on the burners and break through defenses. She can use her left foot to hit shots with both speed and pace, giving goalkeepers nightmares and making her difficult to break down.

———————

Olivia Kaiser | Midfielder
Lou Fusz Athletic 08 (MO)

Captained Lou Fusz to an undefeated record in Frontier Conference play (17-0-1, 52 points) this season. Kaiser is a jack of all trades in the midfield for LFA, leading the attack with crisp passing and diagonal runs while also winning defensive battles and making interceptions. In the Champions Cup, she helped the team earning third place by assisting on one of their goals in their 2-1 win.

———————

Shayleigh Masters | Goalkeeper
Broomfield SC 07 (CO)

Guest playing for Broomfield this weekend, Masters will be looking to make an immediate impression in the Girls Academy. For her current club, Colorado Rapids 08 she has had a strong season including holding a high-scoring team Real Colorado to just one goal last month. Masters has participated in multiple ODP camps throughout her youth career, a testament her strong defensive work and ability to make quick decisions during difficult portions of the match.

Another batch of hi lights from @CORAPIDS08GECNL v @RealColoSoccer @ColoradoRapids @RapidsYouthClub @ImYouthSoccer @ImCollegeSoccer @TopDrawerSoccer @TheSoccerWire @PrepSoccer @ECNLgirls #ecnl #womensoccer @usynt #ynt #soccer #ncaa #recruit #college pic.twitter.com/DZUqN17DZR

— Shay Masters (@shayGK2026) March 31, 2024

———————

Olivia Stark | Forward
Albion Las Vegas 08 (NV)

Possessing a thunderous left foot, Stark has dominated on the attack this season for Albion. She was recently selected to participate in the ODP Regional Select Team in the United Kingdom where she scored three goals in three games against Manchester United, Everton FC, and Wigan. At the ODP Interregionals she led the West team in scoring continuing her strong run of form for all teams this season. In addition to her club exploits, she also earned Nevada 5A All-State First Team, All-League, and All-State Academic Team honors for Faith Lutheran.

———————

Jailynn Gagnon-Avant | Defender
Seacoast United 08 (NH)

Having earned three shutouts in their last four games, Seacoast’s 08s led by Gagnon-Avant are one of the top defensive teams in the Northeast 08 Conference. Thanks to her precision tackling and key clearances, United have a .67 Goals Against average, which is third lowest in their conference. She will be joining the Brewster Academy this fall, which is one of the top high school programs in the Northeast and has won six New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) championships since 2000.

———————

Natalia Lombardi | Forward
Cedar Stars Academy-Bergen 08 (NJ)

Lombardi possesses the right amount of speed, strength, and height that makes her highly difficult to break down on the attack. A pass-first forward, she can pick out teammates on either wing and force defenders to get out of position and open up play. In terms of her shot selection, she can frame her chances to give her the best chance of beating the goalkeeping, as evidenced by the bullet she hit against Long Island SC.

Right place, right time for my top shelf that gives CSA 08 GA the 2-0 win over LISC! @GAcademyLeague @TopDrawerSoccer @ImCollegeSoccer @PrepSoccer @TheSoccerWire pic.twitter.com/pwm3d7Nsxe

— Natalia Lombardi 2026 (@nlombardi2026) March 12, 2024

———————

Ava Mason | Defender
Cedar Stars Academy-Monmouth 07 (NJ)

Entering her first GA National Showcase, Mason will play a pivotal role in the Cedar Stars defense. She can play multiple positions along the defensive line and is comfortable with the ball at either foot, giving her coaching staff options depending upon the opponent. Her superior field vision allows for her to pick out teammates throughout the pitch and spread out possession. In addition to playing for Monmouth, Mason is a two-time New Jersey State Champion with Rutgers Prep.

———————

Chloe Bunton | Midfielder
Louisiana TDP Elite 08 (LA)

Bunton is coming off of a successful season with Benjamin Franklin where she was a runner-up in the State Championship and earned First Team All-State and All-Metro New Orleans honors. A tenacious midfielder, Bunton will chase down any pass and is always looking for the small openings inside of defenses to exploit. She was just invited to participate in the 2024 GA Frontier Talent ID event in February and has been selected to ODP camps between 2021 and 2023.

———————

Mikayla Mangano | Forward
Real JFC 08 (NJ)

Entering her first Girls Academy season, Mangano has excelled across the youth soccer landscape having previously played in the USYS National League and PRO. At the high school level, she had a strong sophomore season at Palmyra scoring 15 goals and tallying 3 assists in ten games with her season cut short due to injuries . As a freshman, she scored 15 goals and added 10 assists and helped the team make the state semifinals.

———————

Libba Daniel | Goalkeeper
LA TDP Elite 07 (LA)

After an impressive high school soccer season that ended with a Division 1 State Championship win, Daniel is coming into spring club season having just received First Team All-State, All-Metro, All-Parish, First Team Division 1 All-District and Team MVP honors. As the starting goalkeeper, the sophomore provided lockdown service in goal, allowing just eight goals in thirty games. For her club, she is just coming back from GA Frontier Conference ID event.

———————

Jasmine White | Forward
Tophat Navy 07 (GA)

A standout high school player, White has scored 35 goals and provided 10 assists through her first two seasons with Ola High. She comes into GA play with Top Hat in scoring form, having just netted a brace for Ola in their regular season finale, a 4-1 win. In addition to her exploits on the pitch, White is also an ace in track and field having earned All-Region honors her freshman years.

2025

Audrey Palmer | Midfielder-Forward
Oakwood Soccer Club 07 (CT)

Scored a critical goal in Oakwood’s 3-1 win over Long Island SC, giving them their second consecutive win in Northeast Conference action. Off of the ball, Palmer can make the small cuts needed to get past defenders and cause damage inside of an opponent’s defensive third. For Bacon Academy, Palmer is coming off of a fall season in which she helped the team earn a State Championship and her second All-State and All-Conference First Team honor.

———————

Lily Kiliski | Midfielder
New York Soccer Club 07 (NY)

Orchestrates a highly efficient NYSC midfield using her pinpoint passes and clever runs in open space and maintain control of the match. She also plays a pivotal role in slowing down opponents with her perfectly-timed interceptions and tackles. Kiliski is a leader both on and off of the pitch for NYSC, serving as a Team Representative in the GA and alongside her teammates having recently run a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospitals.

———————

Kara Hutchinson | Defender
West Florida Flames 07 (FL)

Anchors a Flames defense that has earned six shutouts in fourteen games this season. Thanks to Hutchinson’s disciplined work in the defense, West Florida have broken through a tough Southeast Conference to earn a 10-1-5 record on 35 points.

———————

Grace McCasland | Forward
Seacoast United 07 (CA)

The Binghamton verbal commit is coming off of a stellar high school season for Beekmantown, leading her team to a Sectional Championship and an appearance in the New York state tournament. For her efforts, she earned First Team All-Conference and New York All-State Team honors. She has continued with strong performances in the GA, using her speed and creative runs up top to give defenders nightmares.