Scout’s View: 10 Class of 2025 Standouts from the ECNL Girls Florida National Event

The ECNL Girls Florida National Event opened the New Year with a major opportunity for youth players looking to boost their college recruiting efforts, with 230 of the nation’s top teams playing in front of hundreds of college coaches.

Featuring teams across the U16-U18/19 age groups, ECNL Florida showcased players in several key recruiting classes, including perhaps most notably the Class of 2025. Longtime scout Jerry Penkala, owner and operator of JTF Academy, a well-known recruiting management service, provided SoccerWire with a rundown of 10 players from the Class of 2025 who stood out the most during his time watching the action in Florida.

Continue reading for a look at Penkala’s top Class of 2025 standouts. To view more top performers from ECNL Florida across all age groups, check out SoccerWire’s ‘Players That Impressed‘.

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Kit Ovsievsky – Outside Back
NC Courage Academy ’07 – Jersey #22

Kit’s versatility to play both left and right back, plus her offensive mindset to get forward at the exact right times on either side, plus being able to service the ball with her left or right foot in the final third, and work rate to get back and never leave her back line exposed, made her one of the best outside backs during the weekend.

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Colette Whitsitt – Goalkeeper
Sting Dallas ’07 – Jersey #1

Colette was easily most impactful and overall talented 2025 keeper that I saw at the showcase. The athletic, fearless, tough outstanding shot blocker type keeper that can jump out of gym vs 6’1 type keeper, Colette made difficult saves look routine all weekend, controlled her entire 18 and always had her back line aware of any threat with great important communication.

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Haylee Martin – Center Back
Florida Elite ’07 – Jersey #14

A tall, athletic, tough and smart center back – Haylee controlled the back line completely, completed almost every pass out of the back and was always there supporting her 3 teammates on their back line. Great footwork and foot speed for a tall defender and impossible to get around 1v1.

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Emma McMurry – Right Back
Jacksonville FC ’07 – Jersey #24

Emma was the best 1v1 defender that I saw all weekend. A complete compact strong extremely quick athlete with outstanding natural instincts on when to step in for the tackle – no player got by her during multiple viewings. She also had a toughness and competitiveness unmatched all showcase long.

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Auden Stauffer – Forward
Midwest United FC ’07 – Jersey #19

Each time Auden was seen, she was causing havoc in the final third and being one of the most dangerous forwards in Florida. Her defensive work rate harassing the back line was outstanding and her off-ball movement and high soccer IQ was immediately noticeable.

Katherine Endler – Defender
Portland Thorns Academy – Jersey #33

On a loaded Thorns team, Katherine stood out as the best defender on this squad. Tough, clean mean streak, extremely competitive with great technical 1v1 ability, she shut down the entire side of the field has was on.

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Leah Bolson – Left Winger/Left Back
World Class FC ’07 – Jersey #17

Leah was the fastest player in open space that I watched the entire showcase, as well as one of the smoothest players on the ball. Her versatility was immediately obvious as she played left wing as well as left outside back at the same exact high level, and was actually a right footed player but could whip services into the 18 with her left or cut the ball back on her right and hit a rocket on goal. As what looked like a natural offensive player, she played tough, fundamentally sound 1v1 defense as well.

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Riley Simpson – Holding Mid
Liverpool IA Michigan – Jersey #22

Probably a bit overlooked 2025, Riley was one of the most athletic, toughest and strongest center midfielders seen all weekend. She could shut down any offensive player then switch immediately to become an offensive threat and back to defending quickly and smoothly.