Scout’s View: Class of 2028 Standouts from the Jefferson Cup Girls Showcase

The 2025 Jefferson Cup Girls Showcase recently took place in Richmond, VA featuring many of the best teams in the country. (RECAP)

The event, hosted by the Richmond Strikers, featured hundreds of college coaches from all levels of the game. The Jefferson Cup has been one of the nation’s top-ranked youth soccer tournaments for over four decades and features the top clubs from across the U.S. and beyond. (COLLEGE COACHES)

Longtime scout Jerry Penkala, owner and operator of JTF Academy, was on hand for the tournament, and compiled a list of some of the top players that he watched from the Class of 2028. To view standouts form the Class of 2027, click here.

See below for Penkala’s top Class of 2028 performers.

Valentina Huertas – Midfielder
Sunrise Surf 2009 ECNL RL – Jersey #27

Huertas is one of the most technically-advanced players at her age that I’ve seen in 20+ years. Despite not being as big as other players on the field, she never got knocked off the ball, and made it look extremely easy to beat some very good older defenders all weekend. She’s among the best ECNL RL players I’ve ever seen, and should be an impact offensive player at the next level.

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Abigail Gillette – Center Back
FC Prime 2009 ECNL – Jersey #3

Gillette was among the most athletic and fastest defenders I saw all weekend, regardless of graduation year. She was strong, poised and had outstanding 1v1 defensive instincts. She shut down the entire middle of field, especially in and near the 18. She was also tough and intimidating all game, and had a very good work rate and had outstanding closing speed when supporting one of her outside backs that got beat.

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Aubrey Hampson – Midfielder
Penn Fusion 2009 ECNL – Jersey #29

Great size and athleticism as a holding/attacking midfielder, and could play the #6, #8 and #10, all at a high level. Defensively, she shut down anyone near her, and offensively she connected passes, drove at players and beat them 1v1. She was both creative and impactful all game.

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Scarlett Shimko – Forward / Midfielder
Maryland United FC ECNL 2009 – Jersey #33

Scarlett was one of the highest-energy kids I saw all weekend. Her work rate was outstanding and she a major threat any time her team possessed the ball, anywhere 35 yards and out. She’s extremely comfortable on the ball, and has really quick feet and the ability to keep possession in tight spaces when being double-teamed. She also found the correct pass to a teammate if the defenders focused on her, and ripped a few outstanding shots if they sagged off her anywhere near the 18.

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Payton Galulski – Midfielder
Albany Alleycats ECNL RL 2009 – Jersey #2

Payton was a standout on this talented ECNL RL team, which I was not very familiar with. She was a terror to defenders and midfielders when she possessed and was extremely comfortable on the ball, as well as a single player nightmare when she high-pressed the back line and caused multiple turnovers from that pressure. She also had a rocket shot from both her right and left foot.

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Scarlett Lee – Holding Midfielder
Skyline Elite 2009 GA – Jersey #13

Playing up, this athletic, tough, smart lefty defender splits time between outside left back and holding midfielder. She played mostly in the midfield over the weekend. Scarlett had sneaky speed, and her off-ball movement was outstanding. She was a genuine link between the front and back defensive line, completing almost 100% of her passes. She also had the best free kick ability out of any 2028 I saw.

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Gracyn Coleman – Outside Back
NC Fusion 2009 ECNL – Jersey #28

I have seen this outstanding outside back (right or left) in past showcases, and she just seems to be developing the details of her game more and more, each time I see her. She immediately jumps off the field in terms of her athleticism, work rate and toughness, and has a competitive nature that I don’t think was equaled all weekend.

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Hannah Francis – Forward
VDA ECNL 2009 – Jersey #31

Hannah was the type of forward that if you were a club coach and were familiar with this talented VDA team and had to play them, you would literally not sleep the night before worried about this kid. She had a motor that never stopped, would pressure everyone near her when her team did not possess, causing havoc and creating turnovers. She has the ability to beat defenders with her control and speed alone, and when teams started adjusting to her straight line speed, she would still beat the defender when they eventually had to step to defend, because of her technical skills on the ball and patience.

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Riley Richards – Left Back
Triangle United GA 2009 – Jersey #20

Riley was athletic, tough in 1v1 situations, extremely competitive all game, got forward at the right times and had the work rate to get back and not leave her back line short handed. She also seemed like the ‘leader by effort’ type teammate that took every single moment on the field as a focused, team-first type of player. She has great fundamentals and a super high soccer IQ.

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Ava Hunter – Center Back
North Carolina FC Youth ECNL 2009 – Jersey #27

Another outstanding defender playing up on this team of mostly 2027s, Ava was clearly one of the most talented and impactful players on this strong NCFC Youth team. Great size and great speed when she was able to show it, and tough-as-nails as a central defender who is both intimidating and technically-skilled.

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Juliet Snyder – Winger
LVU Rush 2009 – Jersey #17

Another ECNL Regional League player that can easily start and be impactful at the ECNL National level for many clubs that I’ve watched. Juliet has outstanding speed and loves to use that speed to drive by players on the flank, but can also read the game and use give-and-gos or early crosses depending on what the field dictates to make an impact offensively.

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HONORABLE MENTIONS

– MCKINLEY METTS (NC Fusion 2009 – Right Back)
– GIA NOBLE (Penn Fusion 2009 – Center Back)
– JACKIE POHL (Scorpions SC 2009 – Defender / Midfielder)
– HAZEL KAPLAN (Triangle United 2009 – Midfielder / Forward)
– KYLA DENTON (NC Fusion 2009 – Center Back / Midfielder)
– KHLOE MONTINI (Penn Fusion 2009 – Forward)