Players That Impressed: 2023 Jefferson Cup Girls Showcase

The 2023 Jefferson Cup Girls Showcase Weekend was held March 24-26 in Richmond, Va., featuring many of the best teams in the country.

More than 300 college coaches attended the event hosted by the Richmond Strikers, which has been one of the nation’s top-ranked youth soccer tournaments for over four decades. To read SoccerWire’s recap of the tournament, click here.

SoccerWire is currently seeking Players That Impressed nominations from the competition. Coaches, parents and athletes are invited to submit nominations for up to two (2) players per team, highlighting standout performances from the event.

[Submit Your ‘Players That Impressed’]

See below for a listing of some of the top girls performances from the showcase, sorted by high school graduation year.

Class of 2026

Hailey Trzaska | Goalkeeper
Cleveland Force 07 ECNL (OH)

Had a busy weekend between the posts, making multiple key saves in her side’s 2-0 win over NC Courage and their 0-0 draw with Match Fit Academy. She possesses excellent field vision and can hit targets from long distances with her passes out of the back.

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Charlotte Bryan | Forward
Southern Maryland Rush 08 Kraken (MD)

In three games at Jefferson Cup, Ryan tallied 3 goals and 2 assists. In Game 1 vs Penn Fusion ECNL RL, she had a brace. In Game 2, she scored on a free kick against VSA ECNL RL and had a beautiful assist for the second goal. In Game 3, just seconds after returning to the game she gave a great through-ball for her teammate Ryann Harris to take the lead against the Richmond Strikers ECNL Rl.

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Brooke Jones | Defender
SJEB FC 2007 (NJ)

Freshman Brooke Jones helped her team secure draws in their first two games with shutdown defense and quick offensive transitions, maintaining possession and playing out of the back. She anchored a strong defensive line with constant communication with her teammates.

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Hannah Dowd | Defender
Cape Coral Cyclones 07 Black (FL)

Captained a defense that only conceded one goal all tournament while she was on the field. She was a rock in the back and constantly stepped in to prevent opponents from creating any form of attack.

Class of 2025

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Larissa Eaton | Defender / Midfielder
Cleveland Force 07 ECNL (OH)

The Force were one of the top defensive sides over the weekend in the U16 Championship Division, earning two clean sheets. Eaton played a huge role in that effort, organizing the defense and making key challenges to deny goal-scoring opportunities. The captain had perhaps her best game against Match Fit Academy, where she led the backline’s effort in keeping the high-scoring side at bay.

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Lola Wojciechowski | Midfielder / Forward
Match Fit Academy 07 ECNL (NJ)

Match Fit is a very technical side and attacking plays with precise diagonal passes to the outside. Wojciechowski was the centerpiece of this strategy against Cleveland and very nearly broke through their defense on a couple of occasions. She was also superb at stopping any momentum that Cleveland had on the attacking end, making key defensive stops throughout the match.

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Y-Lan Nguyen | Midfielder
Virginia Development Academy 06 ECNL (VA)

Nguyen was a key cog in VDA’s lone goal in their 1-0 win over FC Revolution. While her corner kick, a high curling effort, was on point into delivering the go-ahead goal it was her run on the counter-attack in the play that really made the difference. She added a goal of her own on Sunday, breaking through the Bethesda SC defense to put her side up 1-0. Nguyen has been a mainstay as of late for the U.S. U-16 Women’s Youth National Team.

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Krystina Wolf | Goalkeeper
STA Soccer 06 Girls Academy (NJ)

Wolf earned her clean sheet in STA’s 4-0 win over Maryland United the hard way, making multiple diving saves throughout the match. Despite the pressure, she showed remarkable resilience and helped lead the counter-attack with her booming punts and throws to the outside. Her fingertip diving save in the 68th minute showed off her athleticism as well, parrying the shot wide.

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Tamia Nelson | Forward / Midfielder
Virginia Union FC 07 ECNL (VA)

Although she can also play forward, Nelson had a standout performance in the midfield this weekend serving as the catalyst of the Union attack. Her passes to the outside gave DELCO real troubles and she linked up well with both Panicker and Helfrich up top. Also, her no-look heel flick in the 42nd minute may win the award for best play of the weekend.

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Meredith Fisher | Goalkeeper
Virginia Union FC 07 ECNL (VA)

Put in three stellar performances over the weekend, working with her back line to secure three clean sheets and push their side to the top of the U17 Championship bracket. While she is a gifted athlete, it is the intangibles and leadership that she brings to the table that make her standout. Against three difficult attacking sides, she kept her backline composed and highly organized, constantly communicating with her teammates on markings and positioning.

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Ashley Ahn | Defender
Bethesda SC 06 ECNL (MD)

Under considerable pressure all weekend, Ahn thrived leading the Bethesda defense to two clean sheets. She has a real knack for understanding when to pick up the pace and when to slow down to allow her teammates to organize. She also possesses a fantastic first touch, which she used on multiple occasions against VDA to jumpstart the counter-attack.

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Jaylen Vallecillo | Forward
East Meadow SC 06 ECNL (NY)

East Meadow had a strong performance in the Elite Division thanks in large part to the talisman forward Vallecillo. The Honduran U17 Youth International scored two major goals in their first two matches at this weekend’s showcase and was comfortable at both creating her own shot and serving as a holding forward. EMSC plays a very open style where multiple players can be used as an attacking threat. It is a difficult style to play in youth soccer but EMSC pulls it off superbly.

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Avrie Nelsen | Forward
SUSA 07 ECNL (NY)

Nelsen was a constant threat all weekend for SUSA, highlighted by her brace in SUSA’s 5-1 win over CSA Dynamite. She pace and speed constantly force defenders out of position and open up space for her teammates to exploit. She works well with Kaylin Mallon, who added a goal in the Dynamite match, forming a solid 1-2 combination up top.

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Maddie Smith | Forward
SJEB FC 07 Girls Academy (NJ)

Netted goals vs. Maryland United 2007 ECNL and Loudoun 2007 ECNL and was a consistent offensive threat, creating chances for her teammates and herself over the course of the weekend. Using her speed, attacking moves, and creativity, Smith kept the opposing defenses on their toes.

Thanks to all of the coaches who came out to watch our @SJEBFC 2007 @GAcademyLeague team play to a 1-1 draw vs. a good @MarylandUnited 2007 @ECNLgirls team at @jeffersoncup. My goal from the game is below…? you tomorrow @ImYouthSoccer @MattRalph_ @BrotherlyGame @JREskilson pic.twitter.com/pEvvSWjeB8

— Maddie Smith (@MaddieSmith2025) March 24, 2023

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Danielle Hennessy | Midfielder
SJEB FC 07 Girls Academy (NJ)

Used her speed, technical and tactical ability to help her team offensively and defensively with 1-1 draws against both talented teams. Playing multiple positions, she is consistently creating offensive opportunities for her team. Her speed enabled many strategic defensive plays shutting down the opposing team at critical runs to goal.

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Brooke Voorhees | Midfielder 
Space Coast United U16 (FL)

Playing all 240 minutes of the tournament, Brooke controlled the midfield. She created multiple goal scoring opportunities for her teammates, assisted on 2 goals, put 1 in the back of the net early in the second game, played solid defense and helped her team to a 2-1 record for the tournament.

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Jael-Marie Guy | Forward
World Class FC 2007 ECNL (NY)

World Class FC was undefeated this weekend in the Championship Division. Guy shined in the game against Maryland United and was a driving force in the offense. She scored the first goal after receiving a pass on the outside which she brought in near the upper the corner of the box and smashed a stellar upper 90 shot. She went on in the second half to beat a player 1v1 with a nutmeg to make a beautiful cross into the box where her teammate was easily able to get a strong head on the ball and score.

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Helena Kaczmarczyk | Goalkeeper
World Class FC 2007 ECNL (NY)

Kaczmarczyk had shutouts for all three World Class FC matches this weekend in the Championship Division. In Friday’s game against Loudoun SC, she was an impermeable force, flawlessly defending 1v1s and prevented all attempts by Loudoun to get on the scoreboard. Throughout the game she was able to distribute the ball to assist the offense and create opportunities to move the ball forward.

Class of 2024

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Lexi Dendis | Defender
STA Soccer 06 Girls Academy (NJ)

A key cog in STA’s defense, Dendis used her quickness to open up space on the outside and force the opposition to track back. She also showed her knack for finding the back of the net, knocking in a cracking strike from distance in the final minutes in her side’s 4-0 win over Maryland United.

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Samantha Hines-Hirsch | Goalkeeper
East Meadow SC 06 Crew ECNL (NY)

Played three solid matches as East Meadow finished at the top of their bracket with three wins including a clean sheet against Arlington SA 2006 ECNL. Hines-Hirsch was able to maintain a 1.00 Goals Against Average.

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Taylor Arch | Midfielder
Cape Coral Cyclones 06 Black (FL)

Constantly anticipating opponents’ moves to force turnovers and go on the counter attack. She took over the game in the 6-spot and kept constant pressure, as her 1v1 tackling and winning possession was fantastic. She shut down everything that came her way, recording at least 4 steals in every game.