Players That Impressed: Girls Academy 2022 National Finals

The Girls Academy’s 2021-2022 season came to an exciting finish as the GA National Finals concluded on Sunday in Missouri.

Four teams across the U14-U17 age groups captured national titles, as they joined Colorado Rush (U13) and FC Bay Area Surf (U19) as GA champions. Nationals SC (U14), TSJ FC Virginia (U15), ALBION SC San Diego (U16) and Oakwood SC (U17) took top honors in their respective divisions.

SoccerWire is currently seeking Players That Impressed nominations from the GA National Finals, across the U14-U17 age groups. 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 top performances from the GA National Finals.

Class of 2027

Lily Jeakle | Forward
Nationals SC U14 (MI)

Jeakle’s unique combination of scoring and passing were on full display during the national final match. She laced an absolute rocket from 20+ yards out to put Nationals up 1-0 early in the first half. Later, with the score 2-1, she drove into the teeth of the Tophat defense, beating 4 defenders and drawing in the goalie before dishing off to her running mate Micayla Johnson, who slotted it away from the six. 2008 Nationals GA Blue captured the national title with a score of 4-2 and Jeakle was named the Golden Ball winner as the MVP.

Hey @espn @SportsCenter you may not find a better goal to win a National Championship than this one from @NationalsGA 's 13-year-old star Lily Jeakle

Take a look…#SCTop10 @GAcademyLeague @CoachGallimore @TheSoccerWire @veocamera @TopDrawerSoccer pic.twitter.com/UNMKO69AuO

— David Robertson (@CoachDR7) July 11, 2022

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Hope Pierfelice | Goalkeeper
Nationals SC U14 (MI)

Continued her steady play between the posts en route to the U14 Golden Glove Award, as she and the Nationals back line managed to limit IMG Academy and Tophat to a total of 3 goals at the GA National Finals.

Class of 2026

Micayla Johnson | Forward
Nationals SC U14 (MI)

Played a big role in Nationals’ national championship run, as she was honored as the U14 Golden Boot winner. Johnson and Lily Jeakle were simply too much for opponents to handle, as they powered Nationals to a 7-1 win over IMG Academy in the semifinals and a 4-2 win in the final against Tophat.

Class of 2025

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Bree Bridges | Defender
TSJ FC Virginia U15 (VA)

Garnered U15 MVP honors as an integral member of the TSJ FC Virginia defense which came through with two straight clean sheets against elite level opponents in the national semifinals and finals. Bridges and her teammates held both Lou Fusz SC and NEFC off the scoreboard during a pair of hard-fought 1-0 wins.

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Mya Townes | Forward
TSJ FC Virginia U15 (VA)

Secured the U15 Golden Boot Award after she continued her red-hot scoring pace in the GA National Finals, following a strong performance at the GA Summer Playoffs. Townes provided clutch scoring throughout the postseason for national champion TSJ FC Virginia, culminating with the game-winner in the title match.

One time for the @GAcademyLeague National Championship!! So excited to finish this U15 season in a big way!! Congrats to not only the team but the club!! @lil_lubic with the killer assist and goal in the semis!! @TSJ_FCVirginia @bobbypup #DoneNow pic.twitter.com/uEOEIyYO67

— Mya Townes (@MyaTownes23) July 10, 2022

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Lilli Lubic  | Midfielder
TSJ FC Virginia U15 (VA)

Netted the game-winning goal in the GA semifinals and provided the assist to Mya Townes on the only goal of the match in the final, vaulting TSJ FC Virginia to the national title.

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Ashley Puerta | Midfielder
ALBION SC San Diego U16 (CA)

Dynamic two-way player who helped lead ALBION SC to a national championship, finishing the season with a perfect league record. Puerta was named U16 MVP after starring in ALBION’s 3-1 win semifinal over Lonestar and their 2-0 victory against South Shore Select for the GA title.

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Kailey Carlen | Goalkeeper
ALBION SC San Diego U16 (CA)

Worked with the ALBION back line to only concede one total goal over the course of their two victories at the GA National Finals, culminating with a clean sheet performance to win it all against South Shore Select.

Class of 2024

Kaela Martinez | Midfielder
ALBION SC San Diego U16 (CA)

Major piece of the ALBION SC San Diego attack which managed to defeat both of their opponents at the GA National Finals by multiple goals. Martinez received the U16 Golden Boot Award after leading her side to a 3-1 win over Lonestar and a 2-0 defeat of South Shore Select in the national championship match.

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Aubrey Kulpa | Forward
Oakwood SC U17 (CT)

In a loaded U17 division where goals were extremely hard to come by, Kulpa came through in the clutch to help Oakwood SC narrowly defeat Lonestar SC in the semifinals, and she netted the only goal of the match in the final against Florida United.

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Kara Harris | Midfielder
Lonestar SC U17 (TX)

Combined with her teammate Tyler Coker to lead the Lonestar offense as they earned co-honors for the Golden Boot Award in the U17 age group. Despite a 2-1 loss in the semifinals, Lonestar exploded for 6 goals in the third place match.

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Anna Sikorski | Midfielder
SC Wave U17 (WI)

Matched a pair of Lonestar SC counterparts for a three-way tied for the Golden Boot Award in the U17 age group. Sikorski and SC Wave went toe-to-toe with a high-powered Lonestar attack during an entertaining third place game which saw 10 total goals scored between the two sides.

Class of 2023

Kaitlyn Dedame | Goalkeeper
Oakwood SC U17 (CT)

During Oakwood’s remarkable national title run, Dedame and the back line held some of the nation’s best competition to bare minimum production. They held Lonestar SC to a single goal in the semifinal before shutting out a potent Florida United attack in the final.

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Tyler Coker | Forward
Lonestar SC U17 (TX)

Combined with her teammate Kara Harris to lead the Lonestar offense as they earned co-honors for the Golden Boot Award in the U17 age group. Despite a 2-1 loss in the semifinals, Lonestar exploded for 6 goals in the third place match.

?GOLDEN BOOTS?

Congrats to the 2021-22 GA Finals Golden Boot winners!

⚽U17 – Kara Harris (@lonestarsc)
⚽U17 – Tyler Coker (@lonestarsc) pic.twitter.com/XxPqbqJ6Lr

— Girls Academy (@GAcademyLeague) July 11, 2022