Players That Impressed: Girls Academy 2025 Champions Cup Finals and Showcase

The 2025 Girls Academy Champions Cup Finals took place from March 6-11, as over 300 college coaches lined the sidelines to watch the tournament at IMG Academy. (COLLEGE COACHES)

Winners were crowned across the U13-U19 age groups at the GA Champions Cup Finals, as City SC won the Overall Cup Championship. Georgia’s Tophat won both the U15 and U16 titles, as the only club to take home two first place trophies. Other champions included Cincinnati United Premier (U13), Lou Fusz SC (U14) and HTX Soccer (U19).

Below are some of the top players from the GA Champions Cup and Showcase event, sorted by graduation year. You can also nominate a player who stood out during the event through the following link.

2029

Ellie Lebe | Forward
Century United 10 (PA)

Lebe scored 3 goals for Century United’s 2010 squad over the course of their time in Florida, in which they won 3 out of 4 games. She came up big with the game-winning goal to lead Century over Spokane Shadow.

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Gabriella Socha | Defender
North Shore United 10 Blue (WI)

Socha consistently shut down the opposition as North Shore United 10 Blue went unbeaten at the event. She initiated multiple counter attacks, creating space for her team’s offense with her aggressive play out of the back. Defensively, her dependability and effort led to some huge stops in 1v1 situations to keep opponents of the scoreboard.

2028

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Sherlyn Palos | Midfielder 
City SC 09 (CA)

Sherlyn’s dribbling skills helped City SC to keep possession throughout the game against Lamorinda SC, culminating with her leading a counter-attack and assisting a goal to equalize at 3-3. She scored a PK goal to help her team secure the 3rd place medal with a calm, secure finish.

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McKay Gresik | Midfielder 
City SC 10 (CA)

Despite losing in the quarterfinal matchup, Gresik and her team went 3-1 and contributed to City SC’s Overall Club Championship. Gresik was a strong offensive and defensive force in the midfield, and scored a long goal to secure a big 1-0 win over Broomfield SC, carrying the momentum forward for a strong finish.

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Alice Dempsey | Midfielder / Forward
Lou Fusz SC 09 (MO)

Dempsey played a pivotal role for the Lou Fusz 09 squad during their solid run in the GA Champions Cup U16 division, coming up with some big assists, goals and penalty kicks. She was a catalyst on the attacking side in every game, making key passes to her teammates and finishing when called upon.

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Paxton Battaglia | Defender
Tophat 09 Gold (GA)

Battaglia is a 2028 player playing up on the U16 team. She’s a co-captain on a team that is 24-1-1 and has helped to provide clean sheets on 14 of the 24 wins, including a clean sheet in the Champions Cup Finals against the Michigan Jaguars, who were averaging 4 goals per game prior to playing Tophat.

Celebrating our @GAcademyLeague Championship! The best teammates and coach!! Thank you to all the college coaches that came. Many great teams with many great players! @TopDrawerSoccer @TheSoccerWire @PrepSoccer pic.twitter.com/N1ncdVcNor

— Paxton Battaglia (@PaxtonBattaglia) March 12, 2025

2027

Rory Chiles | Defender / Midfielder
Michigan Jaguars 2008 (MI)

Chiles was steadfast in the back all week at center back and defensive midfielder, tackling, winning 50/50 balls in the air, and breaking lines to start counter attacks. Rory’s ability to find teammates making runs with through balls was also on display. She consistently won balls in the air both in the midfield and also steering corners and free kicks out of trouble. Though her defensive prowess was impressive, she also won a battle for a corner and deposited the left-footed shot in the back of the net. In her most brilliant play of the week, she one-touched a ball (played to her at the top of the 18) flicking it over an oncoming center back to her striker, who put it in the net.

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Chloe Layfield | Forward
Tophat 09 Gold (GA)

Served as a critical piece of the Tophat offense during their run to the GA Champions Cup U16 title, scoring goals in big moments against some of the toughest defenses in the league. One of her best highlights came in the opening round when she finished a half-volley chip over the keeper. Layfield and the Tophat attacking unit were in-sync all week long, showing great chemistry.

🎥 Sharing some of my goals from our Champions Cup U16 Championship run 🏆

I’m grateful for every moment with my teammates, my coach, the Girls Academy, and TopHat—we push each other every day in practice, in training sessions, and it shows up in competition. 💛💙… pic.twitter.com/2foX8KU9Pd

— Chloe Layfield #10 (2027) (@chloesoccer09) March 13, 2025

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Rachel Tomley | Forward
Beadling SC 09 (PA)

Came up with the decisive goal in a hard-fought defensive battle against a strong FC United (IL) team on the final day of competition for Beadling SC 09. Tomley’s game-winner helped Beadling finish the event with an impressive 3-1-0 record in Florida (WATCH)

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Delaney Amato | Goalkeeper
Beadling SC 09 (PA)

Worked with the Beadling SC 09 back line to stymie opposing offenses throughout the tournament, conceding only 2 total goals over the course of 4 games. Amato and the Beadling defense secured a pair of clean sheets in the event, shutting out both Cincinnati United Premier and FC United (IL). She was sharp not only in the run of play, but came up with a big PK stop to help her team advance against Keystone FC

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Paloma Bernard | Midfielder / Forward
Tophat 08 Gold (GA)

Made a great impression on attending college coaches in the tournament opener for Tophat 08 Gold, netting a brace during a 3-0 victory over Michigan Jaguars.

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Mya Schroeder | Forward
North Shore United (WI)

Mya started off her first GA Champions Cup game with a hat trick against Colorado United. She ended the event with 5 goals, putting constant pressure on the opposition. Teams were forced to commit multiple defenders to her at all times, limiting both their own attack and opening up teammates with space. The striker with a high work rate, a dominant physical presence and big time top-end speed kept North Shore on the attack and dangerous at all times.

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Kinsey Genewich | Midfielder 
City SC 09 (CA)

Started every match, played every minute of 3 overtimes and scored the winning kicks in two matches decided by PKs. A complete No. 8, Genewich attacks like a No. 10 and makes defensive plays like a No. 6. She matched up against two USYNT players in the tournament, holding them to no goals or assists.

2026