Players That Impressed: Jefferson Cup 2025 Girls Showcase
The 2025 Jefferson Cup Girls Showcase was held March 21-23 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 country. (COLLEGE COACHES)
Below are some of the top players from the Jefferson Cup Girls Showcase sorted by graduation year. You can also nominate a player who stood out during the event through the following link.
2029
Noelle Nelson | Forward
McLean Youth Soccer 2011 ECNL RL (VA)
Noelle played hard in each of McLean Youth Soccer 2011 ECNL RL’s three games, scoring in each contest at the Jefferson Cup. Thanks in large part to Nelson’s consistent scoring prowess, McLean was able to sweep their three opponents in the tournament.
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Juliana Malekzadeh | Forward
SYC Soccer 2010 GA (VA)
Juliana was a force to be reckoned with, scoring three goals and setting up a fourth goal with a through ball. She was active throughout every game, putting headers on goal and making many high-effort plays to create scoring chances for her squad.
2028
Swarmed the Penn Fusion backline throughout Saturday’s match, giving them little room to operate and build possession. While Newman clearly has a nose for goal, it is her work off of the ball that makes her such a dangerous player up top. She never gives up on a play and is constantly looking for any small gap to exploit in the attacking third. Newman is a leader in every sense of the word and gives her teammates a spark when they need it the most.
Provided a high level of consistency through the middle of the field for FFX, knowing exactly when to speed up play or slow things down and force opponents to chase. Her striking was also on display down in Richmond with the center midfielder scoring the game-winning goal against Bethesda SC ECNL 2010 on Saturday. Her efforts through the middle of the field helped propel FFX to an undefeated record at the Jefferson Cup and gives them a strong sense of where they stand heading into the high school season and the ECNL National Playoffs.
Hannah was able to contribute to her team’s success by not conceding any goals during her time of play, which led to 3 consecutive wins at the Jeff Cup. FC DELCO 2010 ECNL was the only team with 2 clean sheets in Bracket A of the U15 Showcase Division.
Riley brought a strong presence in the midfield, with her control of the ball and long range shots hitting the back of the net twice, she was a driving force to her team’s 3 consecutive wins in Bracket A of the U15 Showcase Division at Jeff Cup 2025.
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Mia Gutowski | Forward
Penn Fusion ECNL 2009 (PA)
Smashed a brace in the second half against Richmond United ECNL 2009 to earn the come-from-behind 3-2 victory. Even while facing multiple defenders Gutowski can give herself enough space to either hit a shot with pace and accuracy or lay off and find a teammate with a crisp pass.
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Lexi Daniels | Defender
New York Surf ECNL RL 2010 (NY)
Showcased her outstanding two-way abilities throughout the showcase, as she contributed to a pair of clean sheets on the defensive side while also scoring a pair of goals on the attacking end for New York Surf. The team captain and her mates on the back line were rock solid, limiting their opponents to very few shots on goal.
2027
Jordan Reigrod
Jordan Reigrod was strong in the net for PDA Blue’s game against Richmond United, handling more than a few 1v1 scenarios where she dove fearlessly at the feet of attackers and blocked close-range shots, recovering in time to dive again and block the rebound as well. In Sunday’s game against FC Prime, Reigrod played high off her line acting as an extra center back, ensuring the FC Prime’s long ball didn’t find its mark. She created space with her positioning and organization with her communication. Her distribution in both games generated offense and allowed PDA to advance the ball up the field quickly and efficiently.
Baruch had 1 goal and 2 assists for Triangle United GA 09. Arabelle was consistently pressuring defenders with her speed on both wings. Her ability to regain possession in the opposing team’s box contributed to the success of Triangle United, who were competing in their first Jeff Cup.
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Maya Engel | Defender
VDA 2008 ECNL (VA)
Engel and her teammates on the VDA back line stifled Oakwood SC’s attacking ambitions on Saturday in VDA’s 3-1 victory. Whether playing at the center back or outside back position, Engel times her track-backs perfectly to match opponents stride-for-stride and limit their opportunities in front of goal.
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Kate Crawford | Winger
NC Courage Academy 2008 ECNL (NC)
Provided the Courage with an attacking spark throughout the entire weekend using her close touches and speed to break past defenses. She is comfortable with the ball at either foot which makes her dangerous on the attack and a nightmare to mark.
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Ava Pascarella | Forward/Defender
Penn Fusion 2008 ECNL (PA)
Broke through the Courage defense throughout the second half providing multiple goal-scoring opportunities for Penn Fusion. In addition to her speed, she can hit crosses into the box with precision and pace. No matter the game situation Pascarella comes out ready to do whatever it takes to put her team in a spot to win.
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Leah Mendolia | Forward
East Meadow SC 2009 ECNL Courage (NY)
Knocked home the game-winning goal off of a pinpoint pass from Ashley Zeifman to give EMSC the 1-0 victory over Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth over NVA ECNL G09 on Friday. She followed up Friday’s performance with an equally impressive effort on Saturday, adding a goal and an assist to help the Courage knock off Cedar Stars Academy-Bergen 09G GA. Her timing and patience with the ball helps EMSC organize their attack and make the most out of any opportunity that they have at goal.
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Chloe Sarcia-Maxwell | Midfielder/Forward
NC Courage Academy 2008 ECNL (NC)
Finished off FC Hawaii with a cracking right-footed effort to give NC Courage the last minute 3-2 victory on Friday. The 2023-2024 Mid-Atlantic All-Conference team member is deadly inside of the eighteen yard box and can slice a shot through even the thickest of traffic.
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Caitlin Rouh | Forward
Sporting Athletic Club 09 Girls Academy (DE)
Caitlin was a nightmare for defenders all weekend, making run after run, serving as a catalyst for Sporting Athletic Club’s 2009 GA squad. She finished the weekend with 2 goals and 7 assists, helping Sporting finish at the top of their bracket.
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Alyssa Strausbaugh | Goalkeeper
Montverde Academy (FL)
Alyssa and her teammates went all three games of the showcase without conceding a goal. She had multiple big saves to help Montverde Academy preserve their unblemished record in Richmond.
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Savanna Biehler | Forward
WNY Flash 2008 E64 (NY)
Savanna led her team over the three-game weekend with 6 goals and 2 assists, scoring in every game. Her speed, finishing, and timing of runs was unparalleled, as opposing defenses simply had no answers for her.
2026
Buried a brace for Penn Fusion in their rematch against NC Courage, including a critical header late in the second half to put the match away. The Notre Dame verbal commit and USYNT member has a nose for goal and seems more than willing to do the work necessary to create space deep in the attacking third.
Holding it down between for the posts for Penn Fusion 2008 ECNL, Cantu held NC Courage Academy at bay with her suffocating defensive work. The Louisville verbal commit also showed her athletic prowess, fingertip save in the 21st minute on a difficult shot to retain the 1-0 advantage.
Smith had an excellent Jefferson Cup weekend, leading the NCFC ECNL girls to three wins and finishing at the top of their table. She collected points in each game over the weekend.
In Game 1, she smashed a left foot upper 90 shot to close the game 3-1. In Game 2, she had a great run into the box, dropping a perfect reverse diagonal assist to her teammate for the first goal in another 3-1 win. And in the final game, she scored the only goal in the 1-0 contest, cementing an undefeated weekend. Taking the deflection off a free kick wall, Smith drove it home with a right footed low strike through traffic off the post and in.
She will look to continue impacting games as she joins NCFC’s inaugural season in the WPSL this May.
Tori Gauch | Forward
Richmond United 2008 ECNL (VA)
Netted a brace in Richmond’s 2-0 victory over PDA Blue. In tight spaces the Middle Tennessee verbal commit always seems to find the right angle to exploit in a defense.
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Ava Landstra | Defensive Midfielder/ Center Back
Nationals SC 2008 ECNL (MI)
Alternated between both the defense and midfield seamlessly, using her strength and technical prowess to move possession up the field. Against FC DELCO Landstra quick decision making and poise under pressure helped her team build out of the back with minimal issues.
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Maeve Gayer | Goalkeeper
East Meadow SC 2008 Celtic (NY)
Secured a clean sheet for EMSC in the second half against Maryland United FC, making multiple diving stops down the stretch to secure the 0-0 draw. Her work with the defense was also on point, using what she was seeing on the field to help them make small tactical adjustments.
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Sonora Hale | Center Midfielder
Maryland United FC 2008 ECNL (MD)
Operating of the midfield Hale proved to be a thorn for EMSC applying constant pressure and giving them little room to build possession. The 2026 uncommitted junior out of Jackson-Reed High School was equally effective on the attacking end, hitting her teammates with passes at a variety of speeds.
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Emerson Clarke | Forward
Chattanooga Red Wolves 2008 (TN)
Finished off the Red Wolves time down in Richmond on Sunday by burying a brace in their 2-0 victory over PDA ECNL White Wildfire 2008. In tight spaces, Clarke can weave through defenders with minimal issues always giving herself enough time and space to create shots for herself or her teammates.
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Brooke Jones | Center Back
SJEB FC 06/07 Girls Academy (NJ)
Anchored a defensive core at center back throughout 3 wins with 2 clean sheets, while only conceding 1 total goal at the showcase. Jones’ shutdown defensive style is easily switched to offensive with her ability to scan and find her open teammates in the midfield, or by playing over the top to her strikers. She pushes pace but also knows when to hold and control.
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Savannah Parker | Forward
FC Stars ECNL RL 2008 Blue (MA)
Parker had 3 goals and an assist on Day 1 against Sporting Columbus, leading FC Stars ECNL 08 Blue to a 5-1 win. She added another assist on Day 3 against Markham SC, finishing off a strong weekend of showcase action in Virginia.
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Aida Evans | Midfielder
Florida Premier ECNL RL 2008 (FL)
Evans was a reliable and dynamic presence in THE midfield throughout the Jeff Cup. In her roles as attacking mid and left wing, Aida was a critical playmaker, connecting passes and breaking down defensive lines. She had an assist on Day 2 for Florida Premier against a strong Delaware FC side and scored an impressive goal direct from a corner to launch Florida Premier to victory early on Day 3 against East Meadow SC.
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Gianna Bowman | Goalkeeper
NJ Premier FC 2008 (NJ)
Gianna maintained composure and displayed strong communication skills to keep her team organized throughout the tournament. She came up with some big saves to keep a clean sheet against a tough Hex FC ECNL team, and she racked up 9 saves against IMG Academy.
2025
Leading a defense that saw her team finish at top of the U19 Championship Division, the Harvard commit showed her ball-winning and distribution skills across all games. Danicka was seen winning 1v1 battles, evading pressure with the ball at her feet, and serving up fantastic set pieces.
Related Resources
Players That Impressed: Girls Academy 2025 Champions Cup Finals and Showcase
Top performances from the GA Champions Cup.
NCAA Women’s Soccer Commitment Announcements: March 2025
Women's College Commitments from March 2025.
Players That Impressed: ECNL Girls Florida National Event (Spring 2025)
Top performances from ECNL Florida.
Players That Impressed: ECNL Girls Florida National Event (Winter 2025)
Top performances from ECNL Florida.
Players That Impressed: ECNL Girls St. Louis National Event (Winter 2024)
Top performers from the ECNL Girls St. Louis Event.
Players That Impressed: Girls Academy 2024 Champions Cup and Winter Showcase
Top performers from the GA Winter Showcase.
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