Players That Impressed: Week of October 26 – November 1, 2015

The following players were submitted so they could be recognized for impressive performances in competitive soccer games during the week of Monday, October 26 through the end of Sunday, November 1, 2015.

+ You can submit players each week here

[player_box id=45516 leftright=right]Brian Saramago – Forward
New York Red Bulls Academy U-17/18 Boys
USSDA League Play
Brian put up a hat trick in the Red Bulls’ 5-1 victory over Bethesda-Olney on Saturday at Richard Montgomery High School, a road win for New York.

Isabella Bruzonic – Forward
Annandale United FC U-13 Girls
EDP and Virginia Premier League NPL Play
Isabella played two brilliant games this weekend, creating dangerous opportunities, checking to every ball, making well timed runs and being skillful with the ball. She played the point striker position the right way by being a strong first defender, and notched four goals across two games – one in EDP and one in NPL.

Joonas Castren – Defender
Vienna YS Elite Red U-16 Boys
Virginia Premier League NPL Play
Joonas showed a great level of intelligence on and off the ball in Virginia Premier League action this weekend against FC United. He was very patient and disciplined in his defending and neat and tidy on the ball.

Quincy Bienkowski – Forward
Vienna YS Elite Red U-16 Boys
Virginia Premier League NPL Play
Quincy showed a great amount of energy on and off the ball in his VPL game this weekend vs. FC United. He was very good at playing with his back to goal, securing possession and bringing others into play.

Ryan Pyszka – Defender
Loudoun 98 Red U-17 Boys
VYSA State Cup Final Four
Ryan’s excellent performances all weekend at center back provided the platform for Loudoun 98 Boys Red state cup victory. He also scored the winning goal in the final on Sunday.

[player_box id=48090 leftright=right]Stephen Foss – Forward
Loudoun 98 Red U-17 Boys
VYSA State Cup Final Four
Stephen had one goal and three assists in this weekend’s Virginia State Cup Final Four Weekend, helping lead the team to their State Cup Championship.

Giovanny Ramirez – Defender
VISTA United 01 U-14 Boys
NCSL League Play
Gio put in an excellent defensive performance this weekend containing a very dangerous forward in NCSL action. His free kicks were also very strong, scoring one from near midfield.

Alexis Quintero – Forward
VISTA United 01 U-14 Boys
NCSL League Play
William used his tremendous speed once again this weekend terrorizing his NCSL opponents, winning 50/50 balls, and covering a lot of space while also doing his job as a striker in scoring goals.

Ronnie Zick – Midfielder
SYC Strikers Red U-17 Boys
NCSL League Play
Ronnie had a great game in NCSL this week, frequently overlapping in the attack and exploding through the middle of the field with well timed runs and ball control. Was key to several counter-attacks out of transition.

Kyler Croft – Forward/Winger
SYC Strikers Red U-17 Boys
NCSL League Play
Played a great game in hold up play when needed, creating space for others, and had a clinical finish with composure in a tight spot.

Emily Friday – Defender
SYC Lions Black U-15 Girls
WAGS D1 League Play
Emily’s defensive play was most impressive and finding the balance between defending well and getting forward into the attack was clearly a trademark of her play in her game against GSC. Emily’s penetrating run in the second half to the end line created an assist that left the GSC hopeless to defend. Her technical ball control in tight traffic was delightful to watch, while her set pieces possessed quality services into the attacking third of the pitch.

Lauren Bartee – Defender
SYC Lions Black U-15 Girls
WAGS D1 League Play
Lauren was instrumental in leading her team to success against GSC through solid midfield play and quality distribution in their conference winning game in U15 Div 1 WAGS. Lauren was cool, calm and collected with ball at foot under pressure and extremely good at keeping her head on a swivel as she canvased the field. Her quick release of the ball and precise passing to feet made for an exciting player to watch in this crucial game.

Katie Mueck – Forward
SYC Lions Black U-15 Girls
WAGS D1 League Play
Katie’s standout play on the pitch resulted in being a big contributor in all three goals for the first place U15 Div 1 WAGS on Saturday against NVSC. She had an impressive redirect header in the upper right ninety to give her team the first goal and lead in the game. Then followed up with impressive off-the-ball movement and effective runs that created two more goals. Katie’s impressive pace of play and high work rate was a difference maker in the game.

Lauren Jones – Forward
SYC Lions Black U-15 Girls
WAGS D1 League Play
Lauren gives any defender more than they can handle, and Saturday’s WAGS D1 game against NVSC was no exception. Her blazing speed and tenacious work rate pressing down on worrisome defenders made for great opportunities on which Lauren and her teammates capitalize. She was crafty with ball at foot and her first two steps were unmatched on the pitch.

Abby Fusca – Midfielder
VYS Phoenix 99 U-16 Girls
VYSA State Cup Final Four
From her newly adopted deep lying midfield position, Abby shielded her back line extremely well all weekend. In Saturday’s semi-final, Abby not only thwarted attacks, she got forward into dangerous positions repeatedly as she interchanged with teammates going from box to box. She got on the end of a ball that changed the point of attack, on the left side of the field, at the top of the box, that allowed her to “set the table” for Rachel McFaul to finish the goal

Whitney Wiley – Forward
VYS Phoenix 99 U-16 Girls
VYSA State Cup Final Four
Whitney closed out the semi-final with flurry of activity as she pestered the defenders into turnovers and was strong and composed on the ball when in possession. The game finished with Whitney driving a bullet off the crossbar. In the Final, she spoke loudly with her actions all game long was not going to be denied the win! In a key play, she intercepted a pass on the right side of the field and lazily dribbled forward assessing the options. Then without warning, she cut loose a powerful and inch perfect shot that surprised the keeper, just clearing her fingertips and tucking in under the bar for the goal.

Corinne Polk-Trauman – Defender
VYS Phoenix 99 U-16 Girls
VYSA State Cup Final Four
Corinne is ever present on the soccer field. Whether dealing with opponents 1 vs 1, covering for her teammates on the back line or making raiding runs into the opponent’s penalty area, Corinne was all over it this past weekend in State Cup action. In the Final, from her wing back position, Corinne shut down her side of the field. More importantly, she did not let the occasion shrink her desire and willingness to get involved in the attack. Whether bombing down the flank or penetrating through the middle of midfield, Corinne was determined to be an important factor in the game.

Grace Eidson – Defender
VYS Phoenix 99 U-16 Girls
VYSA State Cup Final Four
Grace is a strong, quick, no-nonsense defender who eliminates danger – air or ground, before it has the chance to develop due to her intelligent reading of the game. In the State Cup Final, the area she commanded defensively stifled any attack the opponent tried to develop down the right flank. Her overlapping runs and willingness to get forward kept the opposition at home on her side of the field. Whether spraying balls into the opponent’s box or threading passes into the midfield, Grace was a constant supply line for the Phoenix attack.

[player_box id=46676 leftright=right]Riley Cook – Forward
Richmond United U-18 Girls
ECNL League Play
Richmond United were 1-0 down at half time and Riley scored both goals in a second half comeback to win the game 2-1. Riley’s movement and link up play was very sharp, and her ability to get shots off was exceptional. Both goals were shots from outside the 18, and she gave the GK no chance on either one. She was unlucky not to complete the hat-trick with other opportunities, but definitely helped lead the team to victory.

[player_box id=46702 leftright=right]Isaiah Young – Forward
Players Development Academy U-17/18 Boys
USSDA League Play
Isaiah scored two goals in a 4-1 defeat of Richmond United on Saturday at PDA Soccer Complex.

Kristen Kane – Forward
SYC Lions Green U-15 Girls
WAGS League Play
Kristen is always a dangerous striker with great field vision, a terrific shot and has great determination to win every ball. She had two (2) goals in her most recent game, one on a very impressive header from a corner kick.

Eman Karimi – Midfielder
SYC Lions Green U-15 Girls
WAGS League Play
Eman is an extremely skillful player with great field vision and an unmatched will to win. She controlled the central midfield in her most recent game, scoring twice with one assist.

Garrett Socas – Midfielder
McLean 00 Hotspur Green
VYSA State Cup Final Four
Garrett was pivotal in McLean’s State Cup semifinal game. He played a key role in helping keep possession out of the back as well as providing defensive cover in the midfield, breaking up many counter attacks. With 8 minutes left he scored the game winning goal with a header from a wide free kick.

Yassine Elkahloun – Forward
McLean 00 Hotspur Green
VYSA State Cup Final Four
Yassine was the MVP of the State Cup final game. He was very active all game, linking up with others to create many chances and was relentless in pressuring their defense. McLean weren’t able to break through and score until 5 minutes left in the game when he scored on header from cross that went perfectly into the upper 90 and just out of the reach of the goalkeeper. The goal was the game winner and won a second State Cup Championship.

Patricia Ward – Forward
Richmond United U-15 Girls
ECNL League Play
Patricia’s well timed runs caused problems for her opponents all weekend, with one resulting in scoring the game winning goal against Charlotte off a good pass from Lauren Bruns

Lauren Bruns – Forward
Richmond United U-15 Girls
ECNL League Play
Lauren notched two (s) assists and was the primary orchestrator for the team in attack all weekend against NC Fusion and Charlotte.

Maisy Fling – Goalkeeper
Richmond United U-16 Girls
ECNL League Play
Maisy had a great weekend in goal. She has successfully shut out every team in their division, and has now posted five clean sheets in a row after the two games this weekend. Sunday’s game against Charlotte was particularly impressive, as she had to make a handful of incredible saves.

[player_box id=45502 leftright=right]Jordan Canniff – Forward
Richmond United U-16 Girls
ECNL League Play
Jordan netted five (5) goals in two games this weekend, four (4) Saturday against NC Fusion and one (1) goal and one (1) assist on Sunday against Charlotte.

Jordan Bailon – Defender
New York Red Bulls Academy U-15/16 Boys
USSDA League Play
Jordan recorded a brace while leading New York to a 3-2 win over Bethesda-Olney on Saturday.

Courtenay Kaplan – Goalkepper
Loudoun 98 Red U-17 Girls
VYSA State Cup Final Four
Courtenay had a great weekend with a clean sheet against Vienna where she made several key plays to post a shutout. In the Championship game against Annandale she came up big with several catches on dangerous crosses off corners and plays into the box in both halves to help propel Loudoun 98 Red to back to back state titles.

Atley Fortney – Forward
Loudoun 98 Red U-17 Girls
VYSA State Cup Final Four
Atley had the game winning goal in the State Semi-Finals against Vienna six minutes into the second half. Atley was playing in her first game with Loudoun due to her West Virginia HS team playing fall soccer which prohibited her from playing any games with the team this past fall. Atlely made an immediate impact on the game as a target forward facilitating the attack and enabling the attack to be more effective especially in the final third.

Caroline Bates – Forward
Arlington Comets Red U-15 Girls
VYSA State Cup
Caroline scored 7 goals over 6 State Cup Games. On the State Cup final weekend, Caroline factored in on every Comets goal scored, assisting on 4 assists and scoring 2, including the game winning goal in the finals.