Leighton Brillo-Sonnino, a senior midfielder from Cate School (Carpinteria, Calif.), and Riley Greer, a senior goalkeeper from Melbourne High School (Melbourne, Fla.), are the NSCAA/TopDrawerSoccer.com High School Players of the Week.

Leighton Brillo-Sonnino

Brillo-Sonnino has operated as a key piece of one of California’s most prestigious soccer schools this year, and his past week has perhaps topped any he’s experienced over his four years at Cate. He typically throws down his pegs in the holding midfield, but a key injury forced him further upfield in an attacking role last week, and Brillo-Sonnino was up to the challenge. He scored four goals last week, including a hat trick against Thatcher to clinch an unbeaten record in conference and the league title. Cate heads into the postseason this week with Brillo-Sonnino in high gear.

Greer, on the other hand, already polished off her sterling high school career with high marks. She helped guide Melbourne to a perfect 23-0-0 record this season by letting in just a single goal all year. That goal came in Melbourne’s Class 4A state title game, an eventual 2-1 win over Fleming Island in which Greer was immense between the pipes. She made seven saves in the finale last weekend, including one mad goal line scramble in overtime that she saved and helped clear out to preserve the tie. Melbourne went on to win later in the overtime, and they had Greer to thank for helping guide the program to its second straight state title. 

Other boys finalists include Abel Shaw (Carroll High School, Ozark, Ala.), Josh Peloquin (Wichita Falls Rider, Wichita Falls, Texas) and Justin Merkel (Seabreeze High School, Daytona Beach, Fla.). Other girls finalists include Andrea Ramirez (Long Beach Polytechnic High School, Long Beach, Calif.), Sonia Johnson (The John Cooper School, The Woodlands, Texas) and Karey Tylman (Alamo Heights High School, San Antonio, Texas). 

The NSCAA/TopDrawerSoccer.com High School Player of the Week honor is designed to highlight a selection of the nation's rising stars populating the high school ranks. Coaches are free to nominate a boys or girls player each week through our submission form that can be found here. Be sure to include the school and any relevant stats from the previous week. The selection process will take into account a slew of factors from contribution to team results to individual accolades. Honorees are announced each Wednesday.

The next submission deadline will be noon (CT) on Feb. 24 before the Player of the Week announcement on Feb. 26.

About the NSCAA 

Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Kan., the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate coaches, encourage excellence and serve the soccer community.

The NSCAA is the world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization with members at every level of the game. The membership is primarily made up of coaches, but also includes administrators, referees and others in the soccer industry. The NSCAA provides its members ways to enhance the game of soccer by providing a national education program, interaction and networking opportunities, and membership benefits.

For more information about the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, visit NSCAA.com.

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