Kizza Edward, a freshman forward from Carlisle School (Martinsville, Va.), and Annika Pater, a junior midfielder from Stephen. T. Badin High School (Hamilton, Ohio), are the NSCAA/TopDrawerSoccer.com High School Players of the Week.

Annika Pater

Edward has been an unchecked force for his southern Virginia side all season with 31 goals and six assists in Carlisle’s 18 games. Indeed, earlier this month he broke a school record with five goals in the span of 27 minutes. But his last three games have been particularly productive, as Edward scored six goals with a pair of assists in that span. He scored two goals against Blue Ridge before going on a three-goal binge in an 8-0 win over Fishburne Military. Then, he tallied an assist and the eventual game-winner in a 3-2 win over league foe Eastern Mennonite to help Carlisle wrap up the regular season with a 17-1-0 record.

Pater forcefully exerted her dominance in Stephen T. Badin’s first two playoff games last week with seven goals and a pair of assists spread across both. On Thursday, in the opener of the Division III state playoffs, Pater constructed a host of attacks and scored twice to open the postseason on a flyer with a 10-0 win over Yellow Springs. In the sectional finals against area power Xenia Christian, Pater was even more dominant with five goals to guide Stephen T. Badin to a 7-1 win and into the district finals for the second consecutive year.

Other boys finalists include David Lachs (Byram Hills High School, Armonk, N.Y.) and Zach Hommey (Walkersville High School, Walkersville, Md.). Other girls finalists include Hanna Johnson (Center Grove High School, Greenwood, Ind.) and Abby Elinski (Rocky River High School, Rocky River, Ohio).

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. 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 Oct. 28 before the Player of the Week announcement on Oct. 30.

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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