TDS Raleigh Combine: Girls Best XI

by TDS Unsigned Showcase

August 10, 2015

Our sixth TDS Combines stop of the summer took us to Wake Med Soccer Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was our third event in this location in three years, and talent from the far-flung corners of the continent flooded the event to showcase themselves in front of the array of top colleges in the region.

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Here are the girls best XI and other standouts from the event.

GK, Katelyn Pierson, Richmond United, 2020 – Peirson is one of the youngest players to attend a combine in 2015, yet it didn't show. Safe hands, confident with the ball at her feet, calm under pressure; she has the technical ability to go far. During three full field games, she conceded only one goal and was influential in her team remaining unbeaten throughout the day.

DF, Allyson Giannone, Beach FC (Va), 2016 – Giannone provided a solid presence in the back, stepped well and chose the right moments to break out and join the attack. She displayed a good range to her passes, and showed decent speed when dribbling out of the back.

DF, Madeleine Lessard, Canada, 2017 – Lessard, a Canada native, is hard in the tackle with great speed. She was solid throughout the full field games, and is comfortable playing out of the back.

DF, Maggie Pierce, CASL, 2019 – Peirce plays with maturity beyond her years. She is reliable defensively, strong and quick for her age, and has the ability to break forward and create things in the attacking third down the line. She whipped in some good balls, and had some good shots during the games and was rarely beaten defensively.

MF, Stella Schwartz, Connecticut FC, 2018 – Schwartz has rapid speed and provided great movement off the ball to combine, and broke out of the midfield on the dribble. Her athleticism allowed her to control the tempo of the game.

MF, Talia Gabarra, Maryland United FC, 2019 – Composed and finds all the pockets of space, Gabarra found herself on the ball more than most during full field games. She took advantage of her possession and slipped through some top balls to the forwards. She is the type of player you can rely on to not give up possession cheaply, and play smart.

MF, Anna Fish, CASL, 2017 – Fish showed fantastic leadership in the middle of the park throughout the day. She sits deeper in the midfield, connecting the play from the defense to the forwards and was fantastic defensively 1v1. She had moments in the attack, rattling a fantastic shot off the woodwork during the afternoon games.

MF, Genevieve Metcalf, NY Rush Patriots, 2018 – Much like the three other midfielders in the Best XI, Metcalf is composed in possession and combined well with some good one touch passes from deep. She reads the game well defensively and stepped well to win the ball whenever she sniffed some danger. Though a midfielder by trade she showed how versatile she can be, by also playing left back during full field games.

F, Gabrielle Robinson, Braddock Road SC, 2019 – Robinson has great speed, and is so creative on the ball, weaving in and out of defenders. She made smart decisions - slipping in little passes after drawing the defender in and combining with team mates. She has a great strike and good composure.

F, Gianna Flowers, Piedmont Triad FC, 2018 – Flowers scored one of the top goals of the day against a team that had not conceded in three games by chipping the keeper from 20 yards out. Technically solid and always looking for chances on goal, Flowers looked sharp and dangerous throughout the combine.

F, Keyera Wynn, North Carolina Fusion, 2019 – Wynn is an out and out forward, always sniffing around for half chances. She pressures well off the ball, to win the ball back in the final third and create chances for herself. She is technically solid and fast, and linked up well with the midfield.

Related Topics: Unsigned Showcase