The final Unsigned Showcase Best XI of 2016 takes a look at the best talent from the girl’s side at our Dallas Showcase.  Hosted at UT Dallas, coaches from programs including Texas Women’s University, Sam Houston State, Louisiana College, and others were treated to quality players from programs such as Dallas Sting, Texas Rush and Abilene SC. Here are the girls who caught our eye at the event.

 

Interested in playing in front of college coaches and earning a spot on a TDS Unsigned Showcase Best XI list? Keep your eye out for our 2017 announcement in January!

 

TDS Unsigned Showcase Dallas Girls Best XI:

 

GK, Bailey Ledbetter, TSC Hurricane (2019): Ledbetter is a young keeper who already has good size and ability. She reads the play well and showed a good understanding of when to come off her line and when to stay. Ledbetter has strong hands and a good spring in her step. To excel at the next level, she can focus on navigating traffic on set pieces and holding the ball.

D, Ashley Watson, Texas Rush (2017): Watson plays well within a defensive group and is always willing to put in the extra effort to cover her teammates. She is good in 1v1 situations, but when she does get beat she has a quick, explosive recovery step to get back. Watson had a consistently clean first touch though out the day and displayed good vision to relieve pressure with simple passes.

D, Brittany Jones, D’Feeters (2019): Jones is a quality outside back who is good in 1v1 defending but also provides attacking support for her teammates. She scored some excellent goals during small sided play and showed excellent composure. Jones never showed an ounce of panic on the day, even when put under intense pressure by her opponents. Jones is young but her versatility and overall quality make her one to watch.

MF, Karla Olivarez, N/A (2017): Olivarez is a quality central midfielder who understands the flow of the game and her role in it. She dominated the full field game at times. If she focuses on doing this for a full 90, she will be a force to be reckoned with. Olivarez is a bit raw but has spells of magic and is full of natural talent.

MF, Makayla Snow, Dallas Sting (2019): Snow (Makayla, not to be confused with her twin Michele who is featured later) is a talented little midfielder who is always active. She has a clean first touch and has a good range of passes in her arsenal. Snow linked up with her teammates well and was always willing to provide a simple outlet. Communication can slightly improve, but technical and tactical understandings are strengths in her game.

MF, Katelyn Davis, Lonestar SC San Antonio (2019): Davis is a versatile midfielder but looks best when going forward. She has the ability to hit a hard yet accurate shot and always seemed to be looking for goal. Davis’ movement off the ball is crisp and smart. Her defensive abilities are not quite as strong as her attacking, but she has the potential to become a quality player at the next level.

MF, Tallin Nieman, Dallas Sting (2019): Nieman is yet another player from the local Dallas Sting program who performed well on the day. She has a quick first step and showed a bit of pace when in full flight. She linked up nicely with her teammates while focusing on playing simple. Nieman finished some good opportunities during the small sided games but also unselfishly set up teammates for easy goals.

MF, Julia Edwards, Fever United Football Club (2019): Edwards was a bit quiet on the day, but it was easy to tell she was technically and tactically superior to most players at the event. She consistently played the simple ball and focused on keeping play moving. Edwards looked at her best when playing forward balls to put teammates in to dangerous situations. She is definitely one to keep an eye on.

F, Jaycie Calderon, N/A (2017): Calderon showed a good nose for goal throughout the day. She reads play and consistently tries to play a couple of steps ahead. Her movement in the box is sharp and decisive. On more than one occasion, Calderon put in extra work defensively to cover her teammates and win possession back.

F, Natalie Gonzalez, Texas Rush (2019): Gonzalez was the standout attacker on the day. She is a real crafty player and has a keen eye for goal. Off the ball, Gonzalez finds smart pockets of space and makes quick, darting runs. Gonzalez is a constant headache for defenders and has a ton of potential moving forward.

F, Samantha Hanking, Texas Spirit (2019): As a 2019, Hanking has loads of potential to excel for the next few years and at the college level. She has very good vision and always looks to bring her teammates in to play. In and around the box, she has a keen eye for goal and ability to slot the ball in to the corners. Hanking can work on turning with a defender on her back to continue taking her game to the next level.

 

Honorable Mention

 

GK, Michele Snow, Dallas Sting (2019): Snow is incredibly energetic and was consistently flying through the air at the showcase. She is a quality shot stopper and moves across her line well. Snow is a bit small, but should grow in to a valuable keeper moving forward.

MF, Elisabeth Green, Abilene (2017): Green has an excellent engine and a never-say-die attitude. She is a bit small in stature, but is incredibly feisty and will battle nonstop with her opponents. She made multiple hard runs during the full field games, but also got back defensively. Green is the type of player who pushes others to work harder and be better.

D, Dalton Fish, Dallas Texans Austin (2018): Fish is a quality defender who can be deployed in multiple roles across the back and midfield lines. She has a clean first touch and often focuses on picking her head up to find teammates with simple accurate passes. Although communication can improve at times during play, she is a leader who can help dictate play. Fish also showed quality 1v1 defending skills during the small sided sessions.

F, Haley Husted, Norman Youth Soccer (2018): Husted works hard in the offensive portion of the field, tirelessly tracking down defenders. She is an unselfish player but may need to focus on being a bit more selfish in and around the box to create goals for herself. She has good ability on the ball and ability to hit a clean strike on goal.