NEPS: Day 3 Top performers

by Sheldon Shealer

January 8, 2017

FORT WORTH, Texas – Teams at the National Elite Prep Showcase returned to outdoor soccer Saturday, but the scores more resembled the indoor game.

Although there were two scoreless ties, eight other teams scored four or more goals – including a 7-4 contest – as the three-day event concluded with 15 matches on the final day.

SIMA FAB 50 No. 1 Marcus (Texas) handled Amarillo (Texas) 5-0 and Monterey (Texas) ripped Paschal (Texas) 9-1 on Saturday to finish the event 3-0. They join Carondelet (Calif.) as the only 3-0 teams at the event. No. 2 Southlake Carroll (Texas), No. 16 Coppell (Texas) and Grapevine (Texas) each went 2-0. Santa Margarita (Calif.) won the only match it played.

The day’s featured match was a meeting between No 2 Southlake Carroll and SIMA FAB 50 No. 26 Harvard-Westlake (Calf.). Allisyn Gardner and Taylor Tufts goals gave Southlake Carroll a 2-0 victory.

SATURDAY’S TOP STORIES

Breakout Offense: Notre Dame commit Samantha Fisher scored three goals as Grace Brethren (Calif.) defeated Liberty Christian (Texas) 7-4. Fisher, who scored more than 50 goals last season, had been held scoreless at NEPS in Grace Brethren’s first two matches.

Take Notice: Monterey (Texas) and Grapevine (Texas) posted perfect records at NEPS, and both finished with goal differentials above 10. Monterey capped its weekend with a 9-1 victory over Paschal (Texas). The 1-2 scoring punch of Avery McMeme and Ariel Diaz combined for four goals and four assists. Grapevine had eight goal scorers in a 9-1 victory over Incarnate Word (Texas).

TOP PERFORMERS

(NEPS is played out at eight locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, making it impossible for staff to be present at every match. The Top Performers list is compiled from staff observations and information provided by TDS contributors.)

MVP of the Day: Avery McMeme, Monterey (Texas), Sr., F. McMeme scored three goals and added two assists in Monterey’s one-sided win over Paschal. McMeme’s play Saturday and throughout the event helped Monterey finish as one of only three teams to go 3-0 – along with SIMA FAB 50 No. 1 Marcus and No. 3 Carondelet. McMeme had five goals and four assists at NEPS.

Best of the Rest

Maddison Algya, Marcus (Texas), Jr., MF: The Baylor commit scored the first goal and assisted the next two in Marcus’ 5-0 victory over Amarillo.

Samantha Fisher, Grace Brethren (Calif.), Sr., F: The Notre Dame commit scored three goals added an assist in Grace Brethren’s 7-4 win over Liberty Christian.

Riley Mattingly, Marcus (Texas), Jr., MF: Mattingly had a very productive tournament, and capped the weekend with a one-goal, two-assist performance in Marcus’ win over Amarillo.

Caitlyn McDonald, Sachse (Texas), Jr., F: The graduation of two superstar offensive payers last year leaves Sachse searching for offense – but it might have been found in McDonald. The junior Sam Houston scored the first three goals in Sachse one-sided win over Antonian.

Micayla Weathers, Coppell (Texas), So., F: Weathers scored both goals in Coppell’s 2-0 victory over Belton.

Maddie Webber, Coppell (Texas), Sr., GK: Coppell shut out both opponents over the weekend, one of only three teams to pull off the feat at NEPS while playing more than one match. Webber has committed to Clemson.

Related Topics: American Athletic, Atlantic Coast, Big 12