Daniel Tays, a senior forward from Wichita Falls High School (Wichita Falls, Texas), and Lauren Gallagher, a junior forward from Santa Clarita Christian School (Santa Clarita, Calif.), are the NSCAA/TopDrawerSoccer.com High School Players of the Week.

Tays’ productive year has already included a hat trick in 91 seconds earlier this winter, but last week’s theatrics might even top that. In a cross-town battle with perennially favored power Wichita Falls Rider last week, Tays scored two goals inside the final 10 minutes of the contest to lead Wichita Falls to a shock 2-1 victory. The brace didn’t just plump up his yearly goals tally to 19. It also marked the first time since 1990 Wichita Falls had beaten Rider in boys soccer. Further, before Tays, Wichita Falls had lost every game in the series since the last tie in 2003.

Santa Clarita Christian scythed through its first three playoff games last week with ease, and nobody was more productive within that window than Gallagher. The junior striker scored six goals in three games to lead Santa Clarita Christian into the CIF-SS Division 7 semifinals with style. She opened with a hat trick in a 7-0 win over Dunn, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Vistamar and registered a goal and two assists in a 4-0 victory against Tarbut V Torah. The week brought her to 46 goals on the season. 

Other boys finalists include Ettienne Francoix Avery (Klein High School, Klein, Texas) and Daniel Abarca (Robert E. Lee High School, Tyler, Texas). Other girls finalists include Sheena Khan (Randolph High School, Huntsville, Ala.) and Lindsey Tully (Charlotte Catholic High School, Charlotte, N.C.).

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 March 10 before the Player of the Week announcement on March 12.

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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