By PAUL GOTHAM
Surveying some of the top players in Section V over the past week (October 26-31).
PETER BARRACLOUGH-TAN Sr. Midfield, Brighton Barons (Monroe County II) — Steadying force in the center of the pitch for the Barons; with a secure first touch, Barraclough-Tan is a reliable contributor, sees the field as well as anyone and knows how to create for teammates; a skilled defender who readily wins 50/50 situations, at his best releasing from traffic and making quick decisions to carry or pass.
ELENA BARR So. Forward/Midfield, Pittsford-Mendon Vikings (Monroe County II) — Nicknamed “Bean” for her slight stature, the 5-foot-1 inch Barr uses her lack of height as an advantage, elusive in one-on-one situations, she is at her best when receiving the ball with her back to the sideline where she is adept at beating opposing defenders and making decisions after she has beaten an opponent, strong first touch on goal-scoring situations inside the 18-yard area.
NATE BATTAGLIA Sr. Goalkeeper, Hilton Cadets (Monroe County I) — Aggressive and athletic keeper; Battaglia is comfortable to coming off his line and commands possession, at 6-foot he is an imposing presence for the Cadets, moves well along the line and reacts well to shots aimed for side nettings; as effective of a communicator as there is in Section V, Battaglia reads game flow well and directs Hilton’s backline.
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE
WILL EBY Sr. Midfield, Honeoye Falls-Lima Cougars (Monroe County IV) — Rugged player with a firm touch; at 5-foot-10, Eby works well in traffic where he is able to win 50/50 situations and come out under control, sees the field well and distributes with purpose to teammates, at the same time he can recognize open field in front of him and take advantage while maintaining possession over large portions of the pitch, doesn’t lose control after multiple touches; a willing defender, he understands when to challenge and when to contain.
GAVEN EGAN Jr. Midfield, Churchville-Chili Saints (Monroe County II) — a dynamic creator who sees one play ahead; equipped with an elite-level balance of feet, Egan innately understands when to distribute and when to carry and can execute in either situation, he sees passing lanes that many don’t and can put the ball in the tightest of windows at a pace suitable for teammates to use, at the same time he possesses the strength to thrive in one-on-one situations.
T’MIA KITCHINGS Jr. Center Midfield, Kendall Eagles (Genesee Region) — High-motor performer who has a knack for being in the middle of the play; Kitchings manages to play sideline to sideline and not leave her team short-handed along the backline; possessing a skillful first touch, she makes sound decisions when to carry the ball and when to find teammates; a durable defender she challenges hard when the situation dictates and can lure opposing ballhandlers into a false sense of complacency before winning possession.
Also read: Wrianna Hudson, Riley Rease and the Starting XI
Ewan Maxwell, Brooke Wilson and the Starting XI
Kaleb Glessing, Maria Karipidis and the Starting XI
COLTON McCANE Sr. Outside Back, Churchville-Chili Saints (Monroe County II) — Sturdy backline force who creates for teammates; aggressive to the ball, McCane routinely wins 50/50 situations under control, equipped with impressive field vision and nimble touch, McCane understands how to use space and pace to put teammates in position to attack; comfortable one-on-one against opposing forwards, McCane rarely overplays and frequently wins possession.
SHANE McMILLAN Jr. Attacker, Penfield Patriots (Monroe County I) — With 10 goals and five assists, McMillan is the top scorer in the division and tied with HF-L’s Gunnar Wetzel in the lead among all of Monroe County, the 6-foot-2 forward gets plenty of attention from opposing defenses, he senses pressure well and knows how to use opportunities for teammates, at the same time when he is one-on-one he is apt to get his shot, comfortable playing the ball to teammates and moving, he receives well in full stride and makes sound decisions in traffic.
GRACE O’HARA Sr. Forward/Midfield, Pittsford-Mendon Vikings (Monroe County III) — Skilled offensive performer who understands situations; the reigning divisional Player of the Year, O’Hara distorts defenses and knows how to use this to her team’s advantage, strong on the ball, she can score from 20 yards off the dribble, at the same time she possesses a skilled first touch that she uses to free teammates, gifted in the open field where she shows her foot skills while in full stride, she is also comfortable in build-up situations finding the slightest of openings to feed teammates.
NIYAH ROSADO Sr. Forward, Wheatland-Chili Wildcats (Genesee Region) — Elite level performer with the ball at her feet, Rosado is at her best in the open field; the Wheatland-Chili girls all-time leading scorer, she combines speed with a low center of gravity, Rosado takes advantage of one-on-one coverage to produce for the Wildcats, she is equally adept with either foot and is comfortable possessing the ball at full speed, her ability to create for teammates gets overlooked, she recognizes when the defense is overplaying and uses those opportunities to lay off the ball to other; a willing defender, Rosado checks back on the ball with conviction.
JOE VOGT Sr. Center Back, Penfield Patriots (Monroe County I) — “Play fast; don’t hurry.” Vogt embodies the words of John Wooden , the late hall of fame UCLA men’s basketball coach. Poised and composed along the backline, Vogt slows the game to his speed and is the primary reason Penfield (8-0-0) has allowed just four goals this season; he innately reads angles, anticipates situations and passes of opponents, combined with a deft first touch, Vogt steers any potential threats from the Penfield goal mouth; capable of advancing the ball off the dribble but sees the field and is more comfortable initiating Penfield’s offense from the backline.
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