Scout’s View: Class of 2028 Standouts from the Girls Academy Finals

The 2026 Girls Academy National Finals recently took place in Richmond, VA featuring top teams across the U13-U17 age groups.

High-level prospects from all over the country shined at the GA Finals, stepping up on the national stage and providing college scouts with a glimpse at their ability to set up for their teams in big game situations. From U.S. Youth National Team players doing what they do best, to some uncommitted hidden gems, the GA Finals provided something for every college program to watch with interest.

Longtime scout Jerry Penkala ([email protected]), owner and operator of JTF Academy, was on hand for the tournament, and compiled a list of some of the top players that he watched from the Class of 2028.

See below for Penkala’s top performers.

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Natalie Pinkard | Center Back
City SC 2010 (CA)

Natalie was the best overall defender I saw all weekend. Tough, smart, athletic, fearless, and calm under pressure, she dominated her position and was a major reason for City’s success throughout the tournament.

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Jordyn Sashin | Left Winger
Galaxy SC 2010 (IL)

Jordyn was one of the top wingers at the event and clearly the best left winger I saw. With great size, explosive speed, and high offensive impact, she consistently whipped dangerous crosses into the box, cut the ball back effectively, and ripped shots with her right foot.

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Madison Hutteger | Holding Midfielder
Sporting Nebraska 2010 (NE)

Madison brought physical presence, athleticism, toughness, and strong technical ability. She excelled at shutting down opposition attacks in midfield while remaining composed on the ball. Her excellent field vision allowed her to consistently complete passes and serve as the vital link between defense and attack.

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Liliana Guli | Outside Back
Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth 2010 (NJ)

In the game I watched, Liliana came off the bench and completely changed the flow of the match. Combining great size, speed, and athleticism with smart forward runs, she sparked her team’s offense at the perfect moments.

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Charlotte Dix | Right Winger / Forward
Spokane Shadow 2010 (WA)

Whether playing wide or more centrally, Charlotte was a constant threat in both games I saw. Possibly the best pure offensive player at the event, her outstanding pace troubled defenders all day, and she made excellent off-ball runs.

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Nicola Dountas | Holding Midfielder
New Mexico SA 2009 (NM)

Nicola was a strong dual-threat midfielder who could win 1v1 battles defensively while showcasing some of the best distribution and creativity on the ball all weekend.

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Savanna Zenger | Midfielder
Wasatch SC 2009 (UT)

Savanna worked hard off the ball, found space effectively, and was technically very sound. I didn’t see a single misplaced pass from her all weekend. She combined toughness, outstanding field vision, and strong technical skills.

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Keira Stone | Attacking Midfielder
Galaxy SC 2010 (IL)

Keira impressed with her combination of speed, technical quality, and relentless work rate that never wavered. She kept her team in games through constant effort, helping teammates both offensively and defensively.

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Grace Scheer | Goalkeeper
Sporting Nebraska 2010 (NE)

Grace had multiple standout halves, including a highlight-reel one-on-one save. She commanded her penalty area well, communicated clearly, tracked crosses effectively, and showed decisiveness off her line along with solid distribution.

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Alison Avery | Center Back
Spokane Shadow 2010 (WA)

Alison anchored her back line with calmness in every situation. One of the more athletic defenders at the event, she also provided strong leadership and maintained a positive attitude regardless of the game status..

Honorable Mentions

• Sophia Limonate (Cedar Stars Monmouth 2010)
• Sophia Thorn (Spokane Shadow 2010)
• Makenna O’Connor (Sporting Nebraska 2010)
• Brooke Johnson (City SC 2010)
• Jade Cavazos (Wasatch 2009)
• Kaiya Weiler (Spokane Shadow 2010)
• Brooklyn Fankam (New Mexico SC 2009)
• Gabriella Wandling (Cedar Stars Monmouth 2010)