Buku SoCal Kickoff: Defense and Goalie Standouts

In this article, I feature a combination of defensemen and goalies who caught my eye at the Buku SoCal Kickoff a couple of weekends ago in Irvine, CA.    [player_tooltip player_id='178917' first='Marshall' last='Dunn'] is a very skilled LSM who is a playmaker on both ends of the field for ADVNC. On defense, he marks his man well and doesn't give them much room to operate. He's capable of causing turnovers when he delivers swift checks. He also made one of the more impressive plays I saw all weekend, throwing a behind-the-back pass. This was followed up with another behind-the-back pass from his teammate, before an ADVNC attackman on the doorstep put it away. Had there been an ESPN crew there, it easily would've made SportsCenter's Top 10.     I scouted [player_tooltip player_id='174819' first='Levi' last='Truax'] during the spring while he was playing for One Hill's varsity team, running middie and one of their top producers. However, his true position is defense, and he put his lockdown skills on full display in Irvine. He covers ground at a rapid rate, also constantly applying pressure with consistent stick checks. It's evident that he also has good instincts and isn't fooled easily by fakes or quick jab steps. Considering his feel for the game and athleticism, his name could be more well-known by the end of the summer.     Class of 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='177907' first='Ryland' last='Peterson'] stays in the headlines after continuing to perform at a high level. He had incredible saves game in and game out. Popping shots with heat behind them, and meeting the ball when he needed to on bouncers. His weekend stats were also solid, only allowing an average of three goals in five games while helping Westward Elite go 4-1.     [player_tooltip player_id='178918' first='Kendall' last='Winston'] brings a lot to the table for Team 48. He's an agile LSM who has the speed to win ground balls, and he'll leg it up the field to get it to his attackmen from there. He also isn't an easy defender to dodge on, as he matches feet and can get physical if he needs to. With plenty of time to continue to develop, he's certainly an Arizona prospect that college coaches should monitor.     [player_tooltip player_id='178920' first='Brady' last='Baltzell'] was in goal for Team 48 during its 4-1 run at the Buku SoCal kickoff. He tracks the ball well and barks out calls to his defense to keep things organized. He also knows when to get big and does a solid job of taking away angles, hugging the pipes if he believes the shooter is trying to sneak it in. In addition to his ability to make tough stops, he's a strong passer and finds his middies immediately.

In this article, I feature a combination of defensemen and goalies who caught my eye at the Buku SoCal Kickoff a couple of weekends ago in Irvine, CA.