FRISCO, Texas – The first day of knockouts at the US Youth Soccer National Championships took off here at Toyota Soccer Center on Saturday, and true to form, the day did not disappoint.

After a rowdy and entertaining cluster of group matches over the course of the week, the field was whittled to 40 boys and girls teams cut between U15-U20 divisions contesting semifinals. The U13 and U14 divisions, meanwhile, decided national champions Saturday. For the rest, Sunday represents the final bulwark before the rest of the age divisions has its title-winners as well.

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Of course, with some of the nation’s best players on display, a rather large swath of individual performances stood out of the crowd. This is, after all, arguably the single best scouting tournament in the country outside the Development Academy.

And these players did not let the opportunity to wow pass them by Saturday.