Just so you know, the discussion of the top U18 girls in the Pacific Northwest region has to begin with Kathryn Bennett.

Bennett will journey to play at California next year, but as for now she represents the breadth of talent found in the top corner of the United States.

The Crossfire Premier central midfielder is great for a lot of reasons: she has great movement off the ball and is a strong athlete who has developed toughness from playing with and against boys over the years.

Bennett is also a U.S. national team enthusiast. She played in her share of national camps and last year was a member of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup squad.

Her teammate Emily Hurd, is another good prospect. Hurd has a great athletic build that should serve her well next season at Penn State. She teams well with Bennett as a winger, and has very good feet.

Hurd performed particularly strong by holding down the fort in regionals last year when Bennett tweaked her knee in the tournament’s first game.

Other Crossfire Premier stars include Lindsay Elston, a striker who is good technically and has great vision, along with defender Lindsey Bos, a defender who likes to get forward and is very good at attacking.

Bos has combined with the two aforementioned talents to form an imposing Crossfire group that has captured state cups and competed for regional titles over the years.

Stepping outside the Crossfire for a moment, Kerry Moller is a very interesting player. She represents the Spokane Shadow and is a strong athlete with the ability to turn her marker and finish.

FC Portland’s Gabrielle Lindeman is one of the best defenders in the area and is a staple on regional squads alongside Molly Mettler, a Lake Oswego SC goalkeeper who always commands her area. Her teammate, Calisa Reis, is another hard-worker and versatile athlete who makes Lake Oswego a tough club to contend with.  

Josie Graybeal is a tough defender for Washington Premier FC and a hardworking athlete. Headed to Arizona State, she’ll probably be heard from down the line, as will many of these players, many of whom will be leading contending teams come Region IV playoff time.