Fletcher Ekern, a senior midfielder from Farragut High School (Knoxville, Tenn.), and Kelly Sweeney, a junior forward from Marian High School (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), are the NSCAA/TopDrawerSoccer.com High School Players of the Week.

Last week, Ekern’s Farragut side faced down perennial juggernaut Christian Academy of Knoxville, which won each of the last two Class AA Tennessee state titles. From his spot in the central midfield, Ekern controlled the flow of the game and managed to score all four goals in a seismic 4-2 win over CAK. Farragut was without Ekern’s typical central midfield partner due to injury, forcing Ekern to steward an untested sophomore through the match while simultaneously breaking forward to buttress the attack. Four goals later and Ekern had guided Farragut past the NSCAA regional No. 1.

Sweeney’s rampant week for Marian could have hardly been much more productive. Marian scored 17 goals in three wins last week, and Sweeney contributed nine of those on her own. She scored three goals and assisted on the other four in a 7-0 win and scored twice against league rival Ladywood to set the table for an enormous performance against Notre Dame Prep, the No. 1 team in Division 3. The Michigan commit lashed home the game’s first four goals as Marian streaked to an unexpected 6-1 win over one of the best teams in the state.

Other boys finalists include Jason Twaddle (Skyline High School, Sammamish, Wash.) and Tradd Specter (Hammond School, Columbia, S.C.). Other girls finalists include Kristen Dodson (Waubonsie Valley High School, Aurora, Ill.) and Tania Ramos (Parker High School, Janesville, Wis.).

The NSCAA/TopDrawerSoccer.com High School Player of the Week honor is designed to highlight a selection of the nation's rising stars populating the high school ranks. Coaches are free to nominate a boys or girls player each week through our submission form that can be found here. Be sure to include the school and any relevant stats from the previous week. The selection process will take into account a slew of factors from contribution to team results to individual accolades. Honorees are announced each Wednesday.

The next submission deadline will be noon (CT) on May 12 before the Player of the Week announcement on May 14.

 

About the NSCAA

Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Kan., the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate coaches, encourage excellence and serve the soccer community.

The NSCAA is the world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization with members at every level of the game. The membership is primarily made up of coaches, but also includes administrators, referees and others in the soccer industry. The NSCAA provides its members ways to enhance the game of soccer by providing a national education program, interaction and networking opportunities, and membership benefits.

For more information about the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, visit NSCAA.com.