Robert DelBello, a senior goalkeeper from Canterbury High School (Fort Wayne, Ind.), and Claire Stackel, a sophomore midfielder from Copenhagen High School (Copenhagen, N.Y.), are the NSCAA/TopDrawerSoccer.com High School Players of the Week.

Claire Stackel

Weeks don’t get much better for goalkeepers than the one DelBello pieced together for streaking Canterbury. The senior netminder anchored a 3-0 win over Snider to open the Indiana state playoffs before he put together one of the best two-game shootout performances for a keeper in the annals of high school soccer. Against previously unbeaten and state No. 5 Carroll, DelBello saved all three penalty kicks he faced to secure his team’s 2-1 upset.  He did it again in the next round, saving the first two penalties against Northrop before the third clanged off the bar. Again, Canterbury advanced largely thanks to DelBello’s gloves. That’s an incredible five-for-five week on penalty saves.

Stackel enjoyed an equally big week, tallying seven goals and three assists in Copenhagen’s three wins. In the process, she snapped the school record for goals scored in a single season at 35. Stackel opened the week with four goals in a league victory over LaFargeville, and she racked up two goals and two assists over Sackets Harbor just two days later. On Friday, with Copenhagen trailing league rival Lyme at half, Stackel assisted on the tying goal and and then scored the winner late into the second half to keep Copenhagen unbeaten at 14-0-0. Stackel puffed out her sophomore season totals to 37 goals and 26 assists in the process.

Other boys finalists include Ryan Nally (Worcester Prep, Berlin, Md.) and David Rupacz (Chicopee High School, Chicopee, Mass.). Other girls finalists include Whitley Cargile (University School of Nashville, Nashville, Tenn.) and Samantha Gagliano (Palmyra-Macedon High School, Palmyra, N.Y.).

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. 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 Oct. 21 before the Player of the Week announcement on Oct. 23.

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.

Photo credit: Amanda Morrison of the Watertown Daily Times

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