Oh, my: I wrote up a bit on Abbey Burdette and then accidentally deleted it before posting. Here's another go at it....
Abbey Burdette: 5th year, defensive midfielder:
There were a few reasons why the Vols put together one of the best seasons ever last year--and a big one was the switch of Burdette from outside back to defensive mid. Burdette's skill set is simply not ideal for outside back, where she played for the better part of two seasons; she doesn't have enough pace (speed) to run up and down the field and cover speedy opposing forwards. She was respectable, but you want //good// at every position--and good is what UT got when the coaches made her a holding midfielder. It was a smart decision.
The prototypical defensive mid is athletic, physical, has a very strong work rate and can contribute to the attack when she has the ball. A defensive mid must challenge opposing players with the ball--and win those challenges--and Burdette is very good at that. She tirelessly anchored our defense in the middle of the field, slowed opposing attacks with her strong, physical play and provided excellent cover for our centerbacks. She was one of the team's leaders, and I believe she led the team in minutes played last year, which is an indication of how valuable she was. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the SEC tournament.
Her weakness, IMO, is that her passing can be a bit sloppy and errant at times, though that was more evident early in the season as opposed to late. As the season progressed, she showed more poise with the ball, made better decisions, was more precise with her passing and was a contributor to our attack.
What to expect this year? The coaches will want More of the Same from Burdette. With two mostly inexperienced centerbacks behind her, her defensive presence and leaderhship will be vital to UT's prospects this year--especially with some very good non-conference opponents on the schedule. She is the type of player that every good team needs.
Former @ua_girlssoccer star and @Vol_Soccer recruit Abby Reisz is one of the finalists for national Player of the Year. Congrats!
2022 All-USA TODAY High School Sports Awards Girls Soccer
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The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards is pleased to announce the 2021-22 All-USA TODAY HSSA Girls Soccer Team!
These 24 standouts will be honored as nominees for national Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The winner, along with three finalists, will be revealed July 31 during an on-demand broadcast, which this year will feature top athletes in 29 boys and girls sports awards categories as well as special honors like Special Olympics Athlete of the Year, Rising Star and Play of the Year.
And the nominees are …
2021-22 All-USA TODAY HSSA Girls Soccer:Sami Allen, F, Noble High School (Oklahoma) — SRLindsey Antonson, F, Wilsonville High School (Oregon) — SRNatalie Bain, D, Notre Dame Academy (Kentucky) — SRCaroline Betts, F, Christ Presbyterian Academy (Tennessee) — SRKayla Budish, F, Brookfield Central High School (Wisconsin) — SRIvey Crain, F, Pinecrest Academy (Georgia) — SRAmi Davis, D, Yorktown High School (Virginia) — JRHalle Engle, F, Mechanicsburg High School (Pennsylvania) — SRElise Evans, M, Woodside High School (California) — SRErynn Floyd, G, Wilton High School (Connecticut) — SRGaby Gonzalez, D, Staples High School (Connecticut) — SRRiley Jackson, M, Blessed Trinity High School (Georgia) — SOEllie Johannes, F, Northwest Christian High School (Arizona) — JREmma King, F, Manchester High School (Ohio) — SRKelsey Major, F, St. Mary's Dominican High School (Louisiana) — SRSamara Nunn, M, Parkersburg South High School (West Virginia) — SRJordan Nytes, G, Grandview High School (Colorado) — SRElla Raimondi, M, Villa Maria Academy (Pennsylvania) — SRMelina Rebimbas, M, Rutgers Preparatory School (New Jersey) — JRAbby Reisz, G, Upper Arlington High School (Ohio) — SREliza Rich, M, Lake Norman Charter (North Carolina) — SRElla Sanchez, M, Ballard High School (Kentucky) — JRSydney Watts, F, Aquinas High School (Kansas) — JRAmelia White, M, Homestead High School (Indiana) — SR
Yikes
Chris Henderson
@chris_awk
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33m
All SEC schedules posted. Non-Conference Schedule Ranking (out of 270)
3 - Tennessee
5 - South Carolina
6 - LSU
7 - Florida
12 - Auburn
17 - Georgia
35 - Texas A&M
44 - Vanderbilt
47 - Arkansas
72 - Ole Miss
95 - Alabama
104 - Missouri
150 - Kentucky
159 - Mississippi State