Editor’s note: this article is the second part of a 2-part series on NISA talent. The first part focused on goalkeepers and defenders.

Part 2: Midfielders and Forwards

It’s the warm hot plate season in lower league pro soccer as teams bring back players and start filling holes created by releasing others. This two-article series will look at the players from the 2023 NISA season who should be on the radar of other organizations.

Specifically, the framing of this will be on USL League One teams. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a number of players make the semi-lateral leap from NISA to USL1 and be successful doing so. It’s a move that seems to be the most available and reasonable for NISA players.

I’ve put together a very rough scale of where I rank these players. “Stater” speaks for itself while “Roster” is the rank for those players who should be able to compete on a USL1 team today. “Offseason camp” are those players that I believe USL1 teams should bring into offseason camp and get ample time to prove they can make a USL1 roster. “Tryouts” means that, at the very least, USL1 teams should be in contract with these players’ agents to work them out.

Midfielders

NISA’s talent base has generally been in the goalkeeper and defender position. But, the depth of talent at the midfield position has improved over the course of the league’s history. There are talented players scattered among the rosters for USL teams to poach.

Starter

Both of these guys are on this list and would make great additions for any club, any league.

Alex McGrath (CM) - Chattanooga FC

12 May 1997 (26 years old), 5’9” (175cm), ENG

In 2023, Alex McGrath was arguably the best player on the stacked Chattanooga FC roster and perhaps the best overall midfielder in NISA. He brings all the skills a team wants in a central midfield. McGrath has excellent skills creating on the attack and provides top-notch service to his forwards. Rod Underwood brought McGrath with him to Chattanooga from Stumptown AC and the player proved his worth game in and game out.

Roster

Victor Blanco (AM/RW) - Club de Lyon FC

18 December 2002 (20 years old), 5’10” (177cm), VEN

Probably the brightest spot in the 2023 season for Club de Lyon, Victor Blanco is a talented attacking midfielder who will only be 21 years old when the 2024 season starts. Blanco usually plays right wing into the right central midfield. He was one of the better passers in NISA the past season and can carve through an opponent’s defense with lightning speed. Blanco is definitely worth a USL1 roster spot and might be a potential development player for a USLC team.

Stephen Elias (RB/RM) - Flower City Union

20 May 1997 (26 years old), 5’8” (173cm), USA

Stephen Elias is a winner. He has won national amateur club titles with Lansdowne Yonkers FC and was integral to the past two NISA champions. Elias is a veteran leader and easily has some of the best technical stills in NISA. He can fill most positions on the right side to meet a team’s needs and can range well into the center of the pitch. He would likely have been ranked at Starter but for nagging injuries the past few seasons. But, Elias would be a good pickup for a USL team even if coming off the bench as a supersub.

Offseason camp

Daniel Bedoya (LM) - ALBION San Diego

13 February 1994 (29 years old), 5’6” (168cm), 143lbs (65kg), COL

Daniel Bedoya has been a pivotal player in ALBION San Diego’s midfield for the past two seasons. He brings a veteran presence and USL1 experience. A flexible left midfielder, Bedoya can push up into the attack and provides top-notch defense to slow down attacks. He also is excellent on free and corner kicks. Bedoya is well worth a look from team’s needing talent in the midfield.

Shinya Kadono (RW) - ALBION San Diego

30 January 1997 (26 years old), 5’7” (170cm), 167lbs (76kg), JPN

Primarily a right winger, Shinya Kadono is also comfortable on the left wing, dropping back to right back, and pushing up more centrally. Prior to the COVID pandemic, he spent a short time in both USL Championship and USL League One and came to ALBION San Diego in 2023 after a number of seasons with the California United Strikers. Kadono’s quickness and ability on the ball makes him an asset for attacking buildup and creative play in space.

For a team known for defense, there’s a lot of attacking talent on the Michigan Stars. *Image courtesy of Michigan Stars.*

Hunter Olson (LAM/LW) - Michigan Stars FC

16 April 1998 (25 years old), 5’11” (180cm), USA

Hunter Olson plays attacking midfield with a quickness that belies his height. He is the type of player that always seems to find himself in the middle of his team’s dangerous attacking opportunities. Olson finds a way to get at least one or two shots on frame each game he starts and excels at making keepers make saves when shooting from odd angles or seemingly inopportune moments.

Yuki Shibata (RM/RW) - Club de Lyon/ALBION San Diego

15 January 1998 (25 years old), 5’9” (175cm), JPN

After spending 2022 with FC Tucson of USL1, Yuki Shibata joined Club de Lyon before transferring to ALBION San Diego midseason. He has the talent and ability to play most positions on the right side but had success later in the season pushed higher as a RWB or RW. Shibata is talented in possession and excels as a distributor connecting his team’s right side transition from defense to attack.

Drew Wivell (RAM) - Maryland Bobcats FC

8 February 1999 (24 years old), 5’7” (170cm), 150lbs (68kg), USA

Drew Wivell’s story is similar to many young players negatively impacted by the COVID pandemic. Wivell was a college and MLS academy prospect who started as a professional with Loudoun United but could not stay with the team due to COVID restrictions. He joined Maryland as a reserve player in 2021, then as a first team bench player in 2022, and became a starter for the 2023 season. Wivell’s talent has become more obvious as he got the minutes necessary to get into the professional game. At 24, he has become one of the best attacking midfielders in NISA and ended 2023 tied for the league lead in assists.

Tryouts

Alexander Dalou (LAM/LCM) - Gold Star FC/ALBION San Diego

24 August 2000 (23 years old), 5’7” (170cm), CYP

Alex Dalou split time in 2023 first with Gold Star FC then moving to ALBION San Diego to finish the season. He is an attack-minded midfielder with good pace and the ability to disrupt opposition defenses. At only 23, Dalou could be worth a look for clubs looking to build out their midfield depth.

Pierre Richard (CM) - Maryland Bobcats FC

1 July 2000 (23 years old), USA

Pierre Richard signed with the Maryland Bobcats following a stint with NoVa FC, one of the top amateur soccer clubs in the Mid-Atlantic region. Brought on board primarily as midfield depth, Richard worked himself into the starting lineup by the end of the 2023 season. He brings a high work rate, quickness, and an ability to disrupt opposing attackers. Richard is well worth a look from USL teams needing to fill out their roster at the six or eight positions.

Forwards

The forward position in NISA has always been the one found most wanting during its short history. Teams have regularly found themselves without a primary goal scorer for entire seasons. The position has gradually improved and there are a few top-level players in the league.

Starter

Espinal has been among the best players in NISA for several seasons. *Image courtesy of Maryland Bobcats.*

Darwin Espinal (LW/LAM) - Maryland Bobcats FC

16 January 1995 (28 years old), 5’11” (180cm), 163lbs (74kg), HON/USA

Arguably the most talented forward in NISA, Darwin Espinal is an elite-level ball striker. He has the ability to score goals from free kicks which would be highlight reel material for any professional league in the U.S. A maestro number 11, Espinal can break down defenders in a flash and score goals from angles not usually seen in Division III. He is an enigmatic player and needs a strong supporting cast (especially a left-sided connector) to keep him involved. Espinal is definitely USL ready, perhaps even a supersub in the USL Championship.

Markus Naglestad (CF) - Chattanooga FC

26 April 1991 (32 years old), 6’0” (183cm), 178lbs (81kg), NOR

Two time Golden Boot winner, Markus Naglestad is the greatest goal scorer in NISA history. Tall and physical, Naglestad is a prototypical center forward and would easily fill a roster spot for most USL1 teams. He has the talent to make it in USLC. Naglestad brings a veteran presence and wants to continue his career.

Roster

Alioune Diakhate (CF) - Flower City Union

10 April 1994 (29 years old), 5’11” (180cm), 165lbs (75kg), SEN

The breakout star of NISA in 2022, Alioune Diakhate moved from ALBION San Diego to Flower City Union for the 2023 season. Early season struggles for both the player and the team meant that Diakhate didn’t have the same success in the prior season. But his play definitely helped bring a Cinderella championship to Rochester. A mobile center forward, Diakhate thrives when he is able to build off the ball movement created by his teammates. He is creative in possession and can create scoring opportunities from even the smallest cracks in a defense.

At 25, Leon Maric is in his prime. *Image courtesy of Michigan Stars.*

Leon Maric (CF) - Michigan Stars FC

1 August 1998 (25 years old), 6’5” (196cm), BIH

The primary striker for Michigan Stars during his time with the club, Leon Maric grew into a Golden Boot contender with 14 goals in 2023. While he can poach goals in the box like a usual center forward, Maric is very mobile and makes regular long runs of possession at the goal. His ability to get up to speed relatively quickly for a big man is impressive to watch. Maric also excels at the high press and his team will convert numerous goals during the year off his defensive disruption. He is fearless in the six yard box and will crash the goal without flinching.

Offseason camp

Luke Ferreira (CF/LW) - Flower City Union

2 July 1995 (28 years old), 6’0” (182cm), 174lbs (79kg), USA

Luke Ferreira spent time in the USL Championship in 2020 before signing with Chattanooga FC for the 2022 NISA season. Stuck behind a number of other attacking options, Ferreira didn’t see much time with Chattanooga and moved to Flower City Union for the 2023 season. He shook off the rust as the season wore on and became a dangerous attacker as the season wore on. Ferreira is dangerous at disrupting defenses from the wing and can be the point of attack at center forward. Veteran leadership in the locker room is another asset he brings.

Francis Avoce (CF) - Los Angeles Force

9 May 1998 (25 years old), CAN/USA

After spending the last few seasons overseas, Francis Avoce joined the Los Angeles Force midseason and made an immediate impact. Avoce is a young center forward with quickness and ball striking abilities. When he gets hot he scores in bunches. Avoce had three braces during the 2023 season and would likely have been in the Golden Boot race if he had begun the season in NISA. Avoce’s game feels like a great fit for USL1.

Malik Thom (RW/LW) - Maryland Bobcats FC

21 August 1998 (25 years old), USA

Malik Thom signed with the Maryland Bobcats after spending a season as a professional in Australia. The tall, rangy winger can play on either side of the pitch. As the 2023 season progressed, Thom became the primary attacker on the right side for Maryland taking a lot of defensive pressure off Darwin Espinal. He can chew up space in possession before distributing from the wing or cutting in and going for goal. Thom’s ball striking is also an asset. If he gets into a USL1 camp, he’ll likely make the roster.

Cyrus Tran (CF) - ALBION San Diego

4 October 1994 (29 years old), 5’9” (175cm), USA/JPN

Cyrus Tran moved from the Michigan Stars to ALBION San Diego and, given more minutes, became one of the top goal-scorers in NISA. Comfortable at both forward, wing and central midfield, he is able to create in possession and be dangerous in transition and breakaway opportunities.Tran’s partnership up top with Shinya Kadono helped create a potent ALBION offense for a nearly completely rebuilt roster.

Tryouts

Roddy Green began his pro career in Michigan and returned this year with Gold Star FC. *Image courtesy of Roddy Green.*

Roddy Green (LW) - Gold Star FC

27 September 1997 (26 years old), 6’1” (185cm), USA

Roddy Green spent his first few seasons in NISA stuck down the depth charts of both Detroit City FC and Chattanooga FC. The 2023 season saw him move to Gold Star FC where he finally found time as a starter. The tall winger can also move more centrally and drop back into attacking midfield. The epitome of a hard worker, Green is a professional in the locker room, at practice and on match day. He proves himself when given a shot.

Vlad Jokic (F/AM) - Gold Star FC

5 January 1999 (24 years old), 6’2” (188cm), SRB

Vlad Jokic may have been the breakout attacker on the expansion Gold Star FC roster. Big and mobile, Jokic is very dangerous in transition and breakaways. He is a good distributor and gets himself into dangerous goal scoring positions. Jokic’s size and likely potential should be getting him looks this offseason.

- Dan Creel