Kyra Baun, who will begin her senior year at West Hartford’s Hall High School, was selected for the tournament featuring top players from around the country.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Paul Palmer

Hall High School rising senior Kyra Baun is back from a whirlwind three-day trip to Richmond, Virginia. The 17-year-old capped it off with her selection to the Girls Academy National Selection Game.

“It was great to play with girls from across the country and learn from all these players and coaches,” she said.

The Girls Academy is a nationwide soccer league with multiple conferences around the country. There are 126 soccer clubs playing in 12 conferences with an estimated 18,000 girls participating. It is one of two major developmental soccer leagues across the country focused on youth development in the United States.

Courtesy image

Baun plays for Oakwood Soccer Academy in the Northeast Conference during its regular season against teams from New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. It is their performance in those conference games that earn players a chance to go to the Regional Talent ID each year. The coaches from each conference nominate players to go.

“It was a great experience. My two college coaches were there watching,” she said. She learned in June that her skills had earned her a spot at the National level competition.

Baun was named to the Navy team at the National Talend ID event which happened to be made up of girls from the Northeast.

”Wednesday was very busy with a full field game vs. Team One. I played out of position as a winger (usually outside back). My coach told me my decision making was top notch,” she said.

Later that night the two sides met again, and Baun had her highlight moment. “That night we played a second game and I scored in this one with my left foot while playing right wing. That was the highlight of the trip for me,” Baun said.

Anyone who has seen her play knows that she is dangerous with the left foot. At Hall, she delivers pinpoint crosses and corner kicks to her teammates in scoring positions.

A pair of 17s, Kyra Baun of Hall and Avon’s Emma Loparco, follow the ball. Hall vs. Avon girls soccer. Oct. 6, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer (we-ha.com file photo)

It was after that second game that she learned she had been selected to play in the Girls Academy National Selection Game, which is a collection of some of the best under 17s in the country. “Everyone there was just so good. I learned a lot. My coaches talked to us about our mindset and not getting down on ourselves if you make a mistake.”

She said that being with several teammates and opponents – some she had played against a year earlier at the Talent ID Camp, and during the regular season – helped her realize where she stands. “It definitely helped my confidence. I worried about being a  freshman (next year) and going to college. I saw I can play with them. It’s an amazing opportunity to play with and against these girls.”

Another part of the three days dealt with learning to be a leader on the field, something she wants to keep developing when the fall season at Hall starts. “I will carry that into Hall this year,” said the rising senior, who earned All-State honors as a junior.

Baun has already made a verbal commitment to play college soccer at Division I Monmouth University in New Jersey. Since 1995, Monmouth’s women’s team has won 10 conference tournament championships across three different conferences. Last season the Hawks (10-5-2 overall) were tops in the North Division and the No. 1 seed in the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament. They made it to the final before falling 1-0 to Stony Brook.

Hall’s Kyra Baun (#17) scored the Titans’ first goal. Hall vs. Glastonbury girls varsity soccer, Sept. 2, 2025. Photo credit: Mia Jaworski (we-ha.com file photo)

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