LIBERTYVILLE, ILLINOIS – The new Elite Clubs National League is well under way after a 2nd day of play here Saturday at the Eclipse Select Challenge Cup.

The 40-team league, which involves top clubs from across the country, is beginning with an abbreviated schedule this weekend in the Chicago area. The bulk of its competition at U15, U16 and U17 Girls age groups will take place through the upcoming season at four other events, but the new venture is already getting good marks from its participants.

On Saturday a couple of matchups between highly-regarded clubs Eclipse Select and Colorado Rush highlighted play. The U15 Rush team took a 1-0 win while the U16 Rush squad also came out on top, beating Eclipse 2-0.

Additionally tournament play in the U13 and U14 age groups continued and it has to be said that the fields here at the Libertyville Township Soccer complex are looking and playing fantastically well. While this summer hasn’t been as hot as usual, to have fields in the Midwest that allow the ball to roll like this in mid-August is just tremendous.

Quarterfinals (13s only), semifinals and finals will be played here Sunday. TopDrawerSoccer.com will have a full report on those games Monday morning.

Following are some details of Saturday feature matches. Scroll down for a list of scores thus far in the tournament.


U15 ECNL: Colorado Rush 1, Eclipse Select 0

Danica Evans scored a 2nd half winner for Rush, running onto a deflected serve from Morgan Stanton and striking it first time inside the far post for the victory.

Rush coach Wes Hart agreed that his team’s strength is in its style and technique.

“That is what so special about this group. We’re not the most athletic, but we have players who are clean, who technically want the ball and backs who want to attack and get forward,” Hart said. “The key to this group is the movement off the ball and it allows us to keep possession and move forward.”

Hart added that he is positive about the ECNL concept.

“Every game is going to push us to the brink. That was a quality opponent today and the game could have gone either way,” he said. “Fortunately for us it went our way, but the league as a whole is awesome for the girls’ game and I think we’ll see our team improve but girls soccer improve.”

Eclipse forward Michelle Prokof made a good move on the left early on to win a corner. The resulting set piece yielded a dangerous ball from Prokof, but Rush defender Julia Thurston headed the ball clear. Thurston was good in the back and especially in the air throughout.

Eclipse created another good chance through some combination play from Bridget Hillsman, Bryce Banuelos and Summer Schafer before Schafer’s shot was saved by a sprawling Madison Halbach in the Rush net.

Rush knocked the ball around well when they could get it, but Eclipse were winning a lot of the 50/50 balls and enjoying more of the 1st half possession. Rush’s first scoring chance came when Kelly Drabney put on a good move down the left and hit a cross that Eclipse goalkeeper Christine Mursuli did well to snag. On the other end, Eclipse’s Mia Espino produced a good dribbling move across the top of the area before hitting a hard shot that Halbach made a diving save on.

Rush countered when Evans and Stanton combined for a shot from the latter, but it went wide. Drabney then attacked down the right but her shot was blocked in the area by Eclipse defender Cory Levels. A late-half header from Eclipse was cleared off the line by the well-positioned Rachel Collins, sending the teams to the break scoreless.

Rush defender Maddie Hall was solid throughout with good steps and reads, similar to the skills being shown by Eclipse center back Kara Morway.

In the 2nd half, Eclipse’s Summer Schafter attacked well down the right, but Hall made a crucial tackle in the area to win the ball and end the threat. About midway through the 2nd stanza, Stanton and Evans combined to score the game-winning goal for Rush.

Eclipse put pressure on the Rush goal in the closing minutes, but Halbach came up big on multiple occasions and Haley DeVries delivered a vital tackle in the area to stop another chance, and the Colorado team took the win.

U16 ECNL: Colorado Rush 2, Eclipse Select 0

This match was a bit slower than the U15 game, no doubt reflecting the slower recovery time for players competing on successive days as they get older. Rush forward Mallory Weber was causing some difficulties with her running on the ball, but long-range shots from Rush caused little problem for Eclipse goalkeeper Klaire Adee.

Adee was tested more firmly late in the half after Alexandria Carter set up Mary Schwappach for a hard shot from close range. On the other end, Eclipse’s Teig Palmateer set up Lauren Hall for a 1v1 opportunity, but Rush goalkeeper Hannah Clark made a good save. Hall then set up Hunter Drendle just before the half, but Clark again stopped the effort and the teams went to the break scoreless.

Eclipse's Drendle came close to scoring early in the 2nd half after taking a nice pass from Kaila Mack, turning her marker and firing from long range. Olivia Pappalardo played a good through pass for A.J. Rojas, but Rush goalkeeper Clark again came off her line to snuff out the threat by diving bravely at Rojas’ feet.

On the other end, Schwappach crossed well for Kristen Parr, whose hard shot was saved by Adee to keep the match scoreless. The match appeared to be slowing down and a scoreless draw appeared a distinct possibility, but a slack backpass was intercepted by the fleet-footed Weber, and she rounded the keeper and knocked the ball into an empty net to give Rush a 1-0 lead.

Eclipse tried to pull the goal back immediately, but Rush defender Sydnee Weidner made a saving tackle. With Eclipse pushing forward, Rush’s Kristen Parr found room to dribble in on the left and score via a 1v1 chance to provide the final scoreline of 2-0 for the Colorado team.

U13 Girls: Minnesota Thunder Academy 3, PDA Charge 0

A couple of talented teams took 2-0 records into this afternoon matchup, and the Minnesota side produced a clinical display of ball-winning and finishing to win the match.

April Bakken put MTA up early, and nearly doubled the lead a few minutes later but her chip from the right side was grabbed well by PDA goalkeeper Ashley Hill. PDA’s Gianna Bustamante set up Montana Sutton for a shot that went just wide.

Minnesota’s Keeley Totenhagen is a fast and strong player who runs well with the ball. PDA’s Remy Borinsky shows excellent technique and vision on the ball, while Sutton is a good all-around attacking player.

Late in the half, Minnesota’s Maddie Frick had a chance from a scramble in the area, but her shot was saved by PDA’s Hill.  

In the 2nd half, Minnesota’s Vivien Schultz made a good pass to turn Bakken loose again, and the fast forward finished 1v1 to give her team a 2-0 lead. PDA’s Sam DePino nearly answered on the other end with a long-range effort that went just wide.

PDA was game, but Minnesota’s Mallory Fenske led a strong defensive effort that limited the quality of the New Jersey side’s chances. Minnesota’s Sophie Babo completed the scoring with an impressive long-range strike, giving MTA a deserved 3-0 win.


Elite Clubs National League Scores (courtesy ECNL)

U15
Friday
Eclipse Select 3, Irvine Strikers 1
Colorado Rush 3, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 0
FC Milwaukee 2, Birmingham United 1
Virginia Rush 4, SC Del Sol 1
Saturday
Colorado Rush 1, Eclipse Select 0
Irvine Strikers 1, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 0
SC Del Sol 3, Birmingham United 2
FC Milwaukee 0, Virginia Rush 0

U16
Friday
Eclipse Select 0, Birmingham United 0
Colorado Rush 3, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 2
FC Milwaukee 2, Irvine Strikers 0
SC Del Sol 3, Virginia Rush 1

Saturday
Colorado Rush 2, Eclipse Select 0
St. Louis Scott Gallagher 4, Birmingham United 1
SC Del Sol 3, Irvine Strikers 2
FC Milwaukee 3, Virginia Rush 2

U17
Friday
Eclipse Select 7, Irvine Strikers 0
Colorado Rush 1, FC Milwaukee 1
SC Del Sol 3, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 0
Birmingham United 5, Virginia Rush 0

Saturday
FC Milwaukee 3, Eclipse Select 1
Colorado Rush 1, Irvine Strikers 0
Birmingham United 6, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 2
Virginia Rush 3, SC del Sol 0

U13 Girls Challenge Cup Scores
Friday
PDA Clash 5, KCFC United 2
Minnesota Thunder 4, Eclipse Select West 3
Carmel United 2, Sting Dallas 1
Ohio Premier 3, Eclipse Select North 0
Vardar 4, FC DELCO 0
Ohio Elite 5, Chicago Fire Juniors 1
St. Louis Scott Gallagher 4, Eclipse Select South 0
Sting Dallas 3, Sockers FC 0
FC Stars of Mass 1, Midwest Knockouts 1
Eclipse Select East 1, Michigan Jaguars 0


U14 Girls Challenge Cup Scores
Friday
Eclipse Select 3, Chicago Fire Juniors 0
Ohio Premier 1, Minnesota Thunder 1
PDA Slammers 4, FC United 0
Carmel United 4, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 1
Sockers FC 3, Stars of Massachusetts 1
Ohio Elite 1, Michigan Hawks 0