ECNL Preview: Putting a bow on it
It is a busy week in the elite girls club soccer sphere. With U20 and U18 Women’s National Team camps in Chula Vista and ECNL heading into one of the final weekends of the regular season, there is plenty to keep an eye on.
On the horizon, there is the final ECNL National Event of the 2013-14 season on the schedule for next weekend.
Check out some of the games to watch in the ECNL this weekend below.
U14
So Cal Blues heads into the weekend with the possibility of completing an undefeated regular season. Blues face Slammers FC on Saturday night and then San Diego Surf on Sunday. Blues are 22-0-1 on the campaign thanks to an unforgiving defense that has only let in three goals. The Southwest Conference leaders are also in the top spot in the Champions League standings.
In the Metro Division, World Class FC takes on PDA in a battle of the top two teams. World Class holds onto the top spot, but PDA won the first meeting this season 4-1. Luciana Zullo, Brianna Urbanski, Jessica Schildkraut, and Amelia Paternoster scored for PDA in the win. World Class has been unstoppable since then and brings an 18-game winning-streak in Sunday’s clash.
After dropping a tough 1-0 result last week, Lonestar SC returns to action this weekend with a game against D’Feeters Soccer Club. The teams currently sit in second and fourth in the Texas Conference respectively. The two teams battled to a 1-1 draw earlier this season with Olufolasade Adamolekun scoring for Lonestar and Taylor Moon scoring for D’Feeters.
U15
Eclipse Select Soccer Club takes on Minnesota Thunder Academy in a pair of games over the weekend. Eclipse is battling for one of the final playoff spots and needs a strong close to the divisional play before heading to the PDA event next weekend. Channing Foster and Samantha Salay pace the Eclipse attack as the duo has 12 goals and 10 assists this season.
Ohio Elite Soccer Academy also faces a challenging weekend as the regular season heads toward its final days. Ohio Elite takes on Bethesda SC and Maryland United on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Ohio Elite, despite being winless since March 23, remains in one of the final wild card sports. Bethesda rolled Ohio in the first meeting this season 5-2. Cameron Murtha had a hat trick in the win.
MORE: ECNL Scoreboard | Top 10 ECNL weekend scorers | Girls Commitments
San Diego Surf has a difficult task ahead with games against West Coast FC, first in Southwest Conference, and So Cal Blues, third in the Southwest, this weekend. West Coast won the first meeting this season 3-1 behind goals from Remy Mathews, Madison Cook, and Madison Bennett. The result remains Surf’s only conference loss this season.
U16
FC Dallas wraps up its regular season this weekend with a game against Solar Chelsea Soccer Club. FC Dallas sits in second in the Texas Conference and would move into a tie for first with a win on Sunday. Natalee Heiser scored the lone goal in the first meeting this season, which FC Dallas won 1-0.
Maryland United could climb into a top four spot in the Champions League standings with a good showing over the weekend. Maryland United takes on Carmel United on Saturday and then Ohio Elite Soccer Academy on Sunday. In March, Maryland United rolled past Carmel 8-0 behind three goals from Kia Rankin.
The Metro Division will be the scene of another showdown this weekend when FC Bucks takes on Match Fit Academy and Continental FC Delco. Bucks are undefeated in their last 10 games with the last loss coming against Match Fit in March. Bridgette King scored the lone goal in that game.
U17
Dallas Sting, the top team in the Champions League standings, finishes the regular season on Sunday with a game against TSC Hurricane. Ariel Leach and Ainsly Wolfinbarger scored the goals for Sting in a 2-0 win over Hurricane earlier this season.
Sereno Soccer Club hosts Arsenal FC and Strikers FC in a pair of meaningful contests in Arizona this weekend. Sereno is in the middle of the playoff race at this point and would greatly benefit from a six-point showing. Shelby Roberts was the star when these teams met earlier this season. Roberts had three goals over the two games.
U18
Internationals SC is attempting to close out the regular season on a high note with a game against OP Ohio Premier on Friday night. Internationals are still without the services of leading scorer Emily Ogle who is with the U18 Women’s National Team in Chula Vista. Ogle scored two goals in the first meeting this season, which Internationals won 3-0.
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