Action in the ECNL was once again fast and furious as the National Playoffs draw closer and closer. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from around the league over this past weekend:

U15

So Cal Blues secured four points on its two game weekend, picking up a 2-0 win over Real So Cal and a 0-0 draw against Slammers FC. Victoria Buda and Anika Rodriguez grabbed goals for the Blues in the win.

Slammers managed a win in its other game of the weekend, a 1-0 defeat of Irvine Strikers. Midfielder Shelby Brown scored the winning goal in that one for Slammers.

Ashley Cordero and Natalie Jacobs scored the decisive goals for West Coast FC as they beat the San Diego Surf 2-1. Jessica Clegg scored the consolation tally for the Surf.

FC Stars of Massachusetts enjoyed a banner outing against Albertson Fury. Gabriella Carreiro scored a hat trick in a 5-1 win. However, FC Stars couldn’t sweep the weekend, as they were edged 1-0 by East Meadow on Sunday. Samantha Goodwin provided the winner for East Meadow. Goodwin also tallied in East Meadow’s other game on the weekend, a 3-2 defeat of Scorpions SC.

Also in the northeast, PDA picked up a pair of comfortable wins. Jenny Haskel scored twice and Gianna Bustamante added another in a 3-0 win against Connecticut FC, before the team cruised to a 7-0 defeat of SoccerPlus Connecticut. Montana Sutton and Elizabeth Kinkler each scored twice in the win.

“We are working hard to get better each week and take every game each weekend with the same attitude,” PDA head coach William Bustamante wrote TopDrawerSoccer.com in an email. “The team is dealing with some injuries at this time but what’s great about this team is that someone different will always step up to contribute.”

 

U16

Facing a trip to Pennsylvania, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy split a pair of games against Penn Fusion and FC Bucks. After goals from Maddie Huster and Emmi Caroll powered Ohio to a 2-0 defeat of the Fusion, FC Bucks defeated Elie 2-1 on Sunday.

Ohio Elite was joined on the road swing by Ohio Premier, which came away from the trip with two wins, defeating FC Bucks 3-0 and Penn Fusion by a 1-0 score line. Nya Cason and Samantha Edwards provided the goals for Ohio in the wins.

“I think it was a good weekend for them,” Ohio Premier head coach Chris King told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “Their backs have been against the wall now for about three or four weeks, playing without subs, and they’ve been finding ways to get results, get draw, get wins.”

Out west, Irvine Strikers downed Arsenal FC by a 1-0 score. Dayna Mounie bagged the game winner for the Strikers.

U17

Scorpions SC had too much firepower for East Meadow and Albertson Fury to handle, winning 4-2 and 5-0 respectively. McKenzie Meehan was at it again, scoring eight of the club’s nine goals as they extended their winning streak to nine games.

The weekend provided a pair of high-scoring, entertaining matches for Heat FC. After blanking Eagles SC, thanks to goals from Dakota Blazak, Moeghan Cordero and Lynsey Ng, Heat FC drew 3-3 against Utah Avalanche.

In their trip to Pennsylvania, Ohio Premier Eagles picked up a pair of 2-0 wins on the road, defeating FC Bucks and Penn Fusion. The Eagles continued to get by without Lindsay Agnew, one of their best players and a member of the Canadian U17 Women’s National Team who has missed the past few weeks at the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament.

Ohio Elite’s trip split their games, losing 6-1 to Penn Fusion and beating FC Bucks 2-1.

U18

After an up and down season, Heat FC wrapped up its regular season with two emphatic wins. First, a Breanna Robinson hat trick powered the club to a 5-3 defeat of Eagles Soccer Club. Then, Robinson got back on the score sheet and was joined by Azucena Bernal and Sienna Drizin in a 3-2 win against Utah Avalanche.

Natalie Donadson bagged the winning goal for Slammers FC in a tightly-contested 1-0 defeat of So Cal Blues. San Diego Surf got the better of West Coast FC in a tight game, as Mackenzie Akins scored the game winner in a 1-0 result.

Scorpions SC picked up another two wins over the weekend. Jenna Savi scored three goals in a 4-0 win against East Meadow, and Lauren Varela and Kathryn Hiller also scored to secure a 3-2 defeat of Albertson.

The battle between two Maryland-based Maryland teams, Freestate Soccer Alliance and Bethesda SC, ended up a 1-1 stalemate after 90 minutes

ECNL Peak Performers

Samantha Picinich, Midfielder, East Meadow U15: Provided an assist on all three goals in a 3-2 win against Scorpions SC, and then contributed to a clean sheet win against FC Stars of Massachusetts.

McKenzie Meehan, Forward, Scorpions CC U17: The sensational season for Meehan continued over the weekend, as she scored eight of her team’s nine goals.

Sarah Cox, Goakeeper, Slammers FC U18: The shot-stopper kept a clean sheet in Slammers FC’s 1-0 win against So Cal Blues.

Samantha Edwards, Forward Ohio Elite Premier U16: With her team limited in numbers and making a trip out east for two tough games, Edwards scored three goals including a game winner on Sunday.

Phoebe McClernon, Defender, Penn Fusion U15: Helped her side pick up four points from the weekend, including a shutout against Ohio Elite, and added a goal for good measure.

Lindsey Lane, Midfielder, Freestate Soccer Alliance U17: In a tight matchup of two strong Maryland teams, Lane’s goal made up the difference in a 1-0 win against Bethesda SC.

Jenna Savi, Forward, Scorpions SC U18: Scored a hat trick to lead her side to a 4-0 win against East Meadow.

Alison Savage, Defender, D’Feeters SC U17: Bagged a pair of goals helping steer her side to a 3-1 win.