POMONA, CALIF – When these young ladies gather together it’s understandable that two days may not be enough time for a group to really click as a unit, but Danielle Fotopolous’s Team 4 played some very nice soccer Saturday en route to a 2-0 win over Cindy Cone’s Team 2 here at the adidas ESP for Girls.

The good play went beyond the team’s two goals, but those were nicely done as well. On the first, Neusport SC’s Indiana Mead continued her stellar camp performance with a good pass that set up Caroline Brawner for a good finish and a 1-0 lead in the early going. Later in the half, Kansas City-area standout Shea Groom put in some hard work to meet a pass from the back by FC Milwaukee’s Brittany Von Rueden. Groom then hit a lovely chipped cross over the middle where it was met by the head of FSA Soccer Helena Pereira for a 2-0 Team 4 lead.

Groom has been one of the better performers here, combining relentless pursuit and athletic ability with high-quality ideas and skill. Mead likewise has been a top midfielder here, both in winning balls and doing good things with it once she’s got it.

St. Louis Scott Gallagher’s Jessica Kelley was good Saturday, showing fine technical speed with her strong runs down the right. Von Rueden continues to be good in the back and 2nd half goalkeeper Abby Smith turned in a number of athletic saves, including two to deny well-struck drives from Albertson SC player Karin Simonian.

For Team 2, Arsenal FC forward Jennifer Gonzalez showed good technique, particularly in striking a ball. Dallas Texans’ defender Whitney Jaynes shows good positional sense and is good in the air. Fullerton Rangers’ winger Chelsey Patterson is impressive when running with the ball.

 

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Lineups

Team 2
GK: Meghan Dolan (Britt Eckerstrom)
D: Megan Oyster, Haley McKinney, Kathryn Nigro, Whitney Jaynes
M: Ashley McCutcheon, Kate Perry, Jourden Casey
F: Taylor Smith, Courtney Proctor, Jennifer Gonzalez
Subs: Chelsey Patterson, Taylor Schneider, Liska Dobberstein, Karin Simonian

Team 4
GK: Molly Poletto (Abby Smith)
D: Meredith Speck, Megan Hunsberger, Brittany Von Rueden, Tabria Williford
M: Kasey Koballa, Indiana Mead, Maya Theuer, Helena Pereira
F: Caroline Brawner, Shea Groom
Subs: Julia Sandridge, Jessica Kelley, Danielle Colaprico, Hannah Keane