TEMECULA, California – Richard Chiong knows a foul when he sees one.

Like any good referee, he also knows a tough soccer crowd; and a few of the zealous parents following the ECNL Fall Showcase on Saturday certainly qualified.
{mosvideo:350}Never mind that Chiong has been involved in the game for more than 40 years - having grown up playing in Peru - when it comes to beloved daughters in uniforms and soccer cleats, everybody’s an expert.

“It’s kind of funny,” Chiong said.

But it wasn’t such a laughing matter when Chiong had to admonish one not-so gentleman for unnecessary remarks during a U18 match.

In fairness, the offender represented the minority as most of the crowd voiced its disagreement in PG terms. Chiong, though, explained that he was concerned about letting one over-the-line remark snowball and potentially influence the players on the field.

And just think: the Fall Showcase is only a season-opening event. Just imagine if this weekend had major implications …

The Players

• And the award for most entertaining brand of soccer on Day two goes to U18 Real Colorado. Quick touches, good spacing and ideal teamwork allowed them to take an aesthetically pleasing 1-0 win over Real So Cal. Defenders Jaelene Hinkle, Katie Campbell and Kaylyn Cooper were also key.

Even opposing Real So Cal had to admire their play.

“They were really great in the midfield and had a good forward too,” said Real So Cal Ramia Fields. “We didn’t have a very good warm up today and they really jumped on us quickly. They were a good team.”

• Call her “Miss Throw-in.” U15 San Diego Surf midfielder Rosalind Porritt is lethal with the ball over her head. She repeatedly showed off her skill which the Surf used as a weapon more advantageous than a corner kick. The Surf took a 1-0 win over Real Colorado thanks to a game-winning goal from Courtney Coate.
• Allie Stephenson, of the U18 KCFC squad, had a good showing in her team’s 3-1 defeat to the San Diego Surf. Stephenson is a quick player who was dangerous in passing lanes while creating some good scoring chances alongside teammates Shea Groom and Delaney Kiely.
• Slammers FC U18 goalkeeper Lindsey Luke showed some real mettle after a collision during the first half left her favoring her right side. Headed to Wake Forest next year, Luke played through the injury – which was clearly bothering her – and helped lead her team to a win over Mustang SC with the help of talent like Rachael Larson and Francesca Coxe.
• The U18 Arsenal FC defense, which included Deanna Bratton, Amanda Wilkinson, and goalkeeper Chandler Morris, was very impressive in its 1-0 shutout of Neusport. Arsenal was vocal, active, and never panicked when penetrated. On the other side, Alyssa Kleiner shined and was in competitive feistiness mode, picking up a yellow card for jawing to a referee.

Speech! Speech! Speech!

The U15 Pleasanton Rage have a pretty cool tradition that involves giving one another ribbons and getting an inspirational message from one designated teammate on a rotating basis. On Saturday, Ivy Torres-Flores had the floor, imploring her teammates that “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.”

Nice.

Day 1 News | Day 1 Video Highlights

 

ECNL Fall Showcase Day Two Results

U15
San Diego Surf 1, Colorado Rush 0
De Anza Force 2, KCFC 0
Real So Cal 2, SC Del Sol 0
Slammers FC 1, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 0
Arsenal FC 4, San Juan SC 0
Irvine Strikers 1, FC Milwaukee 1
Neusport FC 3, Pleasanton Rage 0
Mustang SC 3, West Coast FC 2

U16
San Diego Surf 0, San Juan SC 0
Slammers FC 1, Colorado Rush 1
Arsenal FC 1, KCFC 1
De Anza Force 1, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 1
Real So Cal 2, Mustang SC 2
FC Milwaukee 2, Irvine Strikers 1
West Coast 2, SC Del Sol 1
Pleasanton Rage 1, Neusport FC 0

U17
Colorado Rush 4, Real So Cal 1,
San Diego Surf 0, KCFC 0
San Juan SC 2, Slammers FC 1
St. Louis Scott Gallagher 2, De Anza Force 1
Arsenal FC 1, SC Del Sol 1
West Coast FC 3, Mustang SC 2
Pleasanton Rage 1, FC Milwaukee 1
Irvine Strikers 1, Neusport FC 1

U18
FC Milwaukee 0, De Anza Force 0
Arsenal FC 1, Neusport FC 0
Real Colorado 1, Real So Cal 0
Slammers FC 3, Mustang SC 1
San Juan SC 2, SC Del Sol 0
Pleasanton Rage 3, Irvine Strikers 0
San Diego Surf 3, KCFC 1
West Coast FC 2, Sereno Soccer Club 0