COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - It was still cold Saturday in Texas at the ECNL Showcase, but the Sting Dallas U15 Girls team coached by Tatu were in a warming trend.

The squad were in very good form, falling behind early to a talented Charlotte Soccer Academy team, but rallying to win 3-1 with some very good soccer along the way.

Coached by indoor soccer legend Tatu, Sting have a prolific won-loss record over the past few years, but have hit a rough spot since the summer’s regional tournament. Tatu addressed this while praising the team’s performance Saturday.

“Since regionals we’ve had a lot of injuries. We’re a little banged up and we’re trying to get the group back together. We’re not fit enough yet in my opinion, but we’re able to battle,” he said. “Today we went down 1-0 and we didn’t quit and we have some tough kids out there. I’m happy with the style. We moved the ball well and kept possession. The only time we were in trouble was when we made simple, basic mistakes. That’s what kills a coach, but I’m pleased we won and we’re 2-0 in the ECNL.”

Tatu said he thinks the new league’s format and competition will be a positive for his team as it continues to develop.

“This is a very good idea. We’re here because we want to play good teams. We don’t want to come here and spank teams 8-0 and it’s no competition,” he said. “We still have a long way to go with this. It’s still the beginning but as far as I can see it we’re on the right track.”

Charlotte scored the opening goal in the first half via a weaving run through defense and good finish from Courtney Crump. That served as a wakeup call for Sting however, and as the team began to assert itself they managed to score an equalizer courtesy a Maddy Crabtree finish, after a Glory Williams serve had set off a scramble in front of goal.

In the 2nd half, Sting midfielder Glory Williams played a great ball to Katie Martin, who deftly chipped and rounded the keeper. Running onto her own ball, Martin hit a volley that bounced off the upright, but then hustled in to head her own rebound into the back of the net to make it 2-1. Another Williams serve found the head of Caity Heap, whose header went into the back of the net for a 3-1 final scoreline. Sting also got good play on the afternoon from Katelyn Mountjoy.

Williams said working on set pieces is a priority of Tatu’s in training, and added the team is beginning to hit its stride again as it regains fitness.

“Sometimes for practices we just hit hundreds of balls and pretty much just work on our touches,” she said. “I’m pretty sure we were just tired from all the games we had played, but we’re definitely starting to get back into it now.”

U16: Minnesota Thunder 2, Charlotte SA 1

Minnesota Thunder Elite took on the Charlotte Soccer Academy 92 Predators on a cold but sunny day at Veterans Park. Both teams played hard defensively in the first half, but Mark Cook’s Minnesota squad would come away with a 2-1 win in the end.

Madison Nelson scored the two late goals to clinch the win. She was very involved in all attacking situations. Mackenzie Lewis was just as influential in the win. She was very effective in keeping possession and spreading out the defense. Goalkeeper Tori Fuglister was comfortable with the ball at her feet and she came off her line well. For Charlotte, Hannah Robinson acted as the go between player, working hard off the ball and
maintaining possession. Vicky Bruce had quick feet and was able to keep possession with dangerous balls forward. Defender Tanner Murphy had a great game defensively and also scored Charlotte's lone goal.

U16: Albertson Fury 0, Sereno SC 0

The New Yorkers kicked off against Phoenix-area cloub Sereno and both teams were ready to play. Despite equal opportunities, no team managed to score and the game ended 0-0. Margo McGinty stood out for Albertson as a great leader on the back line. Charlotte Miller really made an impression in the second half with her shots from distance and hard-working attitude and speed. Jillian Mulholland was also a stand out because of her hardwork and aggressive play.

Sereno had some great players as well. Ann Andrews was a presence in the back winning everything in the air. Guest player Jasmine Patterson was Sereno’s most dangerous attacker throughout the game, whether it was pressuring the goalkeeper or hitting shots. Sereno goalkeeper Tess Rebich came up big with three point-blank saves in the dying minutes of the game to preserve the draw.

Elite Clubs National League Results for Saturday (courtesy US Club Soccer)

U15

Flight A: Eclipse Select 1, D’Feeters 0; CASL Spartan Elite 1, Bethesda SC 0; Mustang SC 1, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 0; Concorde Fire 0, Colorado Rush 0; Arsenal FC 4, Ohio Premier 1; Dallas Sting 3, Charlotte SA 1;  Challenge SC 2, Crossfire Premier 0; Sereno SC 2, Real Colorado 1

Flight B: Solar SC 3, West Coast FC 0; FC DELCO 3, Minnesota Thunder 1; FC Dallas 1, Albertson Fury 1; Atlanta Fire 1, Ohio Elite 0; San Juan SC 1, Birmingham United 0; CESA Premier 3, Pleasanton Rage 1; Lonestar SC 3, Neusport FC 0; FC Milwaukee 2, Connecticut FC 1

U16

Flight A: Sereno SC 0, Albertson Fury 0; West Coast FC 1, Birmingham United 1; Solar SC 2, CESA Premier 0; Colorado Rush 1, CASL Spartan Elite 0; Dallas Sting 1, Eclipse Select 0; Minnesota Thunder 2, Charlotte SA 1; Crossfire Premier 2, Pleasanton Rage 0; Mustang SC 1, Real Colorado 0; San Juan SC 2, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 1

Flight B: Ohio Premier 1, D’Feeters 1; Ohio Elite 0, FC Dallas 0; FC Milwaukee 1, Lonestar SC 0; Atlanta Fire United 4, Neusport FC 2; FC DELCO 1, Concorde Fire 0; Challenge SC 4, Bethesda SC 0; Connecticut FC 1, Arsenal FC 0

U17

Flight A: FC Milwaukee 1, Arsenal FC 0; FC Stars of Massachusetts 2, Dallas Sting 1; FC Dallas 3, West Coast FC 1; Lonestar SC 3, Bethesda SC 2; Neusport FC 2, Charlotte SA 0; Real Colorado 4, Connecticut FC 0; Colorado Rush 3, Ohio Premier 3; Eclipse Select 2, D’Feeters 0; Mustang SC 2, Ohio Elite 1

Flight B: Minnesota Thunder 0, Atlanta Fire United 0; Birmingham United 1, Crossfire Premier 0; San Juan SC 2, CESA Premier 0

US Youth Soccer National League Results  for Saturday (courtesy US Youth Soccer)
 
Under-15 Girls Results:

Dallas Texans 95 Red (N-TX) 2, So Cal Blues-Draluck (CA-S) 0
Goal Scorers: Texans: Julia Dyche (5:00), Jasmine Hart (44:00)
 
San Diego Surf White (CA-S) 1, Scorpions Elite (MA) 1
Goal Scorers: Surf: Megan Abutin (67:00)
Scorpions: Lauren Berman (56:00)
 
VSA Heat Blue (VA) 5, Sockers FC Chicago (IL) 0
Goal Scorers: VSA: Ashley Herndon (10:00), Morgan Reuther (24:00), Samantha Toorish (39:00), Emily Long (65:00), Regan Houston (79:00)
 
Hurricane FC 95 Rhein (OK) 5, NSA Premier Fireballs (IL) 0
Goal Scorers: Hurricane: Kristi Killion (5:00), Madison Saliba (12:00) (69:00), Lauren Wagner (27:00), Claire Kelley (55:00)

Under-16 Girls Results:

FC Pennsylvania Strikers (E-PA) 0, So Cal Blues-Pearson (CA-S) 0
NSA Premier Fury (IL) 2, NASA G12 Elite II (GA) 2
Goal Scorers: NSA: Zoe Swift (60:00), Christina Ordonez (79:00)  
NASA: Brittney Reed (33:00), Samantha Thomas (56:00)  

KC Select Scream Red (MO) 1, Scorpions Elite (MA) 1
Goal Scorers: KC Select: Bailey Hensley (61:00)
Scorpions: Katherine Hiller (77:00)

San Diego Surf (CA-S) 2, Dallas Texans 94 Red (N-TX) 0
Goal Scorers: Surf: Kate Perry (13:00), Stephanie Hamilton (70:00)
 
Under-17 Girls Results:

So Cal Blues-Dodge (CA-S) 2, Syosset Sting (E-NY) 1
Goal Scorers: So Cal: Lauren Bohaboy - (65:00) (75:00)
Syosset: Amy Marron (50:00)
 
Montclair Thunderbolts (NJ) 2, Eagles (CA-S) 0
Goal Scorers: Montclair: Erin McGovern (21:00) (50:00)
 
Slammers FC (CA-S) 2, Dallas Texans Red (N-TX) 0
Goal Scorers: Slammers: Kaitlin Hellmann (15:00), Courtney Proctor (23:00)

Cleveland FC (OH-N) 2, Ponte Vedra Storm (FL) 1
Goal Scorers: Cleveland: Maura Gorman (6:00), Brianna DeFelice (55:00)  
Storm: Theresa "T" Diederich (39:00)