ZAREPHATH, NEW JERSEY – We may not have learned much from the 1-0 results, but Sunday’s victory for Sting Dallas U17 squad over their Eclipse Select counterparts here in the Red Bull/ECNL Championship bracket did give us a glimpse of the kind of healthy intensity we might hope to see from the new national league.

This weekend’s action at the PDA facility will put paid to the old Red Bull setup and begin the Elite Clubs National League format. The top eight teams in each of three age groups were gathered in the championship brackets, with others paired in separate groups.

Sunday’s match between Eclipse and Sting was decided on a seeing-eye goal from Sting’s Danielle Nottingham, her long-range free kick somehow finding its way through traffic before crossing the goal line. The win will set up a showdown between Sting and Crossfire Premier Monday morning to determine the finalist from Group B, while PDA Fire and FC DELCO have a similar showdown to finalize the championship matches for early Monday afternoon.

The sideline banter between coaches Rory Dames of Eclipse and Kenny Medina of Sting may have been worth the price of admission alone. Both were clearly in teaching mode as their sides battled for the victory.

Eclipse’s Kecia Morway was active on the left early on as her side searched for a goal. Sting’s Karlee Summey had a shot on the other end saved by Eclipse’s Portland-bound goalkeeper Erin Dees. Eclipse attackers Vanessa Laxgang, Nicole Aiello and Maggie Murnane combined for a chance, but Sting’s McKenzie Sauerwein made the save.

Sting threatened next with Danielle Nottingham hitting a free kick that Dees did well to keep out. On the resulting corner, Sting’s Samantha Howell, excellent in the air all day, volleyed wide. Sting’s Randi Soldat nearly broke through for a 1v1 opportunity, but Eclipse’s Chelsea Grant recovered nicely to make a saving tackle. Laxgang then played a great ball through for Aiello, but the finish was wide. Morway followed with another individual effort after a strong run from the left, but her drive went just over.

Then somewhat against the run of play, Nottingham earned a free kick and managed to sneak it into the back of the net for a 1-0 Sting lead. The match was delayed by lightning for 30 minutes just before halftime.

Eclipse began to press forward in the 2nd half, but were well covered in the back line by standout defender Alexandra Heller. On the other, Laxgang set up Sami Scofield for a chance but the shot went wide. Both Samantha Howell and Karlee Summey were putting in some good tackles for Sting.

Aiello’s volley on a Katie Uyenishi cross forced Sting goalkeeper McKenzie Sauerwein into an awkward save. Sauerwein then denied Scofield from close range. With the match coming to a close, Scofield grazed the post with a well-struck drive and Uyenishi’s had her snap shot denied by Sauerwein again after a good pass from Eclipse midfielder Kelsey Hough, and the match ended 1-0.

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Sunday Results

Championship Bracket

U17
PDA Fire 1, Sereno SC 1
FC DELCO 1, Mustang SC 0
Crossfire Premier 4, Albertson Fury 0
Sting Dallas 1, Eclipse Select 0

U16
Mustang 1, Ohio Premier 0
Slammers 3, PDA Tsunami 2
Stars of Massachusetts 5, Colorado Rush 1
Eclipse Select 1, Real So Cal 1

U15
PDA Charge 2, Solar SC 1
Real Colorado 1, Stars of Massachusetts 1
Crossfire Premier 2, Albertson Fury 1
Sting Dallas 0, Mustang SC 0

Red Bracket

U17
CASL Spartan Elite 4, Solar SC 0
Slammers 2, Colorado Rush 1
Stars of Massachusetts 1, Colorado Storm Copa 0
Real Colorado 0, Connecticut FC 0

U16
San Diego Surf 3, CASL Spartan Elite 1
Sereno SC 2, Charlotte SC 2
Real Colorado 2, Sting Dallas 0

U15
Ohio Premier 1, Colorado Rush 0
Sereno SC 3, Charlotte SC 1
Real So Cal 2, CASL Spartan Elite 1

White Bracket

U17
Ohio Premier 1, VISTA Fury 0
Carmel United 2, SC Del Sol 0
Ohio Elite 5, Freestate Phoenix 2
FC Milwaukee 0, Virginia Rush 0

U16
Solar SC 1, Albertson Fury 1
Connecticut FC 2, SC Del Sol 1
Ohio Elite 1, Crossfire Premier 1

U15
Eclipse Select 2, Ohio Elite 2
Slammers 1, Connecticut FC 1
FC DELCO 1, Neusport FC 1
Slammers 0, Ohio Elite 0

Blue Bracket

U16
Virginia Rush 0, FC DELCO 0
Neusport FC 2, FC Virginia 1
St. Louis Scott Gallagher 3, Carmel United 0

U15
Carmel United 3, Virginia Rush 1
Wall SC Wombats 1, SC Del Sol 1
Fairfax Police 4, Freestate Fury 0

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