Day 2 of the ECNL San Antonio Showcase event was marked with gusts as high as 25 mph.
 
The blustery conditions played a part in two late afternoon scoreless ties, in matches between top U-17 club teams at STAR Soccer Complex Saturday.
 
Challenge (Houston) and San Juan SC (Calif.) played to a 0-0 tie, as did CASL (Raleigh, N.C.) and Solar SC (Dallas/Fort Worth). New Jersey club PDA leadsd the age group standings in ECNL, with Solar, Challenge and San Juan running 3-4-5 respectively, and CASL currently in mid-table.

Jamie Simmons, the second-half goalkeeper for Challenge, made key saves for her club near the end of the match, warding off a strong attack by San Juan. Lauren Watson was the keeper in the first half, and was equally as effective, Elissa Halik provided much-needed defensive skills in the midfield area.  Alex Arlitt, a three-time all-state honoree, intercepted a number of passes from the opposing team.

"We waited for them to make passes, and looked for opportunities to go forward," Arlitt said. "Whenever we had the wind, everyone was trying to knock it over the top. It was hard to defend that half (of the field), because it was bouncing and going over everyone's head. "
 
Challenge concludes the showcase by playing Colorado Rush on Sunday.
 
San Juan's coach, Billy Wiskel, also thought the wind played a factor in the match. But he quickly added both teams played with a great deal of passion.
 
"The wind played a little but of a factor," Wiskel said. "But you had two good teams  playing, so it was going to be a war. I thought it was a respectful, hard-fought game. The teams were physical, and there were a lot of 50-50 balls."
 
The coach cited Haley Washburn, Alyssa Jara and Chelsea Ladd as three players who "stepped up" during the match.
 
San Juan wraps up the event by taking on Solar SC on Sunday, a match with major implications for post-season playoff prospects for both sides.
 
The wind had died down somewhat by the time Solar SC and CASL met at 5 p.m., but it was still a defensive battle.
 
"It was a game of two halves," said CASL coach Rusty Scarborough. "Today the wind has been unbelievable. I thought during the first half, we didn't capitalize with the wind. Our game was just too narrow. In the second half, we had more width, but we had the wind in our face. A point (tie) in this type of environment is awesome."
 
Caroline Gentry, Caroline Lindquist and Katie Thomas battled throughout the match, and had a tremendous work ethic and spirit, according to Scarborough.
 
Mustang SC is up next for CASL.
 
Solar was the U-16 U.S. Youth Soccer champion in 2010.
 
Their assistant coach, Matt Colvin, thought they had their chances on Saturday.
 
"There were a couple of good goals we should have put away," Colvin said. But, both teams fought hard, and it was a battle to the end."
 
Quynh-nhu Truong held the midfield for Solar, and Brinkley Field did a good job up front.

VIDEO - Day 1 Highlights

 

Saturday Results (Courtesy ECNL)

U15
Solar Soccer Club 1-1 Washington Premier FC
Vardar 1-2 Utah Avalanche
FC DELCO 0-1 FC Dallas
Bethesda SC 1-4 Dallas Sting
Crossfire Premier 1-0 Colorado Rush
CASL 1-2 Mustang SC
Michigan Hawks 1-2 D'Feeters
PDA  1-0 San Juan SC
Lonestar SC 2-0 Real Colorado
Atlanta Fire United 0-1 Pleasanton Rage
FC Milwaukee 0-1 Challenge SC
SoccerPlus Connecticut 0-1 SC Del Sol
CESA Premier 0-1 Sereno Soccer Club
Ohio Premier Eagles 1-2 Charlotte Soccer Academy
Minnesota Thunder Academy 3-0 Concorde Fire

U16
Challenge SC 0-1 Sereno Soccer Club
Dallas Sting 0-1 Colorado Rush
D'Feeters Soccer Club 1-0 Ohio Premier Eagles
Lonestar SC 2-4 Crossfire Premier
Solar Soccer Club 1-3 Michigan Hawks
Concorde Fire 1-0 PDA
Charlotte Soccer Academy 0-2 Mustang SC
CASL  3-3 Real Colorado
Bethesda SC 1-0 San Juan SC
Atlanta Fire United 1-0 Washington Premier FC
Minnesota Thunder Academy 1-3 FC Dallas
CESA Premier 1-0 Vardar
Pleasanton Rage 0-1 FC DELCO
SoccerPlus Connecticut 0-2 Utah Avalanche
FC Milwaukee 1-0 SC Del Sol

U17
Atlanta Fire United 1-3 FC Milwaukee
CESA Premier 3-2 Washington Premier FC
Concorde Fire 1-1 Bethesda SC
SoccerPlus Connecticut 0-1 Pleasanton Rage
D'Feeters Soccer Club 3-0 Vardar
FC Dallas 3-0 FC DELCO
Lonestar SC 0-2 Utah Avalanche
Charlotte Soccer Academy 1-0 Michigan Hawks
Dallas Sting 0-0 Mustang SC
Minnesota Thunder Academy 0-0 Real Colorado
Sereno Soccer Club 1-2 Crossfire Premier
San Juan SC 0-0 Challenge SC
SC Del Sol 2-1 Ohio Premier Eagles
PDA 1-0 Colorado Rush
CASL 0-0 Solar Soccer Club

U18
Dallas Sting 1-2 Ohio Premier Eagles
Lonestar SC 1-0 Michigan Hawks
FC Dallas 2-0 De Anza Force
Mustang SC 1-1 Bethesda SC
Colorado Rush 1-4 FC Stars of Massachusetts
SC Del Sol 1-1 D'Feeters Soccer Club
Challenge SC 1-2 Minnesota Thunder Academy
FC DELCO 0-1 Crossfire Premier
SoccerPlus Connecticut 0-3 Washington Premier FC
Utah Avalanche 0-0 Solar Soccer Club