ECNL National Event AZ – U17 Preview 

<p class="p1">The fifth ECNL National Event of the 2021/2022 season kicks off on Saturday from Arizona. There are 162 teams from the U15, U16, and U17 age groups headed to the Reach 11 Complex for the three-day event.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">PrepSoccer will be on hand throughout the weekend. Check back on the site for exclusive coverage from ECNL AZ. And follow PrepSoccer on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prep_soccer/"><span class="s1">instagram for photos from the event.</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">With 50 teams in the U17 age group attending the event, this will be one of the most scouted showcases of the team. Among those 50 teams, there are some favorites from the national championship and some teams that been on a hot run recently.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Favorites<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p> <p class="p2"><b>PDA Blue (NJ)</b></p> <p class="p2">Overall Record: 3-3</p> <p class="p2">Opponents: De Anza Force, Slammers FC HB Koge, San Diego Surf</p> <p class="p2">Commits: [player_tooltip player_id="24243" first="Olivia" last="Russomanno"] (Rutgers), [player_tooltip player_id="24253" first="Reagan" last="Schubach"] (Florida), [player_tooltip player_id="23980" first="Gabriela" last="Gil"] (Rutgers), [player_tooltip player_id="24254" first="Rebecca" last="Kessler"] (Binghamton), [player_tooltip player_id="23833" first="Alyssa" last="Martinez"] (Rutgers), [player_tooltip player_id="24317" first="Tehya" last="Scheuten"] (Rutgers), [player_tooltip player_id="24300" first="Stella" last="Tapia"] (Michigan), [player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"] (North Carolina)</p> <p class="p1">PDA Blue (NJ) is riding a three-game winning streak heading into the weekend. The challenge ahead is daunting with games against three California sides in De Anza Force, Slammers FC HB Koge, and San Diego Surf. U.S. U17 Women's National Team forward [player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"] leads the attack for PDA. The North Carolina commit has speed, skill, and power. She is going to be one player that the defense has to account for whenever she is on the field. Rebimbas will be out for the first game as she was named to the National Selection Game roster. There is some top talent in the class of 2024 on the roster too, so college coaches will be buzzing around the sideline of the PDA games.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p2"><b>Crossfire Premier (WA)</b></p> <p class="p2">Overall Record: 13-4-1</p> <p class="p2">Opponents: Heat FC, San Diego Surf, PDA White<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p2">Commits: [player_tooltip player_id="28122" first="Cameron" last="Bourne"] (Oregon), [player_tooltip player_id="28407" first="Sara" last="Rodgers"] (Idaho)</p> <p class="p1">Crossfire Premier has not conceded a goal since February. With games on the schedule against Heat FC, San Diego Surf, and PDA White, that shutout streak might be tested in Phoenix. One player to watch on Crossfire Premier 05 is left center [player_tooltip player_id="28232" first="Kah'vayli" last="Miller"]. She is a left-footed defender who tackles hard and can pass with accuracy over distance. She is a day-one starter at the college level.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p2"><b>MVLA (CA-N)</b></p> <p class="p2">Overall Record: 12-2</p> <p class="p2">Opponents: Phoenix Rising, Slammers FC, FC Bucks<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p2">Commits: [player_tooltip player_id="19716" first="Kennedy" last="Schoennauer"] (Utah), [player_tooltip player_id="19890" first="Marlee" last="Cavitt"] (Portland)</p> <p class="p1">MVLA, one of the top clubs in Northern California and the ECNL, is sitting in the No. 4 spot in the ECNL Champions League standings in the U17 age group heading into the weekend. MVLA, 12-2 on the season, faces Phoenix Rising, Slammers FC, and FC Bucks during the three-day event. Forward/midfielder [player_tooltip player_id="33296" first="Charlotte" last="Kohler"] is a name many scouts have circled from the class of 2024. She is a two-way player who recently made the U.S. U17 Women's National Team. She has potential to play a few different spots at the next from winger to right midfield. She is skillful on the ball and a good fit for a possession-dominant style of player. Midfield teammate [player_tooltip player_id="19716" first="Kennedy" last="Schoennauer"] is another one to watch on this MVLA squad. The attacking mid has been in unstoppable form recently. At the high school level, she scored 36 goals in 22 games for Lincoln High School (San Jose, California). That hot streak carried over to the club level as she netted four goals in the win over Davis Legacy last weekend. Since returning to ECNL play after the high school season, she has nine goals and two assists in five games. Schoennauer is as dangerous of a player on the ball as anyone in the league. She makes charging runs through the center with the ball at her feet. She has excellent technique in striking the ball on the move so defenders have to play close to have a chance to block a shot from anywhere inside of 30 yards to goal.</p> <p class="p2"><b>Slammers FC HB Koge (CA-S)</b></p> <p class="p2">Overall Record: 13-2-2</p> <p class="p2">Opponents: Davis Legacy, PDA Blue, De Anza Force</p> <p class="p2">Commits: [player_tooltip player_id="19161" first="Ava" last="Verplancke"] (Pepperdine), [player_tooltip player_id="20088" first="Reese" last="Doherty"] (California), [player_tooltip player_id="18946" first="Olivia" last="Herrera"] (Arizona State), [player_tooltip player_id="19885" first="Maribel" last="Flores"] (Stanford), [player_tooltip player_id="19079" first="Angelina" last="Moschetti"] (Colorado), Soleil Dimry (California), [player_tooltip player_id="19579" first="Jessica" last="Ramirez"] (Arizona), [player_tooltip player_id="19371" first="Emily" last="Miner"] (Utah Valley), [player_tooltip player_id="19877" first="Malia" last="McMahon"] (California)</p> <p class="p1">Slammers FC HB Koge is the last team in the Champions League top five standings competing at the event in Arizona. Slammers FC HB Koge, previously LAFC Slammers, is a powerhouse in this age group and the reigning National Champions. Half of the roster has already given a verbal commitment to a Division I program with Cal landing a trio of them. The Southern California squad is difficult to break down defensively and has only let in more than one goal in three conference games this season. Scouts expect that stifling defense to lead them to a successful showing in Arizona.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>On the Rise<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></p> <p class="p2"><b>Utah Royals FC - AZ<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p> <p class="p2">Overall Record: 8-4-7<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p2">Opponents: Penn Fusion, Pipeline SC, Connecticut FC <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p2">Commits: [player_tooltip player_id="18654" first="Hope" last="Leyba"] (Colorado), Faith Leyba (Colorado), [player_tooltip player_id="32866" first="Hannah" last="Mulholland"] (Navy)</p> <p class="p1">One of the local teams on the rise in ECNL play is the Utah Royals FC - AZ squad. They picked up a big win over San Diego Surf last weekend. The Arizona squad has been depleted due to injuries, but they fight for every result and have some of the top uncommitted talent in the class of 2023. Forward [player_tooltip player_id="18660" first="Larkin" last="Thomason"], who scored one of the goals against Surf, is a versatile prospect with the toolkit to play either on the wing or center forward. She has elite pace and would do well in a high-pressing system. Defensive midfielder Caroline Kessler and center back Eva Acker are pieces to add to the spine of a team. [player_tooltip player_id="18709" first="Claire" last="Stephens"] and Taea Eberhardt are standouts at outside back. <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/player/lexi-saveski/">Lexi Saveski</a> and Ciara Ulrich-Power are top notch goalkeepers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p2"><b>Internationals (OH)</b></p> <p class="p2">Overall Record: 8-1-4</p> <p class="p2">Opponents: Boise Thorns FC, Pleasanton Rage, Eagle SC<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p2">Commits: [player_tooltip player_id="25297" first="Victoria" last="Safradin"] (Virginia), [player_tooltip player_id="25262" first="Olivia" last="Sipsock"] (Eastern Michigan)</p> <p class="p1">Internationals are unbeaten since the first game of the season back in November. The Sionce the return from the winter break, the Ohio club has only conceded one goal in five games. U.S. U17 Women's National Team goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id="25297" first="Victoria" last="Safradin"] leads a stout defense that has this team climbing up the Champions League standings heading into the final months of the regular season.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p2"><b>Minnesota Thunder (MN)</b></p> <p class="p2">Overall Record: 10-2-2</p> <p class="p2">Opponents: Legends FC, Strikers FC, Pipeline SC</p> <p class="p2">Commits: [player_tooltip player_id="23312" first="Jordan" last="Hecht"] (Army), [player_tooltip player_id="23327" first="Rilyn" last="Rintoul"] (Kansas State), [player_tooltip player_id="23282" first="Ava" last="Grate"] (South Dakota State)</p> <p class="p1">Since the start of the new calendar year, MTA is 6-1 in ECNL play, but faces the hardest challenge this weekend in Arizona. The team sits in fourth place in conference standings with only a couple of games left in the campaign. The challenge in Arizona will be getting a positive weekend out of a challenging slate of games. Legends have a deep squad with a couple of players capable of taking over the game. Strikers FC has a dynamic attack that has only been shutout twice this season. Pipeline's defense has only let in one goal since they returned from winter break. Minnesota is getting a playoff-level test at a showcase event. The Thunder 05 group has the players to get nine points from the weekend, and a few uncommitted players looking to impress with the amount of college coaches in attendance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>