Standouts from ECNL AZ Day 1
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PHOENIX, Arizona – The ECNL National Event in Arizona kicked off on Saturday from the Reach 11 Complex. This was the fifth national event of the club season for the elite youth soccer league. This event featured teams from all…
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Continue ReadingPHOENIX, Arizona – The ECNL National Event in Arizona kicked off on Saturday from the Reach 11 Complex. This was the fifth national event of the club season for the elite youth soccer league.
This event featured teams from all over the country, but it was the first event without the U19/18 age group. The lack of an older slate of teams opened the door for younger age groups to partake in the event. Some of the top 07 teams in the country were in action on Saturday. Plus some of the favorites in the 06 (U16) and 05 (U17) age groups.
PrepSoccer was on hand for action. Below are the standouts that we saw on Saturday. Check back throughout the event for daily recaps for the ECNL event.
Peyton Marinos Peyton Marinos F JSerra | 2026 State #38 Nation CA , So Cal Blues 07 – Marinos is a name to circle for the future. She is a 2026 recruit on the Blues 07 squad. She scored the opening goal on Saturday in the 2-1 win over a very good Crossfire team. Marinos’ shot was well struck on a low driven ball. Beyond the tally, Marinos contributed to the game with her relentless work pursuing the ball on any pass forward. She combined well with Svea Hazlett Svea Hazlett D CA in the attack for Blues. Marinos had a few other instances when she showed her quality including a play when she quickly turned off the shoulder of her defender and ripped a shot that hit off the post. She is good with both feet. The base is there for a player with unlimited potential.
Keira Tupua, Crossfire Premier 07 – Tupua is a handful in the attack. She can shrug defenders off her with strength. There is a characteristic of bully ball to her game, but she has the nimble footwork to dance around challenges too.
Eres Freifeld, Crossfire Premier 07 – Freifeld is a technical midfielder with a good first touch and excellent vision. She makes good decisions on the ball. The Blues tried to crowd her off the ball with multiple players around her and found some success slowing her down. Olivia Bruns Olivia Bruns D Issaquah | 2025 State WA scored for Crossfire. Lindsay Lowry Lindsay Lowry GK WA made a good save late in the first half.
Eleanor Klinger Eleanor Klinger null | M State #1 Nation OH , Internationals SC 06 – Klinger is a highly regarded recruit from the class of 2025. It’s easy to see why she is rated so highly. She’s comfortable with both feet. She makes quick decisions on the ball. One of her strengths is the trust she puts in her teammates. She is a willing passer and opens up the field with her passing.
Ava Schall Ava Schall M State CA , San Diego Surf 06 – Schall is a fun player to watch. She is one of the best passers I’ve seen from the youth game. She moves off the ball to open her body to the field and then makes accurate passes to the correct foot for her teammates. Her incisive pass setup Kennedy Roesch Kennedy Roesch F Patrick Henry (CA) | 2024 State #30 Nation CA ’s goal.
Chloe Sadler, La Roca 07 – Sadler is the type of player that makes other players stop and watch her play. She is small, but she makes a big impact. She glides across the field and covers a ton of ground. With the ball at her feet, she’s always scanning and looking for the key pass to create a chance. She plays with one or two-touch most of the time and leaves the opposition chasing shadows trying to keep up.
Avery Bonet Avery Bonet F CT , Connecticut FC 07 – Bonet is the type of forward that every teammate loves and every defender doesn’t want to play against. She pressed hard and makes the game difficult on the opposition. When she is on the ball, she can create chances with her dribbling and passing.
Ariana Castagnola, LA Breakers FC 07 – Castagnola has a great game in the win over Sting Dallas Royal on Saturday. She was effective in her position and smart on the ball. She did a good job taking her first touch away from pressure. Goalkeeper Ava Hartstein was comfortable on the ball and was calm on the pressure, which helped set the tone for Breakers.
Victoria Pugh, LA Breakers 07 – Pugh is a center forward with a lot of potential. She plays well in the Breakers system as her teammates do a good job of getting her the ball in a dangerous area. When she is on the ball in the attacking third, she likes to cut onto her left foot and fire low shots toward the goal. She has a lot of potential for the future.
Ava Paolini Ava Paolini 5'8" | D San Marcos | 2025 State #69 Nation CA , Slammers FC HB Koge 07 – Paolini was one of the best center backs of the day. She is an excellent defender in her technique and tactical intelligence. She anticipates passes and cuts out entry balls into the forwards. On the ball, she is a good passer from her role at left center back.
Daphne Julia Nakfoor Daphne Julia Nakfoor null | GK JSerra Catholic | 2025 State #101 Nation CA , Slammers FC HB Koge 07 – There is a short list of players in club soccer who have the intelligence and game awareness to pull off the play that Nakfoor did on Saturday. The goalkeeper quickly reacted to a blocked shot that was headed out-of-bounds for a corner kick, but she got the bouncing ball before it went out. She put her body out of bounds, but kept the ball in play so she could save her team from defending a corner kick and let her distribute with the ball in her hands. She combined in goal with Jordan Perry Jordan Perry GK Trabuco Hills | 2025 State CA for the shutout in the game.
Adriana Victoriano Adriana Victoriano null | M NY , SUSA 07 – Victoriano did well against the Slammers wingers. She defender well and played hard. Maddie Costello Maddie Costello null | D #46 Nation NY was excellent on the other side as both of the outside defenders had great games for SUSA.
Olivia Bozzo Olivia Bozzo null | M #187 Nation NY , SUSA 07 – Bozzo is a name for the future. SUSA does an excellent job at developing technically sound and tactically smart players. Bozzo combines that with an extra quality on the ball. She is an elite prospect in dead ball (set piece) delivery. She hit the crossbar on a shot from over 30 yards out.
Emma Stankunas Emma Stankunas D Perkiomen Valley (PA) | 2023 State PA and Alayna Eyman, Penn Fusion 05 – The two center backs for Penn Fusion were great at playing off of each other. They complimented each other’s strengths so well. It was evident on Saturday when they were under pressure against a relentless Utah Royals AZ attack that was searching for a goal in the second half. Eyman would step up into a tackle and Stankunas would cover and vice-versa. They anchored the defense to a shutout victory.
Kaelyn Wolfe Kaelyn Wolfe F State #171 Nation PA , Penn Fusion 05 – Wolfe is a midfield/winger prospect who plays at her own speed. She has a dynamic burst, which highlights her change of pace. She has quick feet that make her difficult to dispossess. She is also an excellent passer. She showed that quality with a great vertical in the second half.
Faith Leyba, Utah Royals AZ 05 – Leyba is a four-year contributor at the next level. She plays center back at the club level, but could feature anywhere in the back four if needed. She is a great athlete, the block she made on a shot in the second half showed that trait.
Paige Thompson Paige Thompson null | M Las Lomas | 2025 State #70 Nation CA , MVLA 07 – Thompson had a strong showing at center midfield. The left footed player had good vision and made some excellent passes in the game. Alison Hou Alison Hou D State #269 Nation CA also had a good game for MVLA.
Ava Harrison Ava Harrison null | F State #44 Nation CA , San Diego Surf 07 – Harrison was pretty effective on the wing in the game. She loves running at defenders and putting them on their heels. No. 44 and No. 39 were also standouts for Surf.
Fiona Shin Fiona Shin F State #164 Nation CA , Beach FC 07 – Shin is slippery with the ball. She is excellent at making defenders try to guess which direction she is going to go. They are always guessing because she is good with both feet.
Sophia Carbone Sophia Carbone F State CA , Mustang SC 07 – Carbone is a target forward who did well for her side in providing the outlet in the attack. Lilah Langbein and Natalie Buck were also good for Mustang.
Jordan Hecht Jordan Hecht GK Rosemount | 2023 #80 Nation MN , Minnesota Thunder Academy 05 – Hecht’s side came up short in the game against Legends but she made some terrific saves. She had a diving one-hand palming effort in the second half on a well hit shot from Natalie Gonzalez.
Brooklyn Horst Brooklyn Horst M CA , David Legacy 05 – Horst had a standout game in the shutout victory over Slammers FC HB Koge. She was strong on the tackle, but clean with her challenges. She won the ball and distributed for her team. Lauren Sphabmixay Lauren Sphabmixay 5'7" | D State CA also had a strong game for Davis.
Nalani Damacion, San Juan SC 06 – The San Juan center midfielder was a standout in the game against Slammers FC HB Koge. She is fluid on the ball and an passes with purpose. She created chances for her side. Alyssa Lucas Alyssa Lucas D CA and Tessa Ferguson were standouts for San Juan.
Ava Cashman Ava Cashman null | M State #137 Nation CA , Slammers FC HB Koge 06 – Cashman has all the tools to be a great center midfielder at the next level. From passing to defensive work, she has the potential to a real difference maker from the class of 2025.
Jordan Geis Jordan Geis F Archbishop Mitty (CA) | 2024 State #88 Nation CA , De Anza Force 05 – Geis was a standout for her side in the win over PDA Blue. Geis was active for her side in trying to create in the attack.