ECNL Houston Elite Goalkeepers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Houston hosted the latest ECNL Girls National Event on President's Day weekend, with 225 teams from all over the country competing across five divisions at two venues in the region from Friday to Sunday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the best talent of American club soccer was in attendance and so was Prep Soccer. We covered the last two days of the event and have already shared our first impressions about some of the individual standouts from Sunday (<a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/02/ecnl-houston-day-2-standouts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Recap</a> | <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/02/ecnl-houston-day-2-photo-gallery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Photo Gallery</a>) and Monday (<a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/02/ecnl-houston-day-3-standouts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Recap</a> | <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/02/ecnl-houston-day-3-photo-gallery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Photo Gallery</a>).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll continue to highlight the most impressive players we got to see in action over the week, but now splitting them by position. We start from goal, with the most impactful goalkeepers that went on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='27237' first='Shelby' last='Coleman']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Braswell","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"FC Dallas","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Coleman operated between the posts for a strong FC Dallas 07 team and went the entire tournament unscathed, getting clean sheets in all three matches. We saw her in action in a 2-0 win against SLSG Navy 07 on Sunday and she was rock solid. Coleman thrives on keeping things simple between the posts and is extremely efficient with her actions. She has excellent spacial awareness and is always at the right spot to make saves. The goalkeeper also connected some good passes from the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f4ee9bed4a0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["25698"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Lamanna had a really strong performance with her Pittsburg Riverhounds 06 team on Sunday against Atlanta United Fire 06. It was her only clean sheet over the weekend and Lamanna worked hard for it, using her good positioning and reflexes to make stops and her leadership to help organize the team's backline. One of her main assets seems to be her reaction speed as she did a very good job every time she had to step out of her position between the posts and challenge opponents inside the penalty box. She was also very clean with her feet.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f4ee9bed580"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627315667413106698?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627315667413106698?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["23405"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Birkel was another goalkeeper to remain unbeaten all weekend as her team SLSG Navy 06 didn't concede any goals during the event. We were in attendance for their scoreless tie with OK Energy FC 06 on Sunday and, although Birkel was called upon to make some saves and saw a shot hit her post, what really stood out was her calm and quality on the ball. SLSG Navy play a possession-heavy game and they can only do that because they have a goalkeeper like Birkel. They get the ball back to her quite often and she's always very safe, moving it around quickly and setting the team up for a new buildup attempt.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f4ee9bed62f"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627408011214954506?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627408011214954506?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Amalia Kubistek","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Peters Township","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Pittsburgh Riverhounds","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"'Molly' Kubistek was another goalkeeper from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to stand out. She played for their 07 team and we watched her against the San Diego Surf on Sunday, when she got her only clean sheet in the weekend. Kubistek is clearly a very technical player, and that became evident every time she made a save or collected a cross, but what really impressed was her maturity and personality. She was confident enough to play very advanced when the team was in possession and because of that positioning, she was able to stop some San Diego counter-attacks. Kubistek was also a very vocal leader for the team, keeping her teammates engaged the entire time from the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f4ee9bed777"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627360021108387846?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627360021108387846?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='26709' first='Evan' last='O'Steen']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Grapevine Faith","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Solar SC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"O'Steen was easily the most impressive goalkeeper we saw in the 08 division. She allowed only two goals with Solar SC 08 and we watched her in action against the Concorde Fire Platinum 08 - the match ended 1-1. Also a basketball student-athlete with Grapevine Faith, O'Steen is very tall and athletic and made some impressive plays between the posts. She's also very sound technically and transmits a lot of confidence to her teammates every time she has to make a play. The goalkeeper also seems to be very mature and confident on the field, instructing her teammates and remaining calm at all times.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f4ee9bed8d4"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":99826,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/02/OSteen.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-99826" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Collier Owen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Concorde Fire Platinum","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"If the the match between offensive powerhouses Solar SC 08 and Concorde Fire Platinum 08 ended up being a low-scoring one, that's because there were solid goalkeepers on both sides. Owen was a stud for Concorde, using her agility to make big saves and keep her team in the game - there was nothing she could have done to prevent Solar's goal. She was faced with opposing attackers a couple of times during the match and made big stops. Owen is also good on the ball and uses her feet well to connect short and long passes from the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f4ee9beda30"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627725383725350931?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627725383725350931?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->