Standouts from ECNL Houston National Selection Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL National Selection Game at the event in Houston saw some of the best goals ever scored at the All-Star event. With strong defending and outstanding goalkeeping, there needed to be some special moments to break the game open and the players delivered in the second half.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team East came away with a 4-1 win in the game, but the overall run of play was much closer than that as the winners padded the stats late in the second half to make it a comfortable win.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out the standouts from the game below. Also, read the other PrepSoccer coverage from the event: <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/02/ecnl-houston-day-2-photo-gallery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Photo Gallery</a> | <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/02/ecnl-houston-day-2-standouts/">Sunday's Standouts</a> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["20419"],"_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":"Moody put in a really strong shift at left back in the first half. It was impressive how well she did in 1v1 situations against some of the top attackers in the country. She uses her body really well in shielding, moves her feet and gets her body in front of the ball on crosses, and put in a tackle or two in the open field. It also looked like she had some minutes at center back in the second half. She was consistent in that role with no mistakes. Moody must have had the New Mexico coaches smiling with that performance.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["99303"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The National Select Game usually ends up with a lot of focus on the attacking talent, but Manning made some great stops early in the second half for Team West. She was quick off her line and strong in the challenge. She had good technique on her sliding efforts. She also contributed the hockey assist on [player_tooltip player_id='25465' first='Narissa' last='Fults']' lone goal for Team West. Manning hit a great pass that Sophia Martelli flicked on for Fults. The Oklahoma Energy forward still had work to do and did well to finish off the chance. Manning was on the hook for a few goals in the second half, but there is very little she could have done on those shots. They were well placed efforts on hard shots - plus a rebound off the crossbar. It's a tough showing on the scoreboard, but a good showing on the player highlights. She had a nice kick save on a breakaway shot in the second half. Madeline Munguia did a stellar job during her time in goal as well.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["99325"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"For a 2025, Tay was excellent in the game. She had some key slide tackles in the first half. The glove-wearing center back is easy to spot and perhaps that gives some extra attention to the center back, but she backs up the spotlight with her play. She looked comfortable on the build-out and made some good passes to find outlets.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["22339"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Husbands is one of those aforementioned spectacular goals from the game. The Sting standout hit a shot from outside of the box into the upper corner of the net from a very difficult while off-balance. It was a shot that would score against pretty much any goalkeeper.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f3c2d120679"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["99330"],"_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":"Kunz was a standout for her defensive work. It felt like she gave up nothing for free on her side of the field. She chased down players and put in an honest effort at defense, which isn't necessarily the standard in all-star games. She is listed as a forward on her player profile, but there could be a good future there at left back (or right back, she ended the game playing right back). She scored a great goal with her left foot late in the game.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnrnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["27127"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='27127' first='Neliaj' last='Deleon']/Brilynn Mueller, Team East - The goalkeepers for Team East were both standouts in the contest. Deleon made some outstanding saves in the first half - a couple of acrobatic efforts to frustrate the opposition. Mueller came in the second half with a calm approach and anchored the squad for the final 45. She was confident off her line and secure with the ball. She also withstood some physical challenges and kept hold of the ball.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["25465"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Fults earned the PrepSoccer spotlight for her play on Sunday as well with her club team. There was a noticeable difference when she was on the field and off the field in the NSG. The center forward is headed to Arizona and looks to be a player who could be on the field very early on in her college career.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["23448"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Among the players in this game, Vest was on the short list of highest profile prospects with youth national team call-ups and plenty of individual accolades among her highlights. She backed that up with a Player of the Game performance. Vest is an exciting prospect from the class of 2025 because it seems like she could influence any level of the game. She also has the versatility to fit in at a number of roles. She has a strong technical foundation and an incredible soccer mind.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["27160"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Cooper did not have the spotlight much in the game, but there were moments when her dynamic burst showed and it was a pretty good showcase of what she can bring to the game at the next level. She is a top winger from the class of 2025 who can change the game in a moment. One element of her game that impressed from the NSG was her defensive work. She hustled and put in tackles against older players.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["47685"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"I thought Smith was the best player on the field in the second half. She had a massive impact on the game with her defensive qualities. There were some moments when she seemed too excited about the big game and over pursued the ball and fell out of shape tactically, but she quickly made up for any miscue and helped her side record a shutout from the opening 45. Helen Ghertner and Smith made for an excellent partnership for Team East as they complimented each other in the two center back roles.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["25794"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Mahan was influential in the first half from the midfield including a nasty skill check (video below) that nearly created the opening goal of the game.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f3c2d120835"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Player of the Game: [player_tooltip player_id='23448' first='Grace' last='Vest'], SLSG&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive Player of the Game: [player_tooltip player_id='26743' first='Grace' last='Smith']&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensive Player of the Game: [player_tooltip player_id='25465' first='Narissa' last='Fults']&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->