ECNL New Jersey: Forwards to Watch
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The ECNL Girls is heading to New Jersey this weekend for its tenth Showcase in the season and the last before the start of the playoffs, in June. The event will feature three days of competition across Memorial Day Weekend…
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Continue ReadingThe ECNL Girls is heading to New Jersey this weekend for its tenth Showcase in the season and the last before the start of the playoffs, in June.
The event will feature three days of competition across Memorial Day Weekend with as many as 166 teams from the 15s, 16s and 17s divisions set to take the field in Sommerset.
There will be some intriguing talent in action at the event and these five forwards will get a lot of attention with their teams:
Williams is an exciting attacking player, whose reputation has long exceeded the borders of Texas, where she plays with Classics Elite 06. A quick look at her stats will tell you that she’s a ruthless goalscorer and that’s because she has an excellent presence in the penalty box, can finish with both feet and can score from anywhere and in a lot of different ways – many of her goals are truly highlight reels stuff. An Oklahoma State commit, Williams is way more than just a finisher, though, as she’s excellent at beating opponents off the dribble and making plays through the wings too. Two other skills that set her apart are her creativity and her quickness of thought, which, when combined, often generate spectacular plays.
Magnuson is an offensive player that adds a lot more than just her attacking skills. Although she can play basically anywhere between the midfield and the attack, she’s normally used in a winger/wide midfielder role with Challenge SC 07. The position allows her to be an offensive threat, making runs on and off the ball up and down the flanks and going at defenders with her dribbling ability. Magnuson plays with a lot of energy and is very disciplined tactically, which allows her to provide great defensive help from this position, tracking back and occupying space in the midfield line.
Stevens typically splits her time between the midfield and the attack with San Diego Surf 07, but is probably at her best when playing closer to the goal. She has a well-diversified skill set and is capable of adjusting to each match and providing what her team needs. Stevens uses her body very well to shield the ball and can make some solid holdup play, using her vision to connect with her teammates. She’s also very good at making quick turns to lose her defender and finish quickly. The forward is also capable of playing in a wider role, where she has more space to beat opponents off the dribble and create chances.
Belcher has developed a strong reputation in the country playing as a midfielder, but her ability to create and finish chances has pushed her closer to the goal and she’s been playing up top with both her high school team Colleyville Heritage and DKSC 07. Her positioning is excellent, always offering a passing option to her teammates, and her technical skills are also a big part of her game. Belcher is great at dribbling in tight spaces and plays very directly, always looking for the goal. She’s a very good finisher too, remaining extremely calm in front of the goal and finishing at the best possible moment.
Highlights
An attacking player with excellent finishing skills, Olague is much involved with Classics Elite 07’s offensive work. She’s been playing behind the team’s striker recently, a role that allows her to be more involved with the team’s chance creation while also often being in a position to score. Olague is very confident on the ball and is extremely strong at creating chances on her own, beating opponents off the dribble. She has good vision and can combine with her teammates around the penalty box too, displaying a very complete offensive game.