ECNL Girls Texas: Challenge SC 07 vs. FC Dallas 07

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club soccer season continues to roll around the country and most of the nation's top sides are already in great form, battling with opponents from their regions week in and week out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer continues to follow the action and this past Saturday, September 30, I was at Burroughs Park, in Tomball, following an exciting ECNL Girls Texas match between Challenge SC ECNL G07 and FC Dallas ECNL G07 - here's a <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/10/ecnl-girls-texas-challenge-sc-07-vs-fc-dallas-07-photos/">photo gallery</a> of the encounter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Challenge SC 07 0 - 3 FC Dallas 07</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FC Dallas took control of the match right from the start and got the first goal within the first minutes, when [player_tooltip player_id='26617' first='Charli' last='Harris'] got on the end of a cross and assisted [player_tooltip player_id='26783' first='Holly' last='Storer'], who found the back of the net with an easy tap-in. The visitors continued to dominate possession, but couldn't find a second goal before the halftime whistle, despite having some chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dallas made several changes at halftime but didn't miss a beat and doubled their early in the second half, when Samira Minor saw her shot deflect on a Challenge defender and send goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id='87119' first='Brandie' last='Musser'] the wrong way. A few minutes later, Minor had a great run down the left and crossed to [player_tooltip player_id='21272' first='Layla' last='Thompson'], who found the back of the net with a one-time finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1708211950377713698?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/1708211950377713698?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["86182"],"_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":"FC Dallas' left-sided center back played a great match, forming a solid duo with captain [player_tooltip player_id='26927' first='Kiara' last='Gilmore']. Hernandez used her intelligence and her reading of the game to dominate Challenge forwards, making several anticipations and cutting passing lanes - she was also very strong on 1v1 duels. Hernandez was very comfortable with the ball too and had an important role in the team's buildup. Her passing was very accurate, she made some smart switches, finding open teammates on the right, and even drove the ball forward herself through the middle. The center back was also dangerous in set pieces, taking free kicks and corner kicks towards the penalty box.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ae351a8504"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1708196276519493784?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/1708196276519493784?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27136"],"_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":"Norris was a stud for FC Dallas and heavily influenced the game from her central midfield position. She was very active defensively, playing with a lot of energy, winning duels and stepping up to cover her teammates when they were beaten. Norris got on the ball a lot and always found ways to contribute to the team's offense with her passing accuracy. The midfielder found good solutions when under pressure, connecting quick and short passes through the middle, and also did well when she had more toom to operate, launching precise long balls that found her teammates in good spots.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ae351a8572"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":149637,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_2595.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-149637" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G07 vs. FC Dallas ECNL G07</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26783"],"_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":"FC Dallas' starting striker, Storer did an excellent job when she was on the field. Her positioning inside the penalty box was always very smart and allowed her to score the opening goal with an easy tap-in, but she was also very involved in the team's playmaking. Extremely mobile, Storer did a great job of finding spots to get on the ball and connect with her teammates. She had an excellent understanding of when to drop deeper or to drift wide and was very unselfish, creating to her teammates when they were in better spots.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ae351a85ce"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":149657,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_2707.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-149657" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G07 vs. FC Dallas ECNL G07</figcaption></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":"Samira Minor","_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":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lone Star","_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":"Minor came off the bench and played a major role in FC Dallas' victory, contributing a goal and an assist. She displayed a very complete game, combining pace, strenght and solid technical skills, which allowed her to play all three positions up front. Minor was very dangerous when playing out wide, beating defenders with her pace and getting to the end line (as she did in Thompson's goal), but also had a strong presence inside the penalty box. She was rewarded with the team's second goal in a play that had her hard work, but also a bit of luck.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ae351a867c"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1708194117077840039?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/1708194117077840039?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27139"],"_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":"Feagin did her best to try and push Challenge forward and help the team create chances against a strong FC Dallas side. She played with great intensity in midfield and got on the ball a lot, often connecting good passes and occasionally trying to drive the ball forward herself with strong runs through the middle. Feaging couldn't find a lot of space to make things happen, but kept trying until the end. She attempted some long-range finishes as well, but wasn't very effective with them.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ae351a86da"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1708210467024314821?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/1708210467024314821?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ae351a8728"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["48233"],"_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":"With FC Dallas heavily dominating possession, Pazahanick wasn't able to impact the game with her passing in the way she typically does, but she still had a solid performance on the defensive side of the game. With Challenge trailing from the start and pushing for goals, she was often by herself in central midfield and had to cover a lot of ground to stop transition plays. Pazahanick played with great energy until the final whistle and was strongly effective with her interceptions, winnng the ball back on several occasions.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ae351a877b"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/Halo8Soccer/status/1708508276348826046?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/Halo8Soccer/status/1708508276348826046?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->