ECNL Girls TX: Challenge SC 06 vs. Sting Dallas Black 06
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Club soccer leagues around the country continue at full pace in the fall season and us, at Prep Soccer, are committed to covering as many of them as possible and keeping our eyes wide open for the rise of talented…
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Continue ReadingClub soccer leagues around the country continue at full pace in the fall season and us, at Prep Soccer, are committed to covering as many of them as possible and keeping our eyes wide open for the rise of talented players everywhere in the nation.
On Saturday, October 14, my destination was Burroughs Park, in Tomball, where an ECNL Girls Texas Conference match between Challenge SC ECNL G06 and Sting Dallas Black ECNL G06 took place – take some time to check our photo gallery.
Challenge SC ECNL G06 2 – 1 Sting Dallas Black ECNL G06
Challenge were the better team in the first half and started the match dominating possession and trying to create chances against Sting. They ended up getting their first goal in a transition play, though, as Anaiyah Robinson Anaiyah Robinson F Bridgeland (TX) | 2024 State #119 Nation TX dispossessed a Sting defender around the midfield line and only stopped when the ball found the ball of the net.
Sting were punished by another defensive error in the second half, when Brynn Baldon Brynn Baldon D State TX intercepted a pass in the attacking half, sensed goalkeeper Savanah Finley Savanah Finley GK TX away from goal and chipped her. Near the end, Sting got one back with substitute Rydlii Rives, who scored on a one-time finish.
Top Performers
Wilson was a rock on Challenge’s defense, getting the better of Sting’s attackers for most of the match. She used her physical tools extremely well to win the ball back and stop plays, but also thrived with her positioning, making several interceptions and never being caught out of position. Wilson was particularly important to her team in the final minutes of the match, when Sting made a late push looking for an equalizer and her aerial ability helped Challenge clear the ball from the penalty box. She also supported the hosts’ offense with long passes and by taking long free kicks.
Smith spent time on both outside back positions, but was particularly active on the left. She was very strong defensively, playing with a lot of grit and determination and having great success in her actions. Smith was great in 1v1 duels and also used her pace and recovery ability to chase opponents near the sidelines on the rare occasions she was dribbled. When lined alongside Gillian Wilson Gillian Wilson D TX on the left, basically nothing went through them. The outside back also came inside the penalty box on some occasions and made some critical plays, avoiding what would have been an equalizer for Sting.
Swan formed a strong partnership with Grace Smith Grace Smith M Cy-Fair (TX) | 2024 State #199 Nation TX in the center of the field, working well on both sides of the ball. Her accurate and intelligent passing kept Challenge in a rhythm as she very rarely wasted possession. She also contributed to the team’s creation with her ability in dead-ball situations as some corners and free kicks she took created some issues for Sting. Swan also did a good defensively, shielding the backline and controlling the center of the field.
The athletic forward created all sorts of issues for Sting, which very often had two players around Robinson in an attempt to stop her. She played in a more central position, but moved well to the flanks, where she had more room to use her pace. Robinson got on the end of the long passes, serving as a target striker for Challenge at times, and created a goal out of basically nothing when she dispossessed a defender and raced to score. She had some success in the air as well and drew some dangerous fouls around the penalty box.
Cook did a good job with her mostly defensive roles as Sting’s left back. She had some difficult matchups, at times defending taller and more physical players, but never backed off and continued to play hard until the final whistle, in a certain way setting the tone for her teammates. Cook made some strong defensive plays and kept her level consistent during the entire match. She also had an important leadership role with Sting, communicating well with her teammates and helping keep the backline organized.
Playing opposite to Jetner Cook on the right, Wylie had different contributions, adding more on the offensive side of the game. Very smooth on the ball and quick to make decisions, she got to push the team upfield with some of her runs in the first half. In the second part of the match, she was moved to more of a right midfielder position and varied her approach, occasionally staying wide and some other plays coming inside. Her dribbling ability proved to be an interesting asset around the penalty box as she managed to create a good chance on her own, but ended up shooting over the goal.
Goodin was the centerpiece of her Sting team and was heavily involved with everything the team did against Challenge. She played with a lot of energy as a central midfielder and helped her team disrupt several attempts their opponents made. Goodin also did very well in possession, using her body to shield the ball from opponents, making good runs through the middle and always finding smart options with her passing. She fired a beautiful long-distance shot that hit the crossbar in the second half which could have changed the outcome of the match.