ECNL Girls TX: Challenge SC 08 vs. Sting Dallas Black 08

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 players everywhere in the nation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Saturday, October 14, I went to Burroughs Park, in Tomball, to catch an ECNL Girls Texas Conference match between Challenge SC ECNL G08 and Sting Dallas Black ECNL G08 - check out a <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/10/ecnl-girls-tx-challenge-sc-08-vs-sting-dallas-black-08-photos/">photo gallery</a> of the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Challenge SC ECNL G08 0 - 4 Sting Dallas Black ECNL G08</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite playing on the road, Sting wasted no time taking control of the match and built a comfortable lead in the first half. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='26972' first='Leah' last='Simpson'] picked up a loose ball inside the penalty box and finished in the upper corner to score the first goal. A few minutes later, outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='89659' first='Lily' last='Weiss'] found winger [player_tooltip player_id='26879' first='Kate' last='McCallister'] with a cross and she sent the ball into the back of the net. Before the halftime break, Weiss fed Simpson with a nice through ball and the forward beat goalkeeper Esther Quintanilla to score 3-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/StingECNL08/status/1713285402281345082?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/StingECNL08/status/1713285402281345082?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Challenge made some adjustments going into the second half and evened the match, getting more control of the ball, but couldn't threaten Sting's win. Near the end, winger [player_tooltip player_id='26638' first='Danielle' last='Chaump'] made a good combination play with striker [player_tooltip player_id='26941' first='Kyleigh' last='Ward'] to beat Challenge's defense and score the final goal with a left-footed finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27192"],"_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":"Liner did an excellent job in shutting down Challenge's offensive attempts alongside center back partner [player_tooltip player_id='112740' first='Tyller' last='Grimes']. Very physical, she used her height to clear long passes and crosses and dominated Challenge's forwards with her athleticism. Liner was very strong in 1v1 duels too and was very quick to chase opponents away from the penalty box and to take a step forward and make interceptions when she sensed an opportunity to do it. The center back was also always very calm in possession and hit some accurate 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-652d609cc0d63"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1713214219494072553?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/1713214219494072553?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["89659"],"_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":"An offensive-minded right back, Weiss was a key player in Sting's dominant performance, contributing on both sides of the ball. She had an excellent presence on the attacking third, helping her team widen the field and find space through Challenge's backline. She assisted on two goals for her team, finding [player_tooltip player_id='26879' first='Kate' last='McCallister'] with a precise cross and [player_tooltip player_id='26972' first='Leah' last='Simpson'] with a smart through ball. Weiss also did a good defensively, especially in the first few minutes of the match, before Sting started controlling possession more strongly.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652d609cc0e1e"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":150889,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_3972.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-150889" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G08 vs. Sting Dallas Black ECNL G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27102"],"_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":"Flanagan brought a lot of energy to the center of the field for Sting. She covered a lot of ground defensively and played hard, helping the team win possession on multiple occasions. She was also very productive on offense, using her vision and quick thinking to connect one-time, efficient passes and get the ball forward in no time. Flanagan was also very good at making quick runs through the middle in transition plays and created some promising opportunities for his team by doing that.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652d609cc0eb2"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1713196717309358084?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/1713196717309358084?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26972"],"_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":"Simpson was a key cog in Sting's offense with her versatility and high-energy game. She started the game playing as a second forward, behind striker [player_tooltip player_id='26941' first='Kyleigh' last='Ward'], and took full advantage of the space created by her teammate to score twice. An excellent finisher, Simpson uses both feet well and has a very high soccer IQ, which she uses to identify and occupy pockets of space on the final third. In the second half, she spent some time playing striker, but continued to move around, dropping back to make combination plays and drifting wide on some occasions. She also did some good work off the ball, putting pressure on defenders.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652d609cc0f48"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":150899,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_4027.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-150899" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G08 vs. Sting Dallas Black ECNL G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26638"],"_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":"Chaump offered a lot to Sting from her winger position. She started the match on the right and ended it on the left, but produced at a great level on either side. She was very dangerous with the ball at her feet, going at opponents and using her body to keep possession and also making combination plays with her teammates. Chaump also had a lot of success getting on the end of long, diagonal passes launched by the center backs, getting Sting possession in a more advanced area of the field. Her hard work was rewarded with the team's last goal in the match.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652d609cc0fdb"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":150894,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_4005.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-150894" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G08 vs. Sting Dallas Black ECNL G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112753"],"_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":"Aguirre coming off the bench was one of the factors that allowed Challenge to balance the match in the second half as she helped stabilize the team with her consistent game. She played left midfielder, left back and right back, displaying great versatility, and did a solid job on both sides of the ball. Aguirre worked hard on defense and helped Challenge protect the wider areas of the field, while also doing a fine job in possession, making good decisions and helping her team keep the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652d609cc106b"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":150901,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_4035.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-150901" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G08 vs. Sting Dallas Black ECNL G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112759"],"_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":"Playing as a left back, Quinn had a very busy and challenging match, dealing with Sting's strong right side. She had an interesting battle with winger [player_tooltip player_id='26638' first='Danielle' last='Chaump'], winning some and losing some, but never stopped fighting and making some strong defensive plays that avoided a worse result for her team. Quinn didn't offer a lot offensively, but held her spot well and did a good job with her interceptions. She ended the match playing center back and did fine as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652d609cc10f9"} /-->