ECNL Girls Phoenix: Five Goalkeepers to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Girls League is hosting its third National Event of the season next weekend, in Phoenix, Arizona, where teams from the U16, U17 and U18-19 age groups will compete and have the opportunity to showcase their skills from three days, from Friday to Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As many as 166 teams from several different states will make the trip to Arizona and in their squads will be some of the most talented prospects in the country. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we preview the event, let's highlight five players of each position that deserve a closer look, starting with the goalkeepers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["143121"],"_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":"Masters and her Colorado Rapids G08 team will face Sporting California USA, Pacer United and Eclipse Select, which means the goalkeeper should have a lot of work. That shouldn't be a problem for her, who's been very solid with her team during the ECNL season with her well-rounded game. Masters is not only an excellent shot-stopper, combining terrific positioning and impressive reflexes, but also does extremely well when she has to leave goal to catch crosses and stop breakaways. Her presence is incredibly reassuring to her team and makes of the Rapids a very tough team to score at.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65426b859f655"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/shayGK2026/status/1712932090793034201?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/shayGK2026/status/1712932090793034201?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["21649"],"_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":"Concorde Fire Platinum G08 will have one of the best goalkeepers in Georgia between the posts to navigate a tough schedule that features matches against SLSG Navy, Sting Dallas Black and So Cal Blues. Owen has the ability to keep strong teams off the scoreboard and her team will need her to do it this weekend. She's a very technical goalkeeper, who very rarely makes mistakes, but one thing that benefits her a lot is the confidence she has in her decisions, which avoids hesitation, a thing that can ruin goalkeepers. Owen is also very capable with her feet and often connects good passes from the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65426b859f6c7"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627725383725350931?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/1627725383725350931?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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":"Samantha Qureshey","_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":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Episcopal","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Albion Hurricanes","_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":"Albion Hurricanes G07 will approach a difficult schedule that includes San Juan SC, Kansas City Athletics and Phoenix Rising with a pair of talented goalkeepers in Qureshey and Abbi Agosta. Extremely agile, Qureshey has been great for them this season. She's very calm and patient and always waits for the right moment to make plays between the posts, very rarely allowing second-chance opportunities for opponents. She's also very brave and strong in the air and has a very strong leg, which allows her to punt the ball well beyond the midfield line.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65426b859f76d"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LM3Rgciftk","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LM3Rgciftk </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["20434"],"_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":"Falk is another elite goalkeeper from Colorado who will be in action in Phoenix, playing against Boise Thorns FC, De Anza Force and Slammers FC with her team Pride SC G07. She has good size and uses her length extremely well to take up space and get to balls that are shot across her body. An excellent shot-stopper, she can make one difficult save after another, delivering well under pressure and getting better as she gets more confidence. Also a track and field athlete, she's very athletic and that shows when she need to get off her line to make plays.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65426b859f7cd"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/averyrfalk/status/1610867653404692482?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/averyrfalk/status/1610867653404692482?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["23405"],"_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":"One of the top goalkeepers in the country, Birkel and her SLSG Navy G06/05 team will compete with Charlotte SA, Slammers FC HB Koge and Solar SC. She has all the tools a coach would want in an elite goalkeeper and, unsurprisingly, was picked up by Stanford. Birkel is reliable, consistent and has unbelievable ball control, being capable of getting to balls people wouldn't expect her to. She also tends to step up in big moments, often making a difference for her team. Another thing that sets her apart is the ability to play with her feet as Birkel is capable of hitting passes some of the best midfielders would be proud of.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65426b859f823"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv29N2Gx6An/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv29N2Gx6An/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->