ECNL Girls Tennessee: Five Midfielders to Watch
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After stops in St. Louis, San Diego and Phoenix, the ECNL Girls League is set to host its fourth event of the season this weekend in Tennessee. Between Friday and Sunday, 210 teams, including some of the best in the…
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Continue ReadingAfter stops in St. Louis, San Diego and Phoenix, the ECNL Girls League is set to host its fourth event of the season this weekend in Tennessee.
Between Friday and Sunday, 210 teams, including some of the best in the country, will be in action in Murfreesboro in order to test themselves and show what they can do.
It will be a great opportunity to watch some exciting prospects in action against strong competition and these midfielders have the potential to heavily influence their teams’ performances:
Studebaker and her team Crossfire Premier 06/05 will be tested against Racing Louisville Academy, Arlington Soccer and VA Union this week in Tennessee. A true box-to-box midfielder, she’s always very active on both sides of the ball in midfield and is heavily involved with what her team does on the field. Studebaker is very tall and strong and she knows how to use her physical tools to be a force in the center of the field. She’s a great tackler and is always ready to stop long passes and help defend the penalty box with her headers. Her aerial ability also comes to play offensively as she’s often a threat in set pieces. Studebaker also has good quality on the ball and is good at helping the team circulate the ball and break lines.
Ferrell and her Sting Austin 06/05 team will face South Carolina United, Jacksonville FC and Florida Krush in this week’s event. A defensive midfielder, she gets the job done in the center of the field for her team and is a key cog in their playing system. Ferrell plays with great intensity, but perhaps her most valuable asset is her quickness to make decisions, which allows her to win the ball back on defense and find her way out of pressure when in possession. Ferrell also has great vision and good passing range, a combination that helps her defense into offense in no time.
Playing for Richmond United 07, Flammia will be in action against Florida Krush, Real Colorado Athletico and Washington Premier this week. She’s typically used in more of an offensive role with the team, but given her high soccer IQ and her complete skill set, she could play anywhere in midfield. Flammia is one of those players who always make the right choice when on the ball and don’t waste possession, keeping their teams in a good offensive rhythm. She sees the game very well and times her passes even better, but she is also always ready to score goals with either foot.
Stack will lead her team Concorde Fire Platinum 08 as they play against PDA Blue, Real Colorado National and Legends FC in Murfreesboro. As their main chance-creator, she’s heavily involved in the team’s offensive efforts and has been getting better and better at that. One of the most exciting prospects in Georgia in her age group, she has excellent vision and typically sees passes no one else does, be it in the central area of the field or in the final third. Stack also makes good runs into the penalty box on and off the ball and the fact that she finishes well with either foot makes things difficult for defenders who try to stop her. The also handles the defensive work well, tracking back and helping the team on defense.
Heintz and her Classics Elite 08 teammates will play Chicago Inter Soccer, Charlotte Independence and Heat FC while in Tennessee. Expect Heintz to be a strong presence for them in midfield, although she can also help in the backline if needed. She plays with a lot of energy, covers a lot of ground in midfield and is great at winning the ball back. Heintz also does a solid job in possession, connecting smart passes and using her excellent footwork to beat opponents and generate space when under pressure. Even if not very tall, she’s very effective in the air, using that ability to clear balls and also to score goals on the attacking third.