ECNL Girls Tennessee: Five Outside Backs 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 five outside backs could have great weekends:
Capable of playing at either outside back spot and also in the center of the backline, Griffin will play a big role for Concorde Fire Platinum G07 – in Murfreesboro, they will play OK Energy FC, Ohio Premier and Wilmington Hammerheads. She’s very strong defensively and does an excellent job at winning the ball back. Griffin reads the game extremely well and is always well-positioned – she knows exactly when to step up and make an interception, when to use her body to win the ball, or when to tuck inside and help her center backs. The defender is also confident in possession and connects good passes to the team’s midfielders.
Considered one of the best outside backs in the state of Washington, Ward and her Crossfire Premier G07 team will be faced with Match Fit Academy, Scorpions SC and Tennessee Soccer Club this weekend. She’s a very complete player, who helps her team on both sides of the ball, but it’s offensive talent that makes of her stand out from the crowd. Ward is very quick, being able to get to the attacking third in no time, but also has tremendous quality on the ball, helping the team with crosses from wider positions or with her excellent passing in the central area of the field.
Highlights
A new face with Virginia Development Academy (VDA) G07 this season, Lozada and her teammates will battle Bethesda SC, Alabama FC and CESA Liberty this week in Tennessee. A right-footed left back, she’s very dangerous when she brings the ball inside and opens up the field to connect passes or finish from distance, two things she’s really good at. Lozada is very well-versed offensively and can hurt teams by getting to the end line to make crosses or by progressing through the central area with quick combination plays. She also produces well on defense, using her physicality to win balls and playing hard.
The starting right back in her Dallas Texans G08 team, Scruggs delivers a lot on both sides of the ball and will be relied upon when they face VDA, Indy Eleven Pro Academy and Ohio Premier. She likes to push forward and is very good at it, widening the field with her runs just by the sidelines, timing well her overlaps and making herself available for combination plays and sending good crosses into the penalty box. Scruggs is also very active defensively, playing aggressively and often looking to make interceptions and anticipate plays.
Highlights
Tomlinson plays left back for United Futbol Academy G08 and will face FSA FC, Cleveland Force SC and Richmond United this week in Tennessee. The left side of the team’s backline, which features her and center back Marlee Raymond, is one of their strengths and is very hard for opponents to beat. Tomlinson is a hard-nosed defensive player, who times and goes for tackles very well. Tomlinson is particularly solid when defending in transition, be it tracking an opposing runner or operating as the last defensive line. She uses either feet well in possession and is not shy of pushing the ball forward when she sees an opportunity.