NW Elite 2007 girls much improved, heading to Dallas
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After a not so good 2022/2023 season, things are not only looking up for the Northwest Elite 2007 girls team, they are going through a pretty dramatic turnaround. Finishing in the Champions League places may not happen this year, and…
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Continue ReadingAfter a not so good 2022/2023 season, things are not only looking up for the Northwest Elite 2007 girls team, they are going through a pretty dramatic turnaround.
Finishing in the Champions League places may not happen this year, and finishing fourth and making it to the North American Cup may be tough, but they are level on points with Eastside FC and just behind La Roca in points per game, so finishing fifth and finding themselves in the Showcase Cup A is very possible, and a marked improvement.
The recent results are good too, with losses to two of the top three by one goal, with the winning goal coming very late on, and a 3-0 win over La Roca.
The team has come a long way, has improved a lot and has changed tactics to become more defensively solid and to prevent transitions. They also have a wider array of ability as well, with players who can impact a game in every aspect.
“We are just buzzing right now. The team has great character and they get along with each other,” head coach Angelo Sabblah said. “The turnaround is a testament to their desire to improve and their level of professionalism and how they view their development. We are optimistic that we will end well and get into that higher level of competition.
They are heading to Dallas this weekend for the Dallas ECNL Showcase, and will face Real Colorado on Saturday, Classics on Sunday and then FC Wisconsin on Monday.
Northwest Elite’s 2007 team had four players depart, but added six new players and the team is more versatile. Here is a comprehensive look at the roster.
Zoe Anderson Zoe Anderson 5'11" | GK Jesuit (National Rank: 7th) | 2025 OR , Keeper
Anderson is already committed to Santa Clara and is one of the top keepers in the country for the class of 2025. She has stepped her game up another level, making incredible saves and keeping the team in games. She is growing in command of her box, growing in terms of distribution and continues to be very strong, powerful and a vocal leader. She is a great keeper technically as well.
Maci Barlow, Attacking Midfielder
Barlow is a 2009 player, so the attacking midfielder is playing two years up, after spending some time even playing 3-4 years up on the 2005/2006 team. She is a prodigious player who has trained with NWSL teams and has been invited to USYNT ID camps. She displays excellent decision making, knows when to pass, knows when to play simple, but shows off her quickness and athleticism with how quickly she can change directions and work out of tight spaces.
Katrin Garrity, Central Defender
Garrity is a physical center back, probably the most physical player on the team. She is improving greatly as a covering defender, as she is already an excellent man-marking defender. She is the defender who gets to man mark the biggest, most physical attacker the opponent has. She is greatly improving on the ball, she is showing great passing range and she is a good decision maker.
Kiera Grant Kiera Grant 5'7" | D OR , Central Defender
Grant is the unquestioned leader of this group, and is a phenomenal defender. She is great 1v1, she is fantastic in the air and she plays physically and plays quickly. She’s a good player of the ball as she can play it well and pick a pass. What is really important about her is that she has a great sense of responsibility and will be the first to take accountability.
Abigail Green, Keeper
Green is a new addition to the team and has been the life of the party. She was a great addition from a social aspect as she brings a verbosity, an energy and character that the team needed. She is also a very solid all-around keeper, she is extremely coachable and is working well with Anderson as the two are pushing one another.
Bridgette Hollifield, Forward
Hollifield has really upped her came this year as she worked on her strength and conditioning and it is showing as she has gotten quicker, stronger and is displaying more energy. She plays as a No. 7 and sometimes a No. 9 and is an important player to have in the side. She has great ability to go forward and then recover and get back to make tackles. With a low center of gravity she is hard to get off the ball. Hollifield is very technical, very creative and a great striker of the ball. She also understands space very well and can play all over because of this. She has good timing and knows when and where to be. She is also very mentally strong, does not get phased or quit on her team.
Marley Hunter, Outside Defender
Hunter is another great new addition as she is a Futsal kid and that means she has great feet. She also uses her body to help protect the ball, and has displayed a big pitch understanding. She is a left back who inverts and shows an advanced understanding of space and helps break up the attack. She shuts down space, is good going back and is also great with connecting with attacking players. Hunter shows an advanced understanding of the game, of space and is proficient going both ways.
Kylee Jerome, Midfielder
Jerome is another heady player that shows a great understanding of the game. She is very versatile and can play anywhere in the midfield. She is very good technically, strong physically and moves well which allows her to cover a lot of space. She strikes the ball well, also, which allows her to take some set pieces.
Katherine Mallon Katherine Mallon M OR , Defensive Midfielder
Mallon has been featuring largely as a No. 6, but can play the No. 8 as well. She reads the game well, positions herself brilliantly and this leads to a lot of interceptions. She is dynamic in that she is always on the move, she sets traps for teams by knowing when to hold her space and is light enough on her feet to pounce quickly. Mallon is an excellent distributor, she can play the ball short, she can penetrate or go long, if need be. She also just has a great attitude.
Adeline Mitchell, Defensive Midfielder
Mitchell is a very tough, physical holding mid and with that toughness and physicality, she can also play center back. She plays simple and breaks down attacks. She is an athletic player who works hard, showing a lot of talent and a lot of room to grow as a player.
Maddie Plaat, Midfielder
Plaat has a lot of good technical qualities, including a very good first touch. She likes to find space in between the lines and can get going forward. But she is quick to tuck back in and help defend. She understands space and knows when to get wide. She is a great striker of the ball, hitting it really well. She doesn’t get as many goals as she deserves because she doesn’t stay forward as much, as she is a team player. She is also very hard-working.
Malia Savage, Outside Defender
Savage is a left back that is tall and is very physical. She can also play center back as well. She makes good decisions, which allows her to play as a midfielder, too. She is a workhorse, never giving anything up. If she gets beat, her sheer will and work rate allows her to get back. She is very disciplined, will sit in the right spots and occupy pockets of space. This compliments Hunter, who likes to express herself and get forward. If the team needs to be more defensive, Savage will offer that. She makes good decisions and can play a first-time ball really well.
Caitlyn Schreck, Attacking Midfielder
Schreck is an attacking midfielder that seems to always be fully in control. She shows great decision making, can take players on and has a great shot. She is very technical. She gets forward as she has an offensive mindset, can break at lightning speed but has boundless energy and gets back quickly to help keep things compact.
Kylee Schreck, Forward
Schreck plays as a No. 11 and is very, very quick. She is great at cutting in or staying wide. She can use both feet and can pick a pass or shoot with either foot. She is also very good about making a run, getting into the box and heading the ball from the back post.
Sydney Stimmel Sydney Stimmel M OR , Forward/Attacking Midfielder
Stimmel can play as a forward, a wide left forward, or as a No. 10. She is a total soccer head and is completely immersed in the culture and it shows up in her understanding of the game. She is the player that sees more than everybody else. She is also extremely technical, has a nice first touch, is very creative and can really strike the ball.
Sydnie Walters, Central Defender
Walters is a new addition to the team and is a center back that can play with both feet. This allows her to play outside back on either side as well. Walters is extremely quick, very aggressive and gets brought in against very physical forwards and sticks to them. She is a very good 1v1 defender and remains disciplined in her defensive approach.
Tayten Wigle Tayten Wigle M OR , Midfielder
Wigle is a tall and strong midfielder who is deceptively quick. She has a good eye for the attacking part of the game, and can play anywhere in the midfield. She is a good passer of the ball, and can be a playmaker as she plays a good through ball and spies how to break down a defense. She is a good striker of the ball, can score from distance and is technically solid.