ECNL Girls Duel of the Week: Sting Dallas Black vs. Dallas Texans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Texas Girls Conference is one of the most competitive in the country and its season calendar features many battles between some of the top club teams in the United States throughout the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the spring arrives, action will start picking back up and we'll be highlighting and previewing some of the most interesting duels taking place across the Lone Star State a few days before they take place over the weekends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Sunday, March 24, two of the top clubs in the Dallas area - Sting Dallas Black and Dallas Texans - will see their 06/05, 07, 08 and 09 teams duel at the Sting Complex, in Richardson, and here's what to expect from each of these encounters:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>G06/05 - 09:00 AM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sting are ranked seventh in the conference with four wins, three losses and four draws - 23 goals scored and 16 conceded. [player_tooltip player_id='86632' first='Savanah' last='Finley'] is an elite shot-stopper for them and she counts on a very strong center back duo in front of her, formed by [player_tooltip player_id='26302' first='Aly' last='Guthrie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='27296' first='Taylor' last='Yablonski'] - left back [player_tooltip player_id='26828' first='Jetney' last='Cook'] rounds up a strong backline. Ava Goodin is the team's engine, bringing a lot of energy in midfield, helped by [player_tooltip player_id='26315' first='Cameron' last='Patton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='26613' first='Catherine' last='Wagner']. Sting has a lot of talent up top, with players like [player_tooltip player_id='85781' first='Jalen' last='Chaney'], [player_tooltip player_id='26410' first='Alexandra' last='Love'], [player_tooltip player_id='41132' first='Ally' last='Pinto'] and Anna Niedermier bringing different skill sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":98949,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/02/IMG_1552.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-98949" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Washington Premier 06 vs. Dallas Texans 06</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Texans are ranked 11th, with three wins, four losses and two ties - ten goals for and 16 against. They have two of the best goalkeepers in the region working between the posts for them in [player_tooltip player_id='26334' first='Kaitlyn' last='Gustafson'] and Bryanna Russell. The team has plenty of good options on defense, with center backs [player_tooltip player_id='26658' first='Ella' last='Bushko'] and [player_tooltip player_id='102095' first='Skylar' last='Henley'] and outside backs [player_tooltip player_id='26706' first='Erin' last='O'Sullivan'], Sammy Quiroz and Brooke Phillips standing out as some of the most interesting ones. [player_tooltip player_id='26980' first='Leslie' last='Razo'] is a pillar for the team in midfield, working well on both sides of the ball, while [player_tooltip player_id='26446' first='Amalia' last='Lopez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='26829' first='Jillian' last='Anderson'] contribute more in the chance-creation. Some of the Texans' top offensive options include [player_tooltip player_id='143640' first='Skylar' last='Belanger'], Saddie Ozymy and Sloane Sullivan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>G08 - 09:00 AM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sting have been the top team in the division this season so far with an impressive undefeated campaign of nine wins and two ties - 33 goals for and just four allowed. [player_tooltip player_id='171803' first='Kenlea' last='Swadener'] is a stud for them between the posts and she's shielded by a strong backline formed by center backs [player_tooltip player_id='27192' first='Reese' last='Liner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='112740' first='Tyller' last='Grimes'] and outside backs [player_tooltip player_id='89659' first='Lily' last='Weiss'] and [player_tooltip player_id='27098' first='Mikaela' last='Valentine']. [player_tooltip player_id='93359' first='Camden' last='Henard'], [player_tooltip player_id='27102' first='Mimi' last='Flanagan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='26368' first='Abigail' last='Graul'] bring quality and intensity in midfield. Sting's front three is really difficult to stop thanks to the pace and goalscoring of [player_tooltip player_id='26638' first='Danielle' last='Chaump'], the creativity and flair of [player_tooltip player_id='26972' first='Leah' last='Simpson'] and the physical presence of [player_tooltip player_id='26941' first='Kyleigh' last='Ward'] inside the penalty box.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":150890,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_3978.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-150890" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G08 vs. Sting Dallas Black ECNL G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Texans are ranked ninth in the Texas Conference with one win, three losses and five ties - they scored and conceded eight goals. [player_tooltip player_id='27154' first='Paityn' last='Davis'] is their main goalkeeper and she's capable of keeping the team in difficult games with her ability to make stops. [player_tooltip player_id='181370' first='Audrey' last='Rush'] is very reliable at center back and the team has another excellent defensive player in right back [player_tooltip player_id='26521' first='Averi' last='Scruggs']. One of the most talented players on the roster, [player_tooltip player_id='158445' first='Erika' last='Montes'] can play at left back or in midfield, adding another interesting option to an area that also has the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='26560' first='Brinlee' last='Kristufek'] and [player_tooltip player_id='112748' first='Lily' last='Marquez']. In the attack, [player_tooltip player_id='112752' first='Ella' last='York'], [player_tooltip player_id='26385' first='Adeline' last='Jacobs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='27040' first='Makenzie' last='Majors'] get most of the minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>G07 - 11:00 AM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sting are in fifth place with seven wins, three losses and one draw - they have 23 goals for and 14 against. [player_tooltip player_id='27238' first='Shelby' last='Henderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='26716' first='Gabriela' last='Garza'] split time in goal and are both very reliable. Center back [player_tooltip player_id='142758' first='Gianna' last='Wilbur'] anchors the team's strong backline, which also counts on hard-working and talented outside backs [player_tooltip player_id='26910' first='Kelsey' last='Lefever'] and [player_tooltip player_id='27208' first='Ryann' last='Bruggemann']. Left-footed playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='54813' first='Olivia' last='Hess'] plays a big role in midfield, alongside [player_tooltip player_id='27282' first='Tatum' last='Barnard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='26384' first='Adeline' last='Brink']. Forwards Ava Garrett, [player_tooltip player_id='27106' first='Molly' last='Teed'] and [player_tooltip player_id='26495' first='Ashlyn' last='Steele'] are some of the team's most powerful offensive weapons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":148928,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/09/The-Three-crop-961x631-1695741153.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-148928" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Dallas Texans</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Texans are 15th, with one win, six losses and two ties - their goal differential shows -12, with five goals scored and 17 allowed. Kinsley Fulkz is the team's starting goalkeeper. The backline in front of her has some interesting pieces, such as strong center back [player_tooltip player_id='27206' first='Ryan' last='Fogel'] and versatile outside backs [player_tooltip player_id='26832' first='Jordan' last='Clig'] and [player_tooltip player_id='86167' first='Presley' last='See']. Midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='26667' first='Ellis' last='Kuntz'] is one of their main chance creators, playing in tandem with [player_tooltip player_id='86006' first='Monica' last='Morales']. The team's most productive offensive players are [player_tooltip player_id='26538' first='Bailey' last='Cate'], Autumn Brown and [player_tooltip player_id='169330' first='Layla' last='Jackson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>G09 - 01:00 PM </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sting are seventh in the conference with six wins, three losses and two draws - they scored 25 goals and let 17 in. [player_tooltip player_id='112681' first='Carolina' last='Flores'] is the team's main option at goal and she gets the job done with excellent technique and impressive reflexes. [player_tooltip player_id='182116' first='Audrey' last='Young'] is a physical and technical center back, who plays a major role in the backline for them. [player_tooltip player_id='219185' first='Natalie' last='Scott'] covers a lot of ground in central midfield, while Katherine Pinto can play as a right wingback or right midfielder and will bring a lot of energy to the field. Sting have an incredible number of talented options up top, including [player_tooltip player_id='272222' first='Kennedy' last='Butler'], Ronelyse Hartfield, [player_tooltip player_id='163973' first='Addison' last='Smith'] and Juliana Lozano.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":163582,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/IMG_2217.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-163582" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sting Dallas Black vs. Concorde Fire Premier</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Texans are the fourth-best team in the division with a campaign of seven wins, one loss and one tie - their offense has produced 23 goals, while their defense leaked ten. [player_tooltip player_id='148470' first='Demi' last='Arnolds'] is as strong and reliable as it gets in goal for them. The Texans have quality players in central defense, with [player_tooltip player_id='112590' first='Ryleigh' last='Albin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='148469' first='Arianna' last='Villarreal'] complementing each other to form a strong duo, and also at outside back, with the versatile and well-rounded [player_tooltip player_id='147178' first='Makayla' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='112627' first='Isabella' last='Byrd']. [player_tooltip player_id='112629' first='Madeline' last='Cervantes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='112640' first='Olivia' last='Puente'] are very active in midfield and most of what the team creates goes through them. [player_tooltip player_id='112558' first='Audrey' last='Gandonou'] and [player_tooltip player_id='112631' first='Amira' last='Kamara'] are real goalscoring threats with their athleticism and finishing skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->