ECNL Girls TX: Challenge SC 06 vs. Sting Austin 06

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Girls League is back to action in the Texas Conference after the conclusion of the high school season in the Lone Star State and teams are back on the field for the spring season, which will lead to the Playoffs in June and the Finals in July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer Texas will pick up where it left off before the break and will continue covering matches of the League, bringing photos and analysis for each of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Sunday, April 21, I was at the Matias Almeyda Training Center, in Houston, where Challenge SC G06 faced Sting Austin G06.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/04/ecnl-girls-tx-challenge-sc-06-vs-sting-austin-06-photos/">ECNL Girls TX: Challenge SC 06 vs. Sting Austin 06 - Photos</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Challenge SC 1 - 2 Sting Austin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first half of the match was very busy, with both teams looking to score. Challenge had a good chance early on, when a penalty kick was called for them, but Sting's goalkeeper Samantha Walker stepped up to stop [player_tooltip player_id='26554' first='Brianna' last='Carrigan']'s shot. A few minutes later, Kaia Butler picked a loose ball inside the penalty box and scored for the hosts. Sting equalized before the halftime break after a quick transition play found [player_tooltip player_id='218573' first='Kennedy' last='Kaiser'] on the left and she brought the ball inside and fired a shot into the upper corner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The back and forth continued in the second half and when it looked like the teams were going to settle for a tie, Sting scored the game-winning goal in another transition play when [player_tooltip player_id='144756' first='Kate' last='Grannis'] drove the ball down the left and found the back of the net with a low shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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 Walker","_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":"5'9u0022","_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":"Westwood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Sting Austin","_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":"Walker was only on the field in the first 45 minutes, but made a major impact and played a major role in Sting's victory. Challenge were extremely dangerous in the first half and on many occasions stopped on the goalkeeper, who couldn't do much in their goal as the initial shot deflected off a defender, getting her out of her way. Walker came up big for them by making a critical penalty kick save at the start of the match. A goalkeeper with good length, she also displayed great technical skills and was very solid during her time on the field.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66284aeac1ba6"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1782097936765096027","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/1782097936765096027 </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":"[player_tooltip player_id='26902' first='Kaylee' last='Humble']","_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":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Harker Heights","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Sting Austin","_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":"Humble played a great match on the backline for Sting Austin. She spent time at both outside back positions, but was mostly used on the right, where she was more effective. Humble took great care of her area defensively, using her positioning to cover space well and timing her defensive action perfectly to win the ball. The outside back was very active offensively too, often taking part in Sting's chance creation. She didn't get to the end line very often, instead bringing the ball inside and setting plays up with her excellent passing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66284aeac1c7e"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1782112473526554999","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/1782112473526554999 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27085"],"_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":"Ferrell's hard work in midfield was of great importance for Sting against Challenge, especially in the final minutes of the match, when the home team pushed for an equalizer. She covered a lot of ground defensively, making several tackles and stopping many offensive attempts from their opponents. Ferrell displayed great tactical intelligence, moving well off the ball to give options when her team had the ball. She also did a great job in possession, helping circulate the ball when Sting was building plays and connecting quick, one-time passes on a couple of occasions when she got on the ball in the final third.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66284aeac1d00"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":171091,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_4172.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-171091" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G06 vs. Sting Austin G06</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["49424"],"_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":"Millin was a constant threat to Challenge's backline with her constant movement and her intelligence when on the ball. She did a very good job of finding pockets to space to get passes and help create plays. Even when she got the ball under pressure, Millin used her first touch extremely well to beat defenders or force them against their flow, creating the separation she needed to make things happen. The forward was excellent at combining with teammates to make plays and create chances. She almost scored in the final minutes of the match when she dispossessed a Challenge defender and finished a few inches off the goal after a quick run.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66284aeac1d6b"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":171104,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_4215.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-171104" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G06 vs. Sting Austin G06</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["144756"],"_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":"Grannis was very active offensively and her hard work was rewarded with the game-winning goal. The forward displayed great patience to move the ball and find ways to beat Challenge's backline when they were organized, connecting well with her teammates. Grannis, however, made the difference for Sting in a pair of transition plays that decided the match. In the first, she timed her pass to Kaiser perfectly, finding her in a great spot to finish. In the second, the forward made a quick run down the left and displayed calm and composure in front of the goal to score with a low shot.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66284aeac1e14"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":171106,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_4221.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-171106" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G06 vs. Sting Austin G06</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26735"],"_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":"Wilson stepped up to help a shorthanded Challenge team by moving up from her original center back position to play as a defensive midfielder. She had no issues playing higher up in the field and was very active defensively, covering ground and winning duels in the middle, making things more difficult for Sting's playmakers. Wilson, who also spent some minutes at center back, also displayed good quality in possession, connecting good passes, even when under pressure.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66284aeac1e7f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26554"],"_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":"Even though she missed a penalty kick that ended up having considerable weight in the match's final score, Carrigan was arguably Challenge's best player on the field. Playing the No. 10 role, she orchestrated the team's offense and pretty much everything the team created went through her. Carrigan moved around the entire field to create plays, sometimes getting the ball from the center backs to initiate plays and on other occasions finding pockets to operate around the penalty box. Her distribution was excellent and she also managed to create space by beating defenders off the dribble and making runs to the goal. The forward had some dangerous shots on target too, including one that hit the post in the first half, and was dangerous with her set pieces.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66284aeac1ee3"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":171109,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_4177.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-171109" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G06 vs. Sting Austin G06</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27019"],"_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":"Originally a winger, Talkington played the striker role for Challenge and did a good job of getting involved with the team's offense. Her movement off the ball was excellent as she understood when to drop deeper to connect with her teammates and when to try and find space behind the outside backs. Talkington was also very effective at getting on the end of long passes and showing solid holdup play when her team decided to play directly. She had some success in 1v1 plays around the penalty box and fired some dangerous shots.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66284aeac1f46"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":171092,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_4175.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-171092" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G06 vs. Sting Austin G06</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->