ECNL Phoenix Day 3 Standouts

First and foremost I would like commend ECNL for putting on a spectacular event. It was my first time at Reach 11 Sports Complex and the grass fields were in fantastic condition. The showcase match on Saturday night was definitely the highlight with the East vs West game drawing a bigger crowd of players and college coaches. It was a lot warmer on the last day of the showcase (around 80 degrees) and being the 3rd game in 3 days there were a lot of tired legs. I thought most coaches did a great job with rotating squads to protect their players health.   The first game I took in was San Diego Surf vs United Futbol Academy who battled to a 1-1 draw. Paisley Cathey scored an absolute banger to open up the scoring. This young woman has one of the most powerful shots I have ever seen. When she hits the ball purely it sounds like a bomb just came off her foot. She scored from 30-35 yards away off the crossbar and in. [player_tooltip player_id='19248' first='Cassidy' last='Drago'] put in another fantastic shift for San Diego Surf scoring a good goal and a constant threat for the UFA's defense. She is great with her back to goal, she can turn on a dime and can make things happen on the dribble. She is an unselfish player and will make runs relentlessly to open up space for her teammates even when she doesn't get the ball. The BYU commit is headed to Provo in January and had every reason to take it easy during this showcase to get ready. Like a true competitor she competed to the best of her ability and had a fantastic showing bidding farewell to her ECNL career.   After watching Mekenzie Rogers in the showcase game on Saturday night I had to watch her again on Sunday. They were squaring up against a team I am very familiar with Bay Area Surf. Rogers was excellent again her low center of gravity, first step, open-field speed, ball skills, and creativity are really fun to watch. Michigan State has a very good class coming in and will be at the top of the college game for years to come if they keep recruiting the way they have been. Rogers was matched up against [player_tooltip player_id='206094' first='Savannah' last='Leifried'] a few times and watching two top players compete against each other is always a pleasure to watch. Leifried is an excellent crosser of the ball she can whip it, float it, drive it and pull it back from the byline, she can hit them first time or on the dribble. She has excellent anticipation and is really good at drawing defenders in to create space in behind for quick one-two's. Another player that impressed me was Mia Seiminski she came off the bench and made her presence felt. She's a tall, lanky midfielder who can cover ground fast, very good on the ball and makes good decisions. Brooklyn Henderson the Goalkeeper for Surf had a very good showcase. She's a great shot stopper, looks the part (very tall and strong), and is very good at collecting balls out of the air.   I made my way over and stood in the middle of two games that both featured Norcal vs Socal battles. On one side in an U-19 matchup Bay Area Surf was taking on Beach FC and on the other side a U17 matchup featuring De Anza Force and Beach FC squared off. All 4 teams are absolutely loaded with talent.   In the U19 matchup the Cruyff Queen herself [player_tooltip player_id='33320' first='Jocelyn' last='Travers'] was brilliant as always and was actually playing with her little sister [player_tooltip player_id='199887' first='Cassandra' last='Travers'] who was playing an astonishing 3 years up for Bay Area Surf and held her own against the bigger, faster, stronger competition. [player_tooltip player_id='197132' first='Kate' last='Ryan'] scored a goal for Beach off a great assist from [player_tooltip player_id='63946' first='Shannon' last='Davidson']. [player_tooltip player_id='19172' first='Avery' last='Oder'] is an absolute baller and wreaked havoc for Surf's defense. She's very deceptive and unpredictable with her play making her a nightmare to play against. Duke University has realized that you can't go wrong recruiting California's top players. Prep Soccer's top 3 2025 prospects are all headed there in the Spring or Fall.   In the other game I was really impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='190328' first='Payton' last='Norman'] a center back for Beach who doesn't necessarily look like your typical center back. She's 5'5, 5'6 and rather slight, she has more of an outside backs build but she balled out in both of the games I watched her this weekend. She is exceptional at reading plays, has a sixth sense of what play the opposition is going to make. In the U17 matchup De Anza Force VS Beach FC. [player_tooltip player_id='82602' first='Abby' last='Nelson'] is getting better and better still only a sophomore. She should get more National Team attention in my opinion. She's an absolute dawg, so competitive, super versatile, scores, defends, "whatever you need me to do coach" kind of player. [player_tooltip player_id='19269' first='Chelsea' last='Rogers'] headed to The University of 'Roll Tide' I wasn't familiar with your game I apologize. You're big time bossed it the whole game. Well done.

First and foremost I would like commend ECNL for putting on a spectacular event. It was my first time at Reach 11 Sports Complex and the grass fields were in fantastic condition. The showcase match on Saturday night was definitely the highlight with the East vs West game drawing a bigger crowd of players and college coaches. It was a lot warmer on the last day of the showcase (around 80 degrees) and being the 3rd game in 3 days there were a lot of tired legs. I thought most coaches did a great job with rotating squads to protect their players health.