ECNL St. Louis: Rising Stars of the 2010 Age Group

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In freezing temperatures, the ECNL National Event in Saint Louis wrapped up on Sunday. It was the last national event of the calendar year. The winter weather conditions played a role in the games, but there were still plenty of players who stood out from the action in the 2010 age group. Check out the top performers from game film below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aaliyah Garza-Trejo, Sporting Iowa 2010 ECNL - The midfielder was outstanding on Sunday against Hex FC Bucks. She is a smart soccer player and her positioning was perfect to intercept passes and then did well in retaining possession for her side. She is skillful and cleans up possession with perfectly weighted passes to her teammates.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jazlynn Roman-Castro, Sporting Iowa 2010 ECNL - Roman-Castro is listed as a forward/midfielder on her player profile, but she started the game on Sunday at defense. And she was terrific in that role. Her pass to Mia Kate Morrow was exceptional and the number of outside backs in the 2010 age group who could make that pass with the proper weight and spin is probably single digits in all of the ECNL. She is a top level talent in the best club league.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaycie Oliver, Sporting Iowa 2010 ECNL - Oliver was another standout for Sporting in the win on Sunday. She scored the opening goal for her side with a powerful, low-driven shot with her left foot. The passing sequence that led to the goal is a great representation of Oliver's game. She's calm on the ball, gets her head up, finds her teammates with accurate passes. And then she works and moves off the ball to get in the right spot. A true two-way player who is impactful all over the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Makenzie Krater, Missouri Rush 2010 ECNL-RL - Krater stood out from the game film for Missouri Rush. They played against a team that implemented a high line defense and relied on the offside trap, which shrunk the field for the midfielders. Krater's creative passing and quick decision making helped surpass the tactics of the opposition and create chances for her team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madelyn Bush, Missouri Rush 2010 ECNL-RL - The Rush center back impressed with her quality on the ball. She was excellent in distribution and showed off nifty footwork to beat the pressure.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emma Raftery, Missouri Rush 2010 ECNL-RL - Raftery made a couple of goal-saving plays in the first half of the victory on Sunday. The right center back impressed with her defensive plays as she did well in 1v1 duels. Peyton Jett was also a standout for Rush.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261444' first='Adelyn' last='Thomas'], Eclipse Select 2010 - Thomas was really outstanding in the game against Dallas Texans. Physically imposing, deliberate in the tackle, and forcing the issue with her passing, she was a bright spot of the midfield for Eclipse.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='249806' first='Zoe' last='Chang'], Eclipse Select 2010 - The Eclipse center back had a stellar game against Dallas Texans. She is very good on the ball. Good first touch, always in balance to strike an accurate pass immediately with her next move, and quick with her decisions. Chang is a standout defender as well. She is a promising prospect at center back.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nina Clement, FC Stars Blue 2010 - Love the way Clement defends. She's active with her feet and uses her hands to keep control of the opposition. She put together a stellar highlight reel from the ECNL event. She was dominant in the two victories for FC Stars.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olive Straayer, FC Stars Blue 2010 - Zero goals conceded over two games against top competition will certainly attract attention. Straayer was outstanding on Sunday. A fluid athlete and graceful runner, she destroyed any chance for the opposition with her timely interceptions and key tackles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nekesa Segero, Concorde Fire Platinum - Segero was impressive around the ball for Concorde Fire. She was a vacuum for the ball, whenever it was close to her she gained control of it and then did well getting clean passes out to her teammates. The defensive midfielder continues to impress against top competition. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Camille Ford, VDA 2010- Ford is the truth at center back. The VDA 2010 ECNL team is a special group and they will be contenders for the national title this summer. Ford is in the spotlight for her ability to pull off spectacular plays routinely. During the win over KC Athletics, she shut down an attack with a leaping header to knock down a service over the top and then started the counter immediately. It looked like a normal play for Ford, but there are only a few center backs in the ECNL who could have made that play in that situation and she might be the only one who had the quick thinking to immediately get the attack going the other way. Ford has unique and special qualities as a center back.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ella Bears, KC Athletics 2010 - Bears had some impressive moments in the game against VDA. She's a creative player in the center of the field, excellent passer with good vision. Bears showed off the ability to compete against some of the best talent in the nation at this event. Kaiya Brewer was also outstanding for KCA.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caelyn Jimenez, VDA - One of the top players at the event in any age group, the midfielder for VDA was at her best on Sunday in the tight win over KCA. The way she navigates out of pressure in the center of the field shows similar traits to some of the very best youth players US has producer in recent years. She is light on her feet and quick to adjust away from tackles. She's deliberate with her actions and always seems to be thinking two or three actions ahead of her opponent. I don't think she lost possession of the ball once in the first half against KCA, which has a bevy of top midfielders. It was a stunning display of soccer smarts and skills in a difficult environment.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rilee Ramey, Pride SC 2010 ECNL-RL - There is an art to the tactical foul and Ramey has mastered that tactic. Pride was impressive at this event. They finished with a perfect record, and had some dominant runs of play. Ramey was key for much of it with her ability to stop the counter for the opposition. She also shine with her passing. Quick to get the ball off her feet, Ramey was rarely caught in possession.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mia Busby, Pride SC 2010 ECNL-RL - A dominant presence in the center of the pitch, Busby did a bit of everything.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reagan Harter, Pride SC 2010 ECNL-RL - Harter was outstanding at left back in the win over Rockford Raptors. She made some key tackles to stop the opposition. She also had a couple of crucial interceptions. She did well going forward and created chances too.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scarlett Carlson, Gretna Elite Academy 2010 - Carlson finished the event with two shutout victories. The Gretna goalkeeper showed off secure hands and good distribution for her side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->