ECNL Texas: Day 1 Standouts

<p>The ECNL annual Girls National Event held in Texas started on Saturday, with over 200 club teams from all over the country competing at the Toyota Soccer Center and the MoneyGram Soccer Park in the Lone Star State.</p>   <p>Prep Dig Texas followed the action on-site, covering many of the duels that took place during the day at the Toyota Soccer Center.</p>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/02/ecnl-texas-day-1-photos/">Photos: ECNL Texas Day 1</a></li> </ul>   <p>Here are our standouts from the matches we got to watch:</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Challenge SC 09 0 - 0 SLSG Navy Green 09</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Even though Challenge couldn't find the back of the net against SLSG, Marino had a strong performance for them, operating as their main playmaker. She played two different positions for the team and was very active in both of them. Marino started the match playing more advanced, almost as a second forward, and was very efficient at receiving passes with her back to the goal and holding the ball. Later, she moved a few steps back, getting on the ball facing the goal and did a good job with her distribution and finding some nice passes behind the backline. The midfielder helped the team on defense too, winning some duels in the center of the field.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0004_d0263e.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279548" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Playing as a left back, Perez had a strong shift for SLSG, constantly appearing well in offensive and defensive plays. She did a very good job of protecting her side of the field, using her positioning and strong defensive skills to win duels. Offensively, Perez was always a good option for the team, appearing well on the final third, engaging in good combination plays and beating defenders off the dribble. She also displayed great ability to hit the ball, sending crosses into the penalty box and finding teammates with accurate long diagonal passes. Perez also spent some time at center back and did a solid job there.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0017_464e95.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279549" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sting Black 09 2 - 5 FC Delco 09</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Helwig led FC Delco in a dominant performance against Sting, being their most dangerous and productive offensive player and being in a league of her own when it came to talent level. She played some forward for them and was very dangerous with her ability to dribble in tight spaces and connect in quick combination plays through the middle. When she dropped back to midfield, Helwig had more time and space on the ball and made the difference in an even more meaningful way. Opponents struggled a lot to dispossess, or even slow her down, as she was extremely wide to use her impressive technical tools to dribble, pass and shoot the ball. Her competitive mindset really stood out as, even when her team led by multiple goals, she would still instruct her teammates and demand more from them.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0060_e9a220.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279558" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Yezik dominated the center of the field in a truly impressive way, overmatching her opponents both physically and technically. Working as a defensive midfielder, she covered a lot of ground and was always around the ball, ready to perform a defensive action, taking advantage of her strong body. She was also very active in possession and helped FC Delco build their offensive players with well-thought, quick passes. Yezik's intensity was pivotal for the team and anchored their entire playing system as her strong two-way game made her teammates better.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0070_cd8fac.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279560" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sting Royal 09 1 - 0 SLSG Navy 09</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Playing as a right winger, Brewster was excellent for Sting, appearing well offensively and making much stronger defensive contributions than most players in the position typically do. She had several good runs down the right, beating defenders with her pace and dribbling and taking the ball to the end line. Brewster was incredibly active defensively, tracking back with great determination and remaining focused on her duties off the ball. She also displayed a high soccer IQ, switching her positioning between wider and more central spots according to the opponents' buildup. Brewster was also very firm in her duels, winning all of them, some of which in the attacking half, generating quick transition plays to her team.</p>    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/mjbrew09?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mjbrew09</a> ‘s work rate for <a href="https://twitter.com/StingECNL09?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StingECNL09</a> has been impressive. She appears well with strong runs in the final third and never fails in tracking back and helping defense. Hasn't lost a 50-50 ball yet. <a href="https://t.co/0LY8713dS2">pic.twitter.com/0LY8713dS2</a></p>— Guilherme Torres (@grtorres) <a href="https://twitter.com/grtorres/status/1890827396095377850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2025</a></blockquote>    <p class="text-gray-700">Pohl had a solid match for SLSG, appearing well in the base of their midfield. With her excellent positioning and long legs, she was able to intercept many passes in the middle and was also highly successful with her tackles. The midfielder also did solid work on the ball, displaying excellent vision and quickness of mind to pick great passing options even when under pressure. Pohl had some interesting runs into the attacking half too, finishing one of them with a great left-footed shot that forced Sting's goalkeeper into a difficult save.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sting Black 08 1 - 0 De Anza Force 08</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Graul anchored Sting's midfield with great intensity and tenacity, making a strong contribution to the team's tight victory. Not much went past her in the central area of the field as the defensive midfielder played with great authority and stopped many attempts from their opponents. Graul also stepped up to cover her teammates in wider spots, displaying great mobility to quickly get to the ball and timing her tackles extremely well. She also had a high level of success with her passes, finding teammates in good spots and repeatedly getting the ball out of the crowded central area of the field and finding teammates out wide.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0149_32e4e8.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279578" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Playing as a right-sided center back for DeAnza Force, Rogers was excellent for them. She did solid defensive work for her team, protecting the penalty box with great efficiency and covering her teammates when needed, but it was her work on the ball that made the strongest impression on her game. She was the true definition of a ball-playing center back, playing a major role in the team's buildup with her excellent passing. Rogers was unafraid to step into the attacking half and consistently connected line-breaking passes through the middle, showing great vision, accuracy and, above anything, confidence.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0147_a0fe2b.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279577" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='278052' first='Albion' last='Hurricanes FC'] 09 1 - 0 Eclipse Select SC 09</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">LaFollette helped Albion beat Eclipse Select by the thinnest of margins, working hard and efficiently in the center of the field for them. Her midfield duo with Jillian Hutchinson was instrumental in the team's victory as the two were extremely dynamic and productive for them on both sides of the ball. The team's game-winning goal was executed by the two, with LaFollette finding Hutchinson in the penalty box with a perfect cross following a corner kick to score. She also appeared well in the attacking half with some quick runs through the middle, giving her teammates a great passing option.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Williams had a solid shift with Eclipse Select, being the anchor of their defensive system. She split her time between defensive midfielder and center back and was nearly flawless defensively, making many key actions inside and around the penalty box. Williams thrived with her positioning as at times it seemed she came out of nowhere to win the ball or cover a teammate that was beaten. She also did solid work on the ball, actively participating in the team's buildup and helping them progress the ball with her solid passing skills.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0199.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279589" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Solar SC 09 2 - 0 Kansas City Athletics 09</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Griswell helped Solar produce a clean sheet with an excellent defensive performance, which allowed her team to dominate their opponents in their own half. She split her time between center back and defensive midfielder and performed at a very high level in both positions, being nearly flawless in protecting her team's penalty box. Griswell was reading the game extremely well and made many interceptions, displaying great quickness to cut passing lanes and get first to the ball. She also stood out in possession, making turns to keep the ball and consistently finding teammates in good spots with her passes.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0213_2b5e1d.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279593" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Guenther's exceptional understanding of the game allowed her to have a solid performance in a match in which her team was dominated. She played as a defensive midfielder for KC Athletics and it was truly impressive to see how well she moved off the ball, repeatedly popping up in great spots to receive passes and get her teammates out of pressure. Guenther also did a good job of quickly moving the ball forward, on many occasions getting it to a teammate in the attacking half with a one-touch pass. Her intelligence also facilitated her defensive work in the center of the field as was the first to get to second balls almost every time.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0219_7e3e9a.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279595" /></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='278678' first='Dallas' last='Texans'] 09 1 - 4 San Diego Surf 09</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Cabigon was on fire in San Diego Surf's dominant victory, leading her team's offensive efforts against the Texans. Playing as a striker for them, she didn't hold her position and moved all around the final third to get on the ball, displaying great intelligence and intensity. Cabigon worked well with her back to the goal, doing an excellent job of dribbling in tight spaces and eluding opponents with body fakes. She was very dangerous when she got on the ball around the midfield line and initiated strong runs through the middle as opponents had no answer for her. Cabigon also had some dangerous shots from distance and scored the team's first goal in one of them, hitting the right upper corner from several yards out.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0268.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279606" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Ahn's intelligent movement off the ball was an important weapon for San Diego Surf as they worked to beat the Texans' offense in the match. She played on the left side of their attack and did solid work there, facing defenders in 1v1 situations and making some quick combination plays through the middle, connecting one-touch passes and quickly moving to a different spot to get away from defenders. Ahn's most efficient moves were, however, her runs off the ball from the outside to the center of the field as she managed to get on the ball in great spots on a few occasions thanks to them. She also fired some dangerous shots from outside the penalty box.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0257_c8652c.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279604" /></figure>

The ECNL annual Girls National Event held in Texas started on Saturday, with over 200 club teams from all over the country competing at the Toyota Soccer Center and the MoneyGram Soccer Park in the Lone Star State.