ECNL Texas: PNW Teams, Matches & Players to Watch

It is that time again! Let's get ready for another ECNL showcase! The top teams in the country will be heading to the lone star state to showcase their talents in front of hundreds of college coaches. These coaches will be rounding out their upcoming 2026 recruiting classes (if not completed already) and also developing recruiting lists for the 2027 and 2028 classes. That June 15th date is fast approaching for the 2027 class and there are only a few more showcases left to solidify your place on a future collegiate roster. Use this showcase to be the athlete and teammate you know you can be!   ECNL Texas is one of the most popular showcases in the ECNL schedule. This is because its smack dab in the middle and tends to provide a shorter trip for ECNL teams (and college coaches) traveling from all corners of the country. We also cannot forget about the weather. Texas weather has the potential to be soccer friendly, which is what we are all hopeful for. Fingers crossed.   This showcase is chocked full of young talent that will be doing everything they can to be noticed! Coaches will be analyzing everything from how players present themselves at the fields in between matches to how they react after a tough play. Everything is up for evaluation, not just your skill. As soon as you step out of the team van, bus or car, its game time! Always put your best foot forward at all times. There is only so many college roster spots and if you want to secure one of those, you better take every moment of this showcase seriously and be the best well-rounded human and athlete you can be.   To all the athletes attending ECNL Texas this weekend, good luck and get after it!   Here are some matches and players to watch when ECNL Texas commences on 2/15:   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Seattle United G09 ECNL v. FC Dallas G09 ECNL</h2>   This Friday evening match will showcase a couple of top tier teams battling for positioning in their respective conferences. Seattle United's ECNL National Selection Game representative, [player_tooltip player_id='162091' first='McKenzie' last='Hawkins'], will be preparing for that game so she will most likely be absent from this match. However, SU has plenty of talent to overcome her absence. GK [player_tooltip player_id='162009' first='Devon' last='Bankers'] has been on a tear as of late in goal. She continually makes college level saves to keep her team in matches. With the absence of Hawkins, [player_tooltip player_id='111376' first='Madeline' last='Maves'] will be stepping up her already superb game to fill the hole. She is an elite defender and midfielder that can also score. [player_tooltip player_id='111381' first='Adeline' last='Streur'] will be looking to find the back of the net early if Seattle United is going to hold Dallas at bay. FC Dallas has only allowed 9 goals against this season and that is in large part because of the defense of Gray Rideaux. She is a talented defender who plays aggressively and is difficult to beat on the edges. Goals can come in bunches from FC Dallas and Layla Iglesias gets her fair share. Seattle United has their hands full but has the pieces to show out.   Game Information: 2/15/25 @ 5:10pm @ Toyota Soccer Center - Field #16   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Eastside FC G10 ECNL v. GSA (Gwinnett Soccer Academy) G10 ECNL</h2>   If you want to watch two 1st place teams from the Northwest and Southeast Conferences battle, mark your calendar. This has the potential to be an epic match. GSA may have the slight edge with their season finishing this weekend and Eastside FC's just getting underway, but these athletes won't be too worried about that. Eastside's [player_tooltip player_id='186185' first='Morgan' last='Ackermann'] has the ability to press GSA's defense and make things happen. Along with Ackermann, [player_tooltip player_id='274089' first='Riley' last='Rountree'] will be difficult to contain for the GSA side. Rountree has been making her name known with her YNT call ups. Defender [player_tooltip player_id='279246' first='Magdalene' last='Peters'] is a force on the back line who garners attention with her impressive play. On the opposite end, GK Haley Kener will be tasked with shutting down Eastside's attack. She is very capable of stacking clean sheets and will certainly be at her best this weekend. GSA has a couple of elite midfielders in Taylor Barnett and Ava Burnside that will be menacing for EFC but if Eastside can keep them in check, this game may be close.   Game Information: 2/16/25 @ 9:50am @ MoneyGram Soccer Park - Field #3   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">XF Academy G08 ECNL v. San Diego Surf G08 ECNL</h2>   The undefeated XF Academy G08 squad will be taking on the always dominate San Diego Surf team. Surf is sitting atop the Southwest Conference with just a single loss. These teams are stacked with NCAA D1 college commits. This match will be like watching a preview of what may be a future college All-American team. XF forwards, [player_tooltip player_id='111535' first='Summer' last='Murphy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='28191' first='Hailey' last='Perkins'] will be putting pressure on the Surf defense early and often. The University of Washington and Harvard commits will be showing why they are two of the top talents in the class of 2026. [player_tooltip player_id='28468' first='Zoey' last='Lavezzi'] is a strong defender who makes her presence known not only with her defensive prowess but her stellar abilities to score goals on set pieces. Along with Zoey, GK's [player_tooltip player_id='111528' first='Simone' last='Bennett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='28438' first='Stella' last='Grigoryan'] will be working to dominate the box and control the game. When Simone gets the nod, look for elite quickness and acrobatic saves that can change the tide of the game. San Diego Surf will not go down without a fight and they fight well! Led by a myriad of talented playmakers, Surf looks to Presley Williams to get them all started. The Alabama commit uses her speed and dominate ball control to slice up defenses. On the back line of the pitch, defender Leila Avila, controls the area and prides herself on shutting down the attack. This match will be a fitting finale to the showcase. Don't miss this one!   Game Information: 2/17/25 @ 1:30pm @ Toyota Soccer Complex - Field #15   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Washington Premier G11 ECNL v. Sting Black G11 ECNL</h2>   The G11/U14 teams are just getting started in their ECNL and showcase careers. It is never too early to play great competition and be exposed to teams you are going to see for years to come on the big ECNL showcase stage. This game will be a good gauge of where both these teams stand in their respective conferences. Washington Premier is sitting in the middle of the table in the Northwest Conference. They have some skilled players that are moving up the ranks in Washington State. [player_tooltip player_id='271602' first='Sydney' last='Berry'] is a strong forward who can make things happen inside the box with her physicality. Fellow forward, [player_tooltip player_id='271601' first='Praslin' last='Woodward'], will be in the mix as well and is someone to keep an eye on. [player_tooltip player_id='271603' first='Raegen' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='279253' first='Sofia' last='Tobin'] will be using their quality defensive skills to try and counter the Sting's attack. Sting's Harper Pugsley will be on the opposite end of the pitch from Johnson and Tobin where she will be planning on showing off her own defensive dominance when WP attempts to make a run at goal. The attacking proficiency of Kinley Caulk will be needed to help continue the commanding goal scoring ability of the Sting Black G11 squad. This match will be a fun one and should set these teams and players on a successful path for many years to come.   Game Information: 2/15/25 @ 11:40am @ MoneyGram Soccer Park - Field #6   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Words:</h2>   There will be hundreds of coaches attending ECNL Texas this weekend! Make sure to communicate with them affectively through email, socials, texts and in person (Don't forget that your response may depend on your age!). Lastly, don't forget that you are not only representing yourself but also your team on the sidelines, pregame, post-game and at your hotels. Someone is always evaluating, make sure that your best self is seen!   Follow me on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepsoccerpnw?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==">@prepsoccerpnw</a> or on X: <a href="https://x.com/coldbrew25">@coldbrew25</a> for the latest rankings, news and articles about your favorite PNW High Schools, Club Teams and Athletes! Keep Grinding!

It is that time again! Let's get ready for another ECNL showcase! The top teams in the country will be heading to the lone star state to showcase their talents in front of hundreds of college coaches. These coaches will be rounding out their upcoming 2026 recruiting classes (if not completed already) and also developing recruiting lists for the 2027 and 2028 classes. That June 15th date is fast approaching for the 2027 class and there are only a few more showcases left to solidify your place on a future collegiate roster. Use this showcase to be the athlete and teammate you know you can be!