2010 ECNL Playoffs Elite 8 Preview/Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Quarter-Finals are set and in two weeks time we will crown an ECNL National Champion in the U13-U17 age groups. Slammers HB Koge were the first team on the board with a narrow 2-0 win against Penn Fusion in the U19 age group earlier this month in San Diego. In this article I will be previewing the matchups and highlighting a handful of players to look out for. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first matchup Solar SC will be taking on the hometown team in this draw Fairfax VA Union. Solar SC is a loaded squad with talent on all lines. For the Fairfax VA Union they are lead by Ramsee Jarman who leads the team in both goals and assists headed into the next phase of these playoffs. Acacia Wright has been to youth national talent ID centers and is an exceptional athlete who has jaw dropping pace. Cecilia Piatt is a big strong wing back who is a matchup nightmare for opposition playing on her side. My prediction for this game is a 3-1 win to Solar. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our second matchup we have a heavyweight battle between two monster ECNL Clubs. The two-time defending National Champions Slammers HB Koge take on the Michigan Hawks. You can really talk about every player on this Slammers team. They have Division 1 talent up and down their roster. It starts with an incredible midfield three of Morgan Woolforde, [player_tooltip player_id='186184' first='Arya' last='Pfeiffer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='160001' first='Ella' last='Bott'] that has proven to be the best midfield in their age group. Defensively they are anchored by Center Back Kahalia Huddleston, with [player_tooltip player_id='266750' first='Jaden' last='Rall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='295792' first='Amada' last='Rodriguez'] bombing up and down the wings. The forward line is anchored by the best post up #9 in the 2010 age group Gigi Nacelli. For the Michigan Hawks we have superstar striker Nyashadzashe Chinyadza such a fun player to watch as the spectacular is quite normal for her. And bringing even more speed for this team is [player_tooltip player_id='273114' first='Louisa' last='Cowen']. She's a track star who can stretch any defense. Shay Bennett is a USA Youth Talent ID center attendee who can change a game at any moment. It'll be a hell of a match that I am looking forward to attending. My prediction is the National Champs will move on in a narrow 2-1 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third game of the quarter-finals my favorite to win it this year MVLA will take on Legends in a Norcal vs Socal battle. MVLA has the biggest collection of talent of these 8 teams. They have the best defensive midfielder in the draw in [player_tooltip player_id='186196' first='Dorothea' last='Perry']. The most technically gifted attacking midfielder in [player_tooltip player_id='187366' first='Kiyomi' last='Yoshimura']. A striker who is absolutely on fire in [player_tooltip player_id='268395' first='Paloma' last='John-Baptiste'] who scored 4 goals in 4 games in San Diego to help get them this far. A lock down defender in [player_tooltip player_id='199889' first='Tori' last='Williams'] who gets better and better every time you watch her. Getting past Legends is not going to be an easy task. [player_tooltip player_id='199891' first='Koi' last='Edwards'] is an absolute problem to deal with defensively. She is fast, strong and electric on the dribble. [player_tooltip player_id='266734' first='Lauren' last='Gaviola'] is incredibly shifty and technical on the dribble has a variety of moves in her arsenal. Aaliya Johnson is an elite athlete that has to be respected around the goal. Ultimately I think MVLA get it done in a 3-1 win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last game to cover in the Elite 8 is FC Stars Blues vs [program_tooltip program_id='283257' first='Bay' last='Area Surf']. Nina Clement is an FC player to watch, she was in Germany with the US Youth National Team and will be looking to add an ECNL National Championship to her already impressive resume. Elizabeth Armus is another one to keep an eye on. She has been in Youth National Team talent ID center camps as well as one of Gotham FC's discovery players. FC's Payton Galuski is a talented young player who has been in with Gotham FC as a discovery player. [program_tooltip program_id='283257' first='Bay' last='Area Surf'] who is lead by captain defender [player_tooltip player_id='262616' first='Aris' last='Yu'] head into this one as fourth team from California to qualify in this age group. [player_tooltip player_id='202683' first='Jayla' last='Swindle'] is an outstanding playmaker who can find any pocket in a defense. [player_tooltip player_id='111108' first='Allie' last='Huff'] is a high energy midfielder who seems to be everywhere at once. Very ball oriented player who can make plays everywhere. I hate to go against my local team but I do think FC Stars advances here 2-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Semi-Final 1:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solar 1-3 Slammers</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Semi-Final 2: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVLA 3-2 FC Stars </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Slammers 2-3 MVLA </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a close one where everyone is going to be tired MVLA come out as narrow victors to win their first National Championship as a group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->