Defending ECNL National Champs, USYNT call-ups, college commits

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was by far the most exciting matchup I've seen during the Fall ECNL season.&nbsp; The defending National Champions MVLA Gunners were at [program_tooltip program_id='283641' first='De' last='Anza Force'] for an epic showdown featuring USYNT call-ups, college commits, and top-level players.&nbsp; The gunners were led by [player_tooltip player_id='111097' first='Chloe' last='Miller'], Prep Soccer's #1 ranked player in CA, #1 ranked in position, and #1 ranked in the nation for the class of 2028.&nbsp; The new-look Chloe was all business, as it was evident that her fitness was off the charts as she played box-to-box and made exceptional plays on both ends of the pitch. Hey US soccer scouts, Chloe is ready to get back in representing the Red, White, and Blue.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["111097"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690033b972fe0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The gunners were led by [player_tooltip player_id='111097' first='Chloe' last='Miller'], Prep Soccer's #1 ranked player in CA, #1 ranked in position, and #1 ranked in the nation for the class of 2028.&nbsp; The new-look Chloe was all business, as it was evident that her fitness was off the charts as she played box-to-box and made exceptional plays on both ends of the pitch. She was dominant at times as she made stops in the defensive third and led the attack on counterattacks and by scoring the opening goal in the 21st minute. Hey US soccer scouts, Chloe is ready to get back in representing the Red, White, and Blue. Chloe was also MVLA's MVP of the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>Featured Player #1 - [player_tooltip player_id='111097' first='Chloe' last='Miller'] - D/M - 2028</strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982287295651942538","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982287295651942538 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the [program_tooltip program_id='283641' first='De' last='Anza Force'] side, it was [player_tooltip player_id='146356' first='Sophia' last='Norton'], the Cincinnati Bearcats commit, who led her team in the midfield and provided the offensive push and defensive support in slowing down the high-powered Gunners attack.&nbsp; Also, keeping MVLA at bay was goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id='111181' first='Sophie' last='Dettling'].&nbsp; Dettling made critical stops to keep the game close and give her team a chance to draw the defending champs.&nbsp; Sophie was fearless as time after time she made strong challenges at the 6 and/or went up high to challenge headers or clear the ball away from danger.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["146356"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690033b973064"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She led her team in the midfield and provided the offensive push and defensive support in slowing down the high-powered Gunners attack.&nbsp; Tracking back on defense and stopping players making runs to the box is where she made the greatest impacts on defense. On the offensive side, she made quick and decisive passes to get her team into scoring range and high level scoring opportunities. She was great at disrupting the MVLA attack in their defensive third. The Cincinnati commit was Force's MVP of the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Featured Player #2 - [player_tooltip player_id='146356' first='Sophia' last='Norton'] - M/D - 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982283420433830280","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982283420433830280 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["111181"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690033b9730c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She kept MVLA at bay by making critical stops to keep the game close and give her team a chance to get the draw against the defending champs.&nbsp; Sophie was fearless as time after time she made strong challenges at the 6 and/or went up high to challenge headers or clear the ball away from danger. Her leadership skills from the back had a trickle-down effect, which definitely inspired the plays on offense. Her performance was nothing short of spectacular against one of the best teams in the nation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Featured Player #3 - [player_tooltip player_id='111181' first='Sophie' last='Dettling'] - GK - 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982276656908927294","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982276656908927294 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other standouts were [player_tooltip player_id='287838' first='Lola' last='Cervantes'], the Colorado State Rams commit.&nbsp; Cervantes was the center back in a three-backline formation.&nbsp; Her duties as a sweeper did not go unnoticed.&nbsp; Her strong backline clears and clean tackles were the keys to keeping her opponents from opening up the game.&nbsp; Adding a commanding verbal and physical presence helped to keep the Gunners to only one goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Featured Player #4 - [player_tooltip player_id='287838' first='Lola' last='Cervantes'] - D - 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982291573808501135","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982291573808501135 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Additional standouts from MVLA were [player_tooltip player_id='111094' first='Sophia' last='Malloy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='111087' first='Anneliese' last='Braun'], the dynamic duo of goalkeepers.&nbsp; The other Force player who also made contributions was [player_tooltip player_id='111177' first='Zuri' last='Brandt'], the Washington commit.&nbsp; Her strong runs up and down the wing helped to open up the defensive backline and give her offense opportunities to make runs into the box.&nbsp; Her efforts resulted in the defense committing a foul in the penalty area.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='146356' first='Sophia' last='Norton'] took the penalty and evened the match at one apiece.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Featured Player #5 - [player_tooltip player_id='111094' first='Sophia' last='Malloy'] and #6 - [player_tooltip player_id='111087' first='Anneliese' last='Braun'] - Goalkeepers - 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982294288815063486","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982294288815063486 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first goal of the match came in the 21st minute of half number one.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='111097' first='Chloe' last='Miller'] received the ball at the 18 and made an angled shot to the far post to give MVLA the lead.&nbsp; The beauty of it all was the buildup, as six other players received and made passes around in the attacking third before making their way to Miller. One of the things I've noticed about this Gunners team compared to last season's was the ball control and passing.&nbsp; Precise passing and quick scanning by multiple players resulted in a 60/40 and sometimes 70/30 possession rate for MVLA.&nbsp; It reminded me of a Saint Francis girls soccer team from last season, which won the treble (League Championship, CCS—Sectional Championship, and NorCal title), all at the Division 1 level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reason it was reminiscent of the Saint Francis-type passing clinic is because this team is now coached by St. Francis Head Coach Carlos Barboza.&nbsp; Barboza has been on the radar as one of the top coaches in the nation during the high school season, as he recently completed his second treble in 3 years and has kept his team atop the California rankings in the past 4 seasons.&nbsp; Hopefully, he doesn't get overlooked this season as a national coach of the year, or he could win it with this squad, as did Esteban Sosa, who won it with this team last year with their epic run to a national title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Warmups and Team Introductions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982205654518665429","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982205654518665429 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also, giving props to a determined force team who never backed down against one of the best teams in the nation.&nbsp; Their never-give-up attitude and hard work are an inspiration to teams hoping to make the jump to a higher level.&nbsp; Their performance on this day will probably be remembered as “the day they went toe-to-toe with a juggernaut.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team MVP's - [player_tooltip player_id='111097' first='Chloe' last='Miller'] (MVLA) and [player_tooltip player_id='146356' first='Sophia' last='Norton'] ([program_tooltip program_id='283641' first='De' last='Anza Force'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982989242151383501","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1982989242151383501 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->