ECNL Phoenix – Day 1 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>There was no shortage of talent in the class of 2028, as top-level teams and elite-level players showcased their skills on opening day.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The opening match featuring two of the best teams in the nation set the tempo for matches to follow. The two teams I'm talking about featured up-and-coming talent as well as players ranked in the top 50 in California; nationally ranked players; as well as USYNT national invitees and team members. It was a highly competitive match, as both teams came out firing on all cylinders and with the intent to prove they are the top team at the tourney.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MVLA team featured top-tier players who put together standout performances. [player_tooltip player_id='199882' first='Vivian' last='Baker'], Lexi Scundi, and [player_tooltip player_id='199887' first='Cassandra' last='Travers'] led the way for MVLA. [player_tooltip player_id='186182' first='Giselle' last='Nacelli'], [player_tooltip player_id='266752' first='Kahali'a' last='Huddleston'], and [player_tooltip player_id='284738' first='Reese' last='Sullivan'] highlighted the Slammers HB Koge squad. MVLA won 2-1 in a closely competitive match to keep them undefeated and bring their record to 20-0-2. Koge's loss took them to 11-4-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another team with players who stood out from the rest was the Mustang SC G2010 team. Kenly English, [player_tooltip player_id='268387' first='Ana' last='Pintard'], and [player_tooltip player_id='276576' first='Sadie' last='Siedel'] led the way for a Mustang 3-0 win (12-4-2) over [program_tooltip program_id='280776' first='Eagles' last='SC'] (7-6-1).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next article will feature Day 2 standouts and highlight some G2009 and G2011 players. There are still some players in the class of 2026 and 2027 who are uncommitted and are looking for the right fit and to make an impact on a team looking for their style of play. Also, it is always great to get a glimpse of the up-and-coming talent with the G2011s. Just one more day of soccer remains at ECNL Phoenix. Make sure to cheer on your team, and see you at the next one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Featured Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player #1: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276576' first='Sadie' last='Siedel'] - Forward/Midfielder - 2029 - #4 in Nation, #1 in CA, and #1 in Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player #2: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='268387' first='Ana' last='Pintard'] - Defender - 2028 - #129 in Nation, #15 in CA, and #8 in Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player #3: </strong>Kenley English - Defender - 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player #4: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='199882' first='Vivian' last='Baker'] - Goalkeeper - 2028 - #150 in Nation, #34 in CA, and #4 in Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player #5: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331630' first='Lexie' last='Scundi'] - Defender - 2029 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player #6: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='199887' first='Cassandra' last='Travers'] - Defender - 2028 - #11 in Nation, #21 in CA, and #2 in Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player #7: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='186182' first='Giselle' last='Nacelli'] - Forward/Midfielder - 2028 - #133 in Nation, #44 in CA, and #8 in Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player #8: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='266752' first='Kahali'a' last='Huddleston'] - Defender - 2028 - #105 in Nation, #18 in CA, and #9 in Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player #9: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284738' first='Reese' last='Sullivan'] - Midfield/Forward - 2028 - #208 in Nation, #58 in CA, and #21 in Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player Evaluations:&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='266752' first='Kahali'a' last='Huddleston'] - Defender - 2028 - #105 in Nation, #18 in CA, and #9 in Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaha's Highlights: ECNL Phoenix - Day 1 - Slammers HB Koge vs. MVLA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2038769944394125433?s=20","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/2038769944394125433?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["266752"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":353615,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-69c8c8900ae8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She was crowned the BIIF (Big Island Interscholastic Federation) Division II Player of the Year. Huddleston was also officially listed on the All-BIIF First Team (2024-25) as a standout player for Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii in the previous year. She has also won a national championship with the [program_tooltip program_id='283476' first='Slammers' last='FC'] HB Koge team during the 2023/2024 season. She played a solid match in the opener against MVLA. Her ability to shut down running lanes and cut off runners making diagonal runs into the 18-yard box. Kahali's helped to slow down the high-powered MVLA offense by staying calm under pressure and by making clean tackles. She was also good at making long ball passes and winning 50/50 challenges.&nbsp;<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276576"],"_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-69cb167c1efa4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sadie played exceptionally well in the two matches I've covered at the tourney. This was from Day 1 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='280776' first='Eagles' last='SC']. Her top-level dribbling skills, quick change of speed, and excellent passing skills set her apart from the rest. Siedel is an elite player who recently competed for the USYNT U-16 team. She had a great high school season with a huge performance in the NorCal final with 2 goals and an assist to propel her team to the inaugural state Division 1 final. She's ranked #1 in California and #1 in position, as well as #4 in the nation for the class of 2029. She should be a ranking riser soon and possibly become a California Gatorade Player of the Year candidate in the near future if she decides to continue playing for Bishop O-Dowd, as they seem poised to make another epic run next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sadie's Highlights: ECNL Phoenix - Day 1 - Mustang SC vs. [program_tooltip program_id='280776' first='Eagles' last='SC']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2038758926758650214?s=20","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/2038758926758650214?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["288136"],"_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-69cb167c1f044"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Dublin high school standout was effective at ECNL Phoenix. In the two matches in which I covered, Sylvia made clean tackles on the defensive side as well as strong runs in the attacking third. Her ability to find open pockets got her into passing lanes and to the back of the net. In their game against [program_tooltip program_id='280776' first='Eagles' last='SC'] on Day 1, she and [player_tooltip player_id='335972' first='Hannah' last='Shank'] connected for a textbook classic goal. Shank ran down the edge of the 18 and froze a defender before accelerating past her, then sent a perfect pass to Fok running into space to deliver a perfectly timed one-touch left-footed shot. Sylvia is currently on the WL for both CA ranking and position. Looking forward to seeing her crack the top 100 soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sylia's Highlights: ECNL Phoenix - Day 1 - Mustang SC vs. [program_tooltip program_id='280776' first='Eagles' last='SC'] (Goal #3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2038759015644291302?s=20","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/2038759015644291302?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["331630"],"_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-69cb167c1f0ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Mountain View HS standout delivered a top-level goal score as she received a deflected ball from a corner kick just outside of the 18. She took control of the bouncing ball by one-touching it forward and striking it one a sweet half-volley shot to the right side corner, just beyond the the outstretched hands of a diving Lillee Maine who almost got the spectacular save. I've covered Lexie in high school competition and she's definitely a top rated player who might plays above her age group. Her poise under pressure is what sets her apart and I look forward to seeing her and this elite-level, undefeated MVLA team (22-0-2) make an epic run for a title at the national playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lexie's Highlights: ECNL Phoenix - Day 1 - MVLA vs. Slammers HB Koge (Goal #2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2037578379780915573?s=20","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/2037578379780915573?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->