ECNL TX U17: Challenge and Sting Austin tie with last-minute goal

After a long break during the winter and the high school soccer season, the ECNL Girls League recently returned to action, starting its final stretch before the playoffs and the Finals.   PrepSoccer Texas continues to offer unparalleled coverage of the teams from the Lone Star State that compete in the league, bringing weekly content that includes match and player reports, photo galleries and social media posts.   On Sunday, we catch the match between [program_tooltip program_id='283282' first='Challenge' last='SC'] and [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin'] in the U17 age group. The game took place at Crossbar Academy in Tomball, in the Houston area, and ended in a 2-2 tie.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='283282' first='Challenge' last='SC'] G09 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin'] G09 - Photos</li> </ul>     Forward [player_tooltip player_id='227258' first='Ahava' last='Babajanov'] scored Challenge's first goal of the match in the 17th minute of the first half, after she picked up the rebound of a corner kick cross and sent the ball into the back of the net with a first-time shot. Forward Marie Jeannette Amogou evened for Sting in the seventh minute of the second half - she picked up the rebound of her own cross on the left and shot the ball from a difficult angle to score.   Sting's comeback happened just three minutes later, when midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='148139' first='Carolina' last='Reyna'] made a long run on the ball, entered the box and fired a cross shot. Challenge pushed for an equalizer and got one in the last play of the match. Midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='112606' first='Brielle' last='Hernandez'] sent a pass behind the backline for Babajanov, who delivered a perfect cross for midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='159176' first='Molly' last='Marino'] to head it home.   With the point earned, Sting rank sixth in the Texas Conference with 21 (six wins, three losses, three ties). Challenge are 12th, with 13 points (three wins, five losses, four ties).   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    Directly involved in both of Challenge's goals, Babajanov was the most influential player on the field. The striker didn't get much service inside the box and did a great job of making herself available and finding ways to get involved by making runs behind the backline and dropping deeper to get on the end of long passes and combine with her teammates. Babajanov did very well in her goal, tracking the ball after the corner kick was taken and being very quick to react when it landed near her. She was even better in the team's second goal, timing her run extremely well, scanning the penalty box and delivering a perfect cross to Marino, all of which in a key moment of the match.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0120_df5ff2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356009" /></figure>    Hernandez was the main playmaker for Challenge, and almost everything the team created in the match went through her. The attacking midfielder was closely defended by [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin'], but did very well with her off-the-ball movement and consistently found ways to get on the ball. Hernandez made some strong runs on the ball through the center and the flanks and also stood out with her passing, setting Babajanov up to deliver the assist in the team's second goal with a perfect through ball. The midfielder also showed good energy to play defense and fight for the ball in the center of the field.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0165_7bb8a3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356023" /></figure>    Playing as a right back, Diaz had an excellent defensive performance and was the main standout in Challenge's backline. She was matched up with Sting's star midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='148139' first='Carolina' last='Reyna'] during the first half and did a great job of containing her. Diaz was very firm in duels and controlled her zone with authority, forcing her opponent to come inside instead of staying wide. She also demonstrated some quality when supporting the offense, beating opponents in tight spaces and releasing the ball at the right time.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0129_8b0916.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356013" /></figure>    Wheeler had an efficient and consistent performance for Challenge at the defensive midfielder spot. She formed a strong midfield trio with [player_tooltip player_id='112606' first='Brielle' last='Hernandez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='159176' first='Molly' last='Marino'], and, being the most defensive of them, did a good job of shielding the backline and shutting opponents down. Wheeler also did good work on the ball, showing great accuracy with her distribution and being very effective at switching the point of attack with quick passes that found teammates open on the wings.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0183_e6b03a.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356027" /></figure>    Reyna started the match on the left side of Sting's midfield and couldn't find ways to be much dangerous in the first half. It completed changed after she moved to the center and consistently managed to make runs on the ball and combine with her teammates. She scored the team's second goal after winning the ball near the midfield line, taking it all the way into the box and firing an excellent shot. Reyna remained dangerous in the second half and was unlucky not to score a second goal after bringing the ball inside from the left and firing a great shot that hit the crossbar.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0229_fd8e58.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356042" /></figure>    A central midfielder, Diaz delivered much intensity and quality to Sting's game. She was very active defensively, showing great effort to win the ball and firmness when she got into duels and went for tackles. Diaz also did a good job of supporting the offense and had a constant presence in the attacking half. She managed to progress the ball with strong runs through the middle and was excellent with her distribution, picking the right passing options and releasing the ball at the right times.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0204_118de6.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356034" /></figure>    Tallas did a good job of shielding [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin']'s backline and had a great performance at the base of their midfield. She used her height to intercept long passes and defend the penalty box in the air and her body to win duels and outpower opponents in the center of the field. Tallas also demonstrated good quality in possession, moving the ball efficiently and finding good solutions to plays. She did well when supporting the attack, too, using her long legs to quickly cover ground as she progressed upfield when making runs on the ball.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0190_e14037.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356029" /></figure>    Gilkey stood out for her versatility, playing in four different positions throughout the match and doing well in each of them. She started as a right winger and made good plays out wide, making turns on defenders and using her pace to take the ball to the end line. Yet during the first half, she dropped to right back, and then moved to the left. As an outside back, Gilkey showed great reading of the game, knowing when to step to intercept passes and when to stay back, while also doing well with her distribution when she stepped into the attacking half. She moved into central defense in the final minutes of the match and did well in the air, helping clear some of Challenge's crosses.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0217_0c0581.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356040" /></figure>

After a long break during the winter and the high school soccer season, the ECNL Girls League recently returned to action, starting its final stretch before the playoffs and the Finals.