ECNL Girls Texas: Challenge SC 09 vs. FC Dallas 09

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club soccer season continues to roll around the country and most of the nation's top sides are already in great form, battling with opponents from their regions week in and week out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer continues to follow the action and this past Saturday, September 30, I was at Burroughs Park, in Tomball, following an exciting ECNL Girls Texas match between Challenge SC ECNL G09 and FC Dallas ECNL G09 - here's a <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/?p=149772">photo gallery</a> of the encounter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Challenge SC 09 0 - 4 FC Dallas 09</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing on the road, FC Dallas took control of the match right from the start and got their first goal with [player_tooltip player_id='148412' first='Bridget' last='Gooch'], who collected a rebound inside the penalty box and finished it. A few minutes later, [player_tooltip player_id='280262' first='Brynlie' last='Ward'] got a great pass from [player_tooltip player_id='112580' first='Layla' last='Iglesias'] and scored the second. The third goal was scored by Iglesias, after an excellent play from [player_tooltip player_id='112589' first='Grace' last='Wetzel']. Challenge had a great opportunity to narrow FC Dallas' lead before the halftime whistle, but goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id='112587' first='Lola-Iris' last='Ta'] stopped [player_tooltip player_id='112606' first='Brielle' last='Hernandez']'s penalty kick attempt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1708223364072931671?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://x.com/grtorres/status/1708223364072931671?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FC Dallas continued in control in the second half, but made several substitutions and focused on preserving their lead. The team from North Texas managed to score another goal and seal their victory with Wetzel, who made a great run inside the penalty box to get on the end of a cross.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1708237702305358290?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://x.com/grtorres/status/1708237702305358290?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112588"],"_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_0_evaluation":"FC Dallas' captain had a great performance, helping her team secure a clean sheet and contributing in different ways. Tuzzolino played in three different positions across the backline, starting at left back, and the moving to center back and right back and delivered exactly what the team needed in each of them, displaying a very high soccer IQ. She was also always very clean in possession and connected good passes from the back. Tuzzolino was very strong defensively and played an error-free match, giving consistency to the team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651c346a1b1cd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='280262' first='Brynlie' last='Ward']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"FC Dallas ECNL G09","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Playing as a defensive midfielder, Ward brought a lot of intensity and efficiency to the game and helped FC Dallas dominate the central area of the field. She was very active on both sides of the ball, shielding the backline extremely well and covering her teammates, but also displaying quality in possession and connecting good passes. Ward also made some strong runs off the ball through the middle and in one of them scored the team's second goal in the match.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651c346a1b2c2"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":149774,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_2738.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-149774" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G09 vs. FC Dallas ECNL G09</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112580"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Iglesias was a constant threat to Challenge's backline with her excellent movement and her dribbling ability. She was always very aggressive when on the ball, beating opponents off the dribble and taking the ball forward. She assisted Ward in FC Dallas' second goal after a strong run down the right and scored the team's third goal getting on the end of a cross sent by [player_tooltip player_id='112589' first='Grace' last='Wetzel']. Iglesias played in a more central position in the final portion of the match and displayed great vision to drop a little bit deeper and connect good passes to the team's wide players.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651c346a1b345"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1708219801141694863?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://x.com/grtorres/status/1708219801141694863?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112589"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Wetzel was another productive player in FC Dallas' offense, registering a goal and an assist. Playing primarily on the left, she used her pace and dribbling to create chances and also displayed great hustle to get to a long pass and assist Iglesias in her goal. Wetzel also made some great diagonal runs off the ball into the penalty box and in one of them, she got to score the team's fourth goal. The winger also did a very good job in set pieces, taking some corner kicks directly towards the goal, and worked hard on defense, tracking back and helping her team win the ball back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651c346a1b3c1"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1708230374042562565?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://x.com/grtorres/status/1708230374042562565?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112616"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Youssef had a great start to the match, creating chances with her dribbling and attempting shots from distance. A lefty, she was always dangerous when bringing the ball inside from the right and it took a while for FC Dallas' defenders to figure out how to defend her. She also moved very well without the ball, always finding pockets of space to get on the end of passes. Her intensity dropped a little bit with the team down on the second half, but Youssef was always heavily involved in Challenge's offensive moves.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651c346a1b437"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1708216344515092586?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://x.com/grtorres/status/1708216344515092586?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112622"],"_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_0_evaluation":"A new addition to Challenge coming from crosstown rivals Albion Hurricanes, Wheeler added a lot of intensity to the team. She ran a lot during the match and was very involved when the team had the ball. Wheeler made some good runs through the middle and also displayed great vision to get out of pressure and find good passes. She was moved to more of a forward role later in the match and didn't get on the ball as much.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651c346a1b4b2"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":149781,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_2763.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-149781" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G09 vs. FC Dallas ECNL G09</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->