2025s That Impressed at ECNL RL Virginia

ECNL RL Virginia started on a frigid Friday morning, but as soon as the sun came out we were treated to three days of quality soccer and great weather. This competition was for U19 and U17 squads for select ECNL RL teams, and scouts from dozens of colleges were out in full force to find their next signees. We will cover some players from the class of 2025 that stood out below.    Keely is a strong player that can be deployed in the attack or midfield and be equally effective. Eslinger's athleticism stands out right away as she pressures opposing players, holds the ball off from multiple defenders in a crowd, and covers a ton of ground in the middle part of the field. Keely shows great composure and patience on the ball, picking her head up to find the right play, and is always looking to turn and attack the opposing back line with pace. She played multiple passes in the final third of the field with the perfect weight on them, even while under pressure. These traits are what have led her to a commitment for Liberty University, where she will head next Fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='171236' first='Audrey' last='Simpkins'], an RVA All-Star, all RL Virginia and 2nd team All-Metro selection last Spring, is a pivotal player for the Strikers 06/07 ECNL RL team, which remained undefeated in league play through the Fall. Her positioning as a holding midfielder is exceptional, cutting off passing angles when defending, and always making sure she is an option for teammates when they are in possession. Audrey is often first to any punt or lobbed ball in the midfield, helping to control possession. She is very clever with her first touches, taking them into open space with the right weight to break lines with her dribble, or open up passing lanes to teammates. Simpkins also delivered some great services this weekend for teammates to finish.     Faith Lucero had a great RL Virginia weekend, scoring three goals in as many games. She and Keely Eslinger linked up on multiple attacks leading to goals. Faith does a great job at keeping defenders off balance when she receives the ball, using body feints and quick feet to turn in either direction. She has the pace to beat defenders 1v1 and times her runs well to get in behind the opposing back line and earn chances on goal. She showed the ability to score from inside and outside of the box this weekend, and also played great corners for her Kickers team.     Taylor Dodson, also an All ECNL RL performer from last season, sets the tone for her Strikers team from the opening whistle by immediately putting the other center backs under pressure, overwhelming them with strength and pace. Her exceptional work rate in that part of the field leads to a ton of turnovers in dangerous areas that she and her teammates can take advantage of, and a healthy possession advantage. When the Strikers are on the ball, Dodson is great at holding the ball up, allowing her team to move forward. She plays dangerous through balls, spreads the ball out well to both sides of the field, and makes strong runs into the box. Taylor is also a great target on set pieces.     Emma Sicat played as a winger and attacking mid this weekend. When she got 1v1 situations as a winger, defenders had a really tough time staying in front of her. She changes speeds really well, lulling defenders to sleep with some nice footwork and then accelerating right by them down the sideline, where she played some dangerous crosses. She also uses her pace to cut out counter attacks before they develop for other teams. Sicat scored both goals in the Strikers 2-1 win against Solar Black from North Texas, who were also undefeated in league play this season. She was dangerous virtually every time she touched the ball in the first half on that wing.     Grace Crocco put in some very strong performances in the midfield for the Kickers. Crocco shows a high soccer IQ with her defensive positioning and understanding of when to play the ball forward. She anticipates the movement and passes of the opposing team, helping her close down space, without ending up out of position. Crocco is also very smart with the ball. She is able to play passes accurately with both feet and very rarely gives the ball away. Her work rate to win the ball back is often the catalyst for her team to get forward.     Haley Mallas had a great performance this weekend against FC Richmond. She took some great first touches on long balls, and showed solid close control to dribble through defenders. Her quickness changing directions kept defenders on their heels and she took advantage, scoring a great goal in the first half. Mallas showed great speed and instincts as well, timing some runs perfectly in behind the back line of the defense.     [player_tooltip player_id='140779' first='Kendall' last='Funk'] has shown versatility this year, playing a lot of right back, which should help her as an all around player before heading to Radford next fall. She uses her pace to put a lot of pressure on the opposing outside player to help back on defense. When she does receive the ball on the wing, she whips dangerous balls into the box and earns tons of corners for her team. Defensively, her speed and athleticism make other teams have to really work to get past her. She also anticipates passes well, baiting the opposition into playing balls into her path, turning them into counter attacks. Though she's only 5' 2", Kendall remains a threat on set pieces to put the ball in the back of the net with her head.     Abby Holmes is one of the most consistent players I have gotten to watch over the years. She is strong in the air defensively, does a great job of tracking players and positioning herself and her back line properly. Holmes has also grown into a great vocal leader for her team, organizing their back line throughout the game. She makes a goal saving tackle seemingly every game. Holmes is very secure with the ball, and can step forward, past the opposing front line, to play accurate passes at different levels. Holmes recently announced her commitment to Randolph Macon.

ECNL RL Virginia started on a frigid Friday morning, but as soon as the sun came out we were treated to three days of quality soccer and great weather. This competition was for U19 and U17 squads for select ECNL RL teams, and scouts from dozens of colleges were out in full force to find their next signees. We will cover some players from the class of 2025 that stood out below.