Sting Royal 08 secure big ECNL Girls road win over Challenge SC

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club soccer season is underway and teams from around the country are competing in their respective leagues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We, at Prep Soccer Texas, will follow as many matches and players as possible, paying close attention to everything that happens in the MLS Next, ECNL National and Regional Leagues and Girls Academy League, as well as showcases and tournaments, giving the talented players from the Lone Star State the exposure they deserve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Sunday, November 24, we followed some ECNL Girls action at Burroughs Park, in Tomball, with Challenge SC 08 hosting Sting Royal 08.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/11/ecnl-girls-challenge-sc-08-vs-sting-royal-08-photos/">Challenge SC 08 vs. Sting Royal 08 - Photos</a></strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After some back and forth, Sting scored the first goal of the match in the first half, when center back [player_tooltip player_id='154587' first='Aiden' last='Bailey'] appeared in the attacking penalty box and sent the ball into the back of the net. The team from Dallas confirmed their victory in the second half, when forward [player_tooltip player_id='26629' first='Claire' last='Garritson'] took a corner kick straight to the goal and scored an Olimpico, improving their lead to 2-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The final whistle blows as <a href="https://twitter.com/Ecnl08g?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ecnl08g</a> celebrate a 2-0 road win over <a href="https://twitter.com/Challenge08ECNL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Challenge08ECNL</a>. Photos and Match Report will be up soon at <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepSoccerTX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepSoccerTX</a>. <a href="https://t.co/TeSEgZhKXi">pic.twitter.com/TeSEgZhKXi</a></p>&mdash; Guilherme Torres (@grtorres) <a href="https://twitter.com/grtorres/status/1860726568567329064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sting Royal now have nine points in the Frontier Conference, ranking 12th, with three wins and seven losses. Challenge are 15th, with five points - one win, eight losses, two ties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["154587"],"_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-6745029b3b287"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bailey was a stud for Sting, leading their backline with tremendous efficiency and helping the team secure the win and the clean sheet. A tall and physical defender, she was nearly perfect when defending the penalty box, winning every aerial duel she was involved and closing out the space in the center with great efficiency. Bailey also displayed good mobility and did a good job defending in space when she had to. The center back was also calm and efficient when in possession, helping initiate some offensive plays with long balls and passes behind Challenge's backline. She appeared well inside the penalty box and scored the team's first goal in one of those plays, paving the way for Sting's victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/aidenbailey08?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aidenbailey08</a> clears another one for <a href="https://twitter.com/Ecnl08g?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ecnl08g</a>. The center back is having an excellent shift. <a href="https://t.co/lsza5rydTu">pic.twitter.com/lsza5rydTu</a></p>&mdash; Guilherme Torres (@grtorres) <a href="https://twitter.com/grtorres/status/1860723397933559963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26629"],"_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-6745029b3b2ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Playing as a striker, Garritson was the focal point of Sting's offense and was very effective up top. She used her big body well to get on the end of long passes and worked well with her back to the goal, making turns on defenders and connecting with her teammates with quick passes. Garritson also moved very well off the ball and consistently offered passing lanes to her teammates. A lefty, she scored the team's second goal in an Olimpico and had other opportunities to score, but defenders got in the way and blocked her shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Goal <a href="https://twitter.com/Ecnl08g?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ecnl08g</a> ! <a href="https://twitter.com/garritsonclaire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@garritsonclaire</a> goes for the Olimpico and hits it, doubling her team's lead over <a href="https://twitter.com/Challenge08ECNL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Challenge08ECNL</a>. 0-2 <a href="https://t.co/eVpyG2zCxh">pic.twitter.com/eVpyG2zCxh</a></p>&mdash; Guilherme Torres (@grtorres) <a href="https://twitter.com/grtorres/status/1860718395810881716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26558"],"_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-6745029b3b333"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The versatile McDaniel was a key piece for Sting, bringing a lot of quality every time she got on the ball. She started the match at right back and was a threat going forward, making good runs off the ball and displaying great calm and technical resources to beat defenders off the dribble around the penalty box. McDaniel spent some time as a right midfielder and continued to create chances out wide, going at defenders and bringing the ball inside to connect passes. She also displayed a solid defensive game, played with great energy off the ball and using her ability to read the game to intercept passes and make opponents uncomfortable. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":274254,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/11/IMG_3179.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-274254" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G08 vs. Sting Royal G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26453"],"_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-6745029b3b379"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mininger helped Sting control the game in midfield with her technical and efficient game. She played somewhat of a box-to-box role and was very active defensively, helping shield the team's backline and covering ground in the center of the field. When her team had the ball, Mininger frequently occupied the right side of their attack, beating defenders off the dribble and sending dangerous crosses into the penalty box. She generated some corner kicks to Sting with those plays and in one of them, Garritson scored the team's second goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":274261,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/11/IMG_3206.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-274261" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G08 vs. Sting Royal G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["227858"],"_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-6745029b3b3be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Playing next to Mininger in the center of the field, Pittman had a very productive shift for Sting. She was very strong defensively, controlling the center of the field and winning duels to help keep the ball away from the penalty box. Pittman didn't join the attack very often, keeping her position, but contributed to the team's buildup. She was always very reliable and confident on the ball and found solutions to keep possession even when under pressure, making quick moves and connecting good passes in the center of the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Ella Taylor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tomball","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Challenge SC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6745029b3b45b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Challenge's striker had a hard time against Sting's solid defense, but was still the team's best alternative to create chances. Taylor did a good job of getting on the end of long passes, getting into interesting physical battles with Bailey, and holding the ball until her teammates got into the attacking half. She also showed good mobility by drifting wide to make plays, but couldn't get a good finish on target. She displayed toughness to return to the field after having a cut in her eyebrow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":274274,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/11/IMG_3245.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-274274" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G08 vs. Sting Royal G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112753"],"_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-6745029b3b4a5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Aguirre came off the bench to bring some energy and improve Challenge's ability to attack through the wings. She played on the right and had some good runs during the first half, dribbling the ball great lengths and connecting nice passes around the penalty box. She also did a solid job defensively, playing hard and showing great determination to help the team win the ball back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":274248,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/11/IMG_3131.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-274248" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G08 vs. Sting Royal G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->