ECNL Playoffs: Top Individual Performances from 09 Round of 16

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Champions League 2009 age group Round of 16 games were held on Tuesday at the Surf Cup Complex in Southern California. Eight teams advanced to the next stage of the tournament in Richmond, Virginia. Of the eight teams to advance to the next round, three come from the Southwest Conference (San Diego Surf, Utah Royals-AZ, and Beach FC). [program_tooltip program_id='283449' first='Richmond' last='United'], Penn Fusion, MVLA, Kansas City Athletics, and XF Academy were the other teams to advance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out the individual standouts from the games below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112131' first='Ryan' last='Reynolds'], [program_tooltip program_id='283395' first='Legends' last='FC'] - The right winger was a bright spot in the first half for the Legends attack. She is a dynamic attacking talent with pace and skill. She is excellent on the wing in 1v1 situations. She is smart with her crosses and picks out her targets. Reynolds is a constant threat when the ball is on her feet. She likes to put the opposition on the heels. She isn't always successful off the dribble, but she creates chances with the aggressive play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='147435' first='Addison' last='Dean'], San Diego Surf - The right back scored a great goal against Sting Royal to seal the spot in Richmond for her side. Surf faced a side that sat back and let them handle the possession for the majority of the game. The favorites in this age group had a tough time breaking them down in the first half and didn't generate many chances. Dean broke the spell early in the second when she cut inside and then turned her mark before burying the shot into the corner of the net. She was effectively unchallenged defensively considering the Surf possession dominance, but she did have a couple of key moments to stop counters.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112555' first='Brady' last='Burtnett'], Sting Royal - Burtnett's effort in the center of the field certainly stood out. She worked tirelessly from the opening whistle as she tracked the opposition. Burtnett has a lot of strength in her game and showing that defensive quality against Surf will certainly impress scouts. [player_tooltip player_id='112586' first='Kinley' last='Short'] was a standout in the midfield as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='148431' first='Ava' last='Sexton'], Sting Royal. - Sexton made an incredible block on a slide tackle in the first half. She showed off elite recovery speed and big-time instincts to pull off that athletic stop on a golden chance from Surf. Sexton was also good in possession and broke pressure on the dribble on a few occasions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='147416' first='Elle' last='McMurrey'], San Diego Surf - McMurrey was excellent in the game against Sting. She did a bit of everything. Her willingness to be physical and win the aerial duel around the box stood out. She was a great connector for her side with her play in the midfield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Citlalli Reyes, San Diego Surf - Reyes hit the crossbar on a free kick in the first half. The midfielder was excellent in the game. She created chances against a stout Sting defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='111097' first='Chloe' last='Miller'], MVLA - Miller is such a weapon for her team. Her distribution is among the best in the ECNL in any age group. That was on display on the goal for MVLA. She advanced the ball and picked out a teammate in a dangerous spot to start the chance. She is so comfortable on the ball that she unlocks an extra midfielder for her side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='111093' first='Katherine' last='Lu'], MVLA - Lu provided the assist on the goal for MVLA. It was a perfectly placed cross to the far post on the goal.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='111096' first='Maya' last='Meltz'], MVLA - Meltz scored the goal for MVLA on a great header back across the goal that played perfectly on the bounce.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='111184' first='Sophie' last='McCarthy'], MVLA - McCarthy was excellent against Legends. She had firm control of the game and displayed her tactical brilliance to slow down the talented Legends side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='111094' first='Sophia' last='Malloy'], MVLA - Malloy made some big-time saves in the penalty kick shootout to help MVLA advance to Richmond.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112560' first='Chloe' last='Griswell'], Solar - The pass from Griswell to [player_tooltip player_id='112559' first='Landry' last='Gannon'] that resulted in the foul in the box for the penalty kick for Solar was the best pass of the day. She spun away from pressure and then hit a 50-yard pass on a rope to Gannon for the chance.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112559' first='Landry' last='Gannon'], Solar - Gannon deserves the credit for the run off the ball, including timing the run perfectly. She also finished off the chance from the spot for Solar's first goal.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kylie Tang, Utah Royals AZ - Tang provided a beautiful assist with her left foot on the first goal from Utah Royals in the win over Solar. Kayla Faulk scored the goal for Royals. Tang added her own goal minutes later when she followed up a free kick rebound and finished into the open net.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gianna Sabato, Utah Royals AZ - Once again, Sabato's success on free kicks was a key catalyst for the success of Utah Royals. She hit the perfect free kick that resulted in Tang's goal.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='111172' first='Avery' last='Popejoy'], [program_tooltip program_id='278036' first='San' last='Juan SC'] - Popejoy scored the opening goal for San Juan. She jumped above the competition and headed home the corner kick from [player_tooltip player_id='111170' first='Ella' last='Johnson'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='112139' first='Allie' last='Chang'], Beach FC - Chang provided the solo effort for the first goal from Beach in the win over San Juan. She closed space quickly in the press and picked off a pass off the center back's foot to create a chance on goal against the goalkeeper. She finished the chance without any doubt. An impressive showing from the Beach midfielder.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordyn Bauer, Match Fit - Bauer made a nice save on a penalty kick during the game against Penn Fusion. She went the right way, corralled the effort, and collected the rebound.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordyn Sullivan, Match Fit - The Match Fit attacker had another stellar game. She's got all the quality to be a top player at the next level. The energy and enthusiasm she brings on the wing dictates the pace of play for her side. An unheralded aspect of her game is her willingness to do anything to help her team win. Sullivan was marking the tallest player on the opposing team on Tuesday on set pieces. She wanted that challenge.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isabelle Haag, Penn Fusion - Haag had a memorable outing in the battle against Match Fit. She did everything well for her side. Her positioning was especially important in the first half as she shut down chances with timely tackles and a couple of key blocks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Camryn Bayly, Penn Fusion - Bayly had a really strong game against Match Fit. She was all over the field making impact plays. She won a ton of duels. She also made some great runs off the ball to create chances.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacy Hackler, Kansas City Athletics - The KCA center forward delivered in the biggest game of the season with a hat trick performance. Evie Kincaid also scored three for her team as the duo combined for all six goals. Chloe Guenther had three assists.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexis Newman, [program_tooltip program_id='283449' first='Richmond' last='United'] - Newman scored, what I believe, was the fastest goal of the day. The Richmond standout opened the scoring against [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] within the first 15 seconds of the game. She lofted the goalkeeper on an effort from outside the box that caught the opposing shot-stopper flat footed. Richmond advanced on a penalty kick shootout victory after a 2-2 draw.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='223020' first='Madison' last='Davis'], [program_tooltip program_id='283449' first='Richmond' last='United'] - Richmond started the game so brightly against [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] - and Davis was a major reason for the success. The winger was successful off the dribble and forced defenders to retreat against her.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='157478' first='Ana' last='Tornabene'], [program_tooltip program_id='283449' first='Richmond' last='United'] - Tornabene was another standout for Richmond in the knockout round. She was smart with her passing and excellent defensively.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='157991' first='Ava' last='Martin'], [program_tooltip program_id='283449' first='Richmond' last='United'] - The tackle Martin made in the middle of the field during the first half of the game against [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] started the sequence that eventually led to the second goal for her side. She made a great slide tackle and kept possession of the ball. She dribbled past the first two defenders with a body feint and sprung a pass that led to the corner kick from [player_tooltip player_id='110314' first='Amaya' last='Arndt'], which ended up in the back of the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kasey O'Neill, XF - The right back was the key player for XF on the opening goal. She broke down the right side and beat the first player, which created an advantage for her side. The chance eventually landed to Caitlin Chapko who had the perfect finish. O'Neill was a standout defensively as well. Chapko and Mia Velkova were bright spots in the midfield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->