ECNL AZ: Monday’s Best Performers

PHOENIX, Arizona - The ECNL National Event in Arizona wrapped up on Monday from the Reach 11 Sports Complex. Monday was the third day of the extended weekend event that had some of the best teams in girls club soccer from across the country in attendance. The weekend showcased the quality of the league as college coaches and national team scouts descended to see the next wave of talent coming through the clubs in the ECNL. There were plenty of standout moments throughout the weekend. Check out the PrepSoccer daily standouts from <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2022/04/standouts-from-ecnl-az-day-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saturday</a> and <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2022/04/ecnl-az-new-stars-emerge-on-sunday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunday</a>. Below are the players that stood out from PrepSoccer caught on Monday. Check back later this week for all-event teams and other awards. [player_tooltip player_id="25773" first="Ella" last="Koschineg"], FC Bucks 05 - The center back scored the goal for Bucks on a header off a corner kick. She was not hte tallest player on the field, but she did well reading the flight of the ball and getting into spots to win aerial duels. She had another chance in the second when she got on the end of the set piece. She did well defensively against a very talented MVLA side. [player_tooltip player_id="25777" first="Ellyson" last="Slensky"], FC Bucks 05 - Slensky was Koschineg's partner at center back. Slensky did well at stepping at the right time to get in front of passes and then finding quick outlets for her team to keep possession of the ball in those transition moments. [player_tooltip player_id="33296" first="Charlotte" last="Kohler"], MVLA 05 - Kohler and [player_tooltip player_id="19716" first="Kennedy" last="Schoennauer"] led the MVLA attack over the weekend as they each contributed three goals through the three games. MVLA scored 13 goals in the three games. Kohler had a terrific strike on a shot in the first half as she buried a low grass-cutter into the bottom corner of the net. The youth national team prospect showed her attacking chomps as she was dangerous on the wing and setup another goal with a cut-back cross. [player_tooltip player_id="32920" first="Jasmine" last="Aikey"], MVLA 05 - The Stanford-bound player came off the bench for MVLA, what a luxury. She was fouled three times within 10 minutes. She is silky smooth on the ball and makes excellent decisions on the ball. She played center midfielder for MVLA 05. Her versatility makes her one of the more fascinating players headed to the college game this fall. Aikey's youth national team career started at forward. She moved back to defender with her club, and now seems to be a comfortable center back with is good in the No. 8 role. [player_tooltip player_id="19588" first="Joelle" last="Jung"], MLVA 05 - Jung hit a pass on Monday that left me speechless. She was on the move and saw the run of Aikey between the Bucks' left back and left center back. With the in-step of her right foot, she hit the ball over the defense with the perfect weight and back spin that it forced the goalkeeper to believe to come off the line but made sure that Aikey was the first to the ball. Jung hit this pass while under pressure too. Bucks goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id="25950" first="Naomi" last="Glassberg"] made a tremendous block on the shot, but MVLA still managed to score off the ensuing corner kick - assist from Jung. [player_tooltip player_id="25963" first="Olivia" last="Grenda"], FC Bucks 05 - There was one moment in the game that earned Grenda's spot on this list. The midfielder bossed a couple of players off the ball and then hit a shot from 35 yards out that rattled the crossbar. The shot was so hard that MVLA looked like they were on the break heading the opposition direction because the ball bounced out of the 18 yard box. Grenda sprinted across the field and delayed the counter with proper defending technique. That type of commitment in those circumstances definitely catches the eye of scouts. [player_tooltip player_id="22495" first="Chesney" last="Robinson"], Bethesda SC 06 - There was a play in the game against Washington Premier that showed what Robinson could bring to the next level. Washington Premier looked like they might have a breakaway on a long ball over the top. Robinson ran across the field, made up a 10 yard gap, and was first to the ball. Instead of putting the ball out of bounds and forcing her whole squad to recover, she kept possession and began the attack the other way. The center back is sure-footed and has some wheels (she's FAST!). She is difficult to get past and reads the game really well. Bethesda finished the event with three shutouts thanks to the play of Robinson and goalkeeper Maya Cheeseboro, both players are from the class of 2024. Isabelle Daw, Bethesda SC 06 - Daw is a player who always wants the ball. Always. Seemed like she saw the most of the ball from any field player in the first half. She was instrumental in getting attacks going down the left side. Daw has some skill on the ball and is obviously very comfortable with it at her feet. She is good in the transition moments too as she knew when to press hard to try to win the ball back quickly. She could play a variety of roles - outside back, center back, midfield. [player_tooltip player_id="28263" first="Keagan" last="Austin"], Washington Premier 06 - Austin impressed me with her ability to move her feet and stay in front of the attack. She blocked a few shots because she did not dive in on fakes and stayed on her toes to keep her feet nimble to move with the ball. [player_tooltip player_id="28395" first="Rory" last="Murry"] made a couple of sure-handed saves in the game for Washington Premier. [player_tooltip player_id="23805" first="Addison" last="Halpern"], PDA Blue 06 - Halpern scored a great goal early in the second half to seal the win over Northwest Elite FC. [player_tooltip player_id="23901" first="Camryn" last="Szotak"], I believe, had the nice move to evade a defender and set up the goal. [player_tooltip player_id="25936" first="Meredith" last="Blannett"], FC Bucks 06 - Blannett made a heroic block late in the second half to save a goal and keep the game level. FC Bucks finished the week undefeated after the 1-1 draw against Mustangs on Monday. Suzannah Green, FC Bucks 06 - Green made two good saves in goal in the second half against Mustang. The goalkeeper did well getting low to block the shots. [player_tooltip player_id="20208" first="Sofia" last="Bowes"], Mustang 06 - Bowes played in the center midfield in the second half against Mustang. She was a standout in the way she connected the team. She was very good at shuttling the ball from side-to-side. She moved it quickly and kept the defense on their heels. [player_tooltip player_id="22633" first="Kailyn" last="Effah"], Maryland United 07 - Effah moves like a boss on the field. She uses both feet well in possession. She made a couple excellent passes through the channels to push the attack forward. [player_tooltip player_id="22536" first="Ava" last="Porrovicchio"] was a standout in the attack. She has a quick burst to get past defenders and put in a couple of good crosses. [player_tooltip player_id="27382" first="Burklie" last="Burton"], La Roca 07 - Burton only conceded one goal during the three games. She has good size and great hands. She is going to be one of the top goalkeepers to watch from the class of 2025. Chloe Sandler was outstanding again for La Roca. Mia Lopez provided good service on set pieces. Maya Greenholz, Marin FC 05 - Greenholz had a great finish on a half-volley in the win over FC DELCO on Monday. [player_tooltip player_id="21450" first="Taliah" last="Brooks"], Jacksonville FC 07 - Brooks scored a really clever goal on Monday. The forward saw an opening between the jungle of limbs between her and the goal. Instead of fully winding up for a full strike, she pulled off a quick toe-poke and caught everyone unaware. Eden Freeman, Jacksonville FC 07 - Jacksonville made a statement with a big win over San Juan on Monday to finish the event undefeated. Freeman stood out because she strikes the ball with excellent technique. She hits a 40-yard pass with ease - a rare trait for a youth player. [player_tooltip player_id="21353" first="Natalie" last="Brooks"] was also a standout in the game. She was dangerous on the wing and provided the assist on [player_tooltip player_id="21186" first="Jennifer" last="Dearie"]'s goal. [player_tooltip player_id="21432" first="Sofia" last="Bushkell"] is a name to remember for the future on this team. She is technically sound and orchestrates a lot of the play for Jacksonville. Alicia Osegueda, San Juan 07 - Osegueda scored a fantastic goal for San Juan. She chased down a ball over the top, took a touch, and then hammered the ball off the crossbar and into the net. It was an unstoppable finish from the forward. [player_tooltip player_id="26808" first="Jadyn" last="Jaeger"], Sting Austin 07 - Sting Austin had a great weekend in Arizona. The Texas club finished the event with only one goal conceded and three wins. They peppered the Penn Fusion goal late in the first half on Monday. Jaeger was a standout in the game. She was active and covered ground. Bannin Patterson was dynamic and tough to stop with her change of pace and runs off the ball.