The inaugural ECNL event has come to a close at the Libertyville Township Soccer Complex, as twenty-four teams from eight clubs played their first three regular-season games as part of the Chicago ECNL Showcase, Aug. 14-16.
The all-tournament team from the Chicago ECNL Showcase has been announced:
G: Madison Halbach (Lakewood, Colo.; Colorado Rush U-15)
D: Shelby Bowden (Fort Collins, Colo.; Colorado Rush U-16)
D: Maddie Friedmann (St. Louis, Mo.; St. Louis Scott Gallagher U-16)
D: Laura Lee Smith (Jackson, Miss.; Birmingham United U-17)
M: Jacie Jermier (McFarland, Wis.; FC Milwaukee U-17)
M: Niki Sebo (Chicago, Ill.; Eclipse Select U-17)
M: Janea Simpson (Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Birmingham United U-17)
F: Summer Schafer (Chicago, Ill.; Eclipse Select U-15)
F: Katisha Brown (Virginia Beach, Va.; Virginia Rush U-15)
F: Kelli Drobney (Longmont, Colo.; Colorado Rush U-15)
F: Jordyn Reiniger (Collinsville, Ill.; St. Louis Scott Gallagher U-16)
Colorado Rush and SC del Sol experienced the most success as a club, going 7-1-1 and 6-2-1, respectively, at the event. FC Milwaukee was also represented well with a 5-1-3 mark. The complete standings can be found at
www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com .
The Colorado Rush climbed to the top of the U-15 Challenge A standings with a 3-0 record while not allowing a goal on the weekend, while FC Milwaukee’s one-win, two-tie showing placed the team in the top spot of the U-15 Challenge B division. In U-16 action, Colorado Rush sits atop Challenge A with nine points and SC del Sol secured first place in Challenge B with an identical 3-0 record.
FC Milwaukee’s U-17 team recorded two wins and a tie at the Chicago ECNL Showcase to capture first place in the Challenge A division, while SC del Sol’s three wins in as many games allowed the Arizona squad to obtain the advantageous position in the Challenge B division. “The level of play was fantastic,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers. “I think the substitution restrictions have been important in that. Obviously the quality of the clubs here made the games very, very good. I think all in all for our first event, it’s been a great environment and I think it’s a great start to the league. We look forward to seeing it grow over the year and seeing more teams come into the next event.”
The Chicago ECNL Showcase marked the league’s inaugural event and the first of five 2009-10 ECNL regular-season tournaments. Member clubs must select three of the five events to attend in advance of the 2009-10 ECNL National Championship, scheduled for July 15-18, 2010, in Seattle. “I think this is just what the girls need,” said U-15 Colorado Rush head coach Wes Hart. “I worked with the [U.S. Soccer Development Academy] teams as well, and I see them day in and day out getting quality games and no longer playing against the same teams you play in Colorado every season and in every local tournament. Now [with the ECNL] you’re playing against the best of the best on a regular basis. The competition itself is pulling more out of our players.”
The eight clubs that participated in the Chicago ECNL Showcase include: Birmingham United (Ala.), Colorado Rush (Colo.), Eclipse Select SC (Ill.), FC Milwaukee (Wis.), Irvine Strikers (Calif.), SC Del Sol (Ariz.), St. Louis Scott Gallagher (Mo.) and Virginia Rush (Va.). Attending clubs will brought a U-15, U-16 and U-17 team to Chicago, and each squad played one game on each of the event’s three days.
The next ECNL regular-season event will be held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I women’s soccer championship, Dec. 4-6, 2009, in College Station, Texas.
