ECNL Recap: Action wraps up in San Diego

ECNL Recap: Action wraps up in San Diego
by J.R. Eskilson
April 8, 2013

DEL MAR, California – The fourth Elite Clubs National League Event is in the books for the 2012-13 season. The action concluded on Sunday from the San Diego Polo Fields with a few marquee matchups.

SO CAL BLUES U16 2-0 OHIO ELITE SOCCER ACADEMY U16

Ohio Premier Eagles, girls club soccer, ECNLOhio Premier Eagles U18 battle

So Cal Blues took control of the fixture early and never really let up. Behind the unrelenting pressure and domination in possession, the Blues cruised to a shutout victory and a perfect 3-0-0 record from the event in San Diego.

Nikki Rosen opened the scoring in the 21st minute when she got on the end of a long throw-in by Alexie Marietti and slotted the ball easily into the net. Marietti’s throw-in was flicked on Katie Pingel before landing on Rosen’s right foot for the opening goal.

READ: Rush, Surf dominate day one | Staying close on day two

Ohio Elite nearly grabbed the equalizer right before half when Sara Robertson blazed a path down the left side of the field and struck a shot from the corner of the box that looked like it was headed for the upper corner of the net. Blues goalkeeper Meredith Hummel was up to the task and came up with a beautiful diving save.

Blues doubled the lead after half via a penalty kick goal from Anika Rodriguez. Rodriguez did the hard work to earn the shot from the spot as she was brought down in the box after a mesmerizing move on the dribble that left the Ohio defense in shambles.

Rodriguez, a U.S. U17 Women’s National Team player, had an outstanding outing on the day. The elusive attacker was slick on the dribble and ended up megging a pair of defenders with some crafty footwork.

Ohio turned up the pressure late and had a golden chance to cut the lead in half with only eight minutes left when Tara Claus intercepted a pass in the attacking third. Claus dribbled past a pair of defenders, but her shot went wide of the far post.

Blues saw out the final minutes of the contest with a heavy dose of possession. The So Cal squad ended the weekend with three shutouts and a plus eight-goal differential.  Ohio Elite concluded the event with a 2-1-0 record.

REAL SO CAL U18 1-1 OHIO PREMIER EAGLES

The oldest age group in the ECNL can be a mixed bag in terms of intensity and effort at Showcase Events given that many of the players have already committed and some teams have already made inroads to a playoff spot.

Sunday’s fixture between Real So Cal and Ohio Premier Eagles was the opposite, as both teams were driven to nab three points and keep undefeated records at the event.

At the end of 90 minutes, the teams had to split the spoils, as neither could find the go-ahead strike late in the clash.

Real So Cal’s Arielle Ship opened the scoring with a wonderfully timed and placed header on a cross from Natalie Rivas. Rivas drove the ball to the far post, and Ship was there to meet it over a few defenders. The former U.S. U17 WNT player placed the header in the upper corner of the net that left the goalie helpless.

Ohio answered back just before half with a strike from Brooke Maletic. The forward’s shot from 18 yards out hit the bottom of the crossbar and the assistant referee signaled that it crossed the line for the game-tying goal.

The teams exchanged chances in the second half with Ship getting another opportunity to put her name on the sheet when she broke through the Ohio defense in the 64th minute; however, Ohio goalkeeper Anna Rosa James came up huge with the save.

Ohio remains undefeated on the season and returns to conference play in two weeks. Real So Cal also rejoins conference play in two weeks, as both teams strive toward the postseason.

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