ECNL Recap: Rush's goal scoring machine

ECNL Recap: Rush's goal scoring machine
by J.R. Eskilson
September 18, 2012

The second weekend of Elite Clubs National League action saw a number of teams make a statement with big wins, but it also had the first player break into double digits in goals scored this season after only a handful of games.

U14:

Gwinnett Soccer Association and Orlando City YS already met for the second time this season on Saturday. The Florida club won the first meeting 1-0 two weeks ago thanks to a game-winner from Camille Copperthite.

The Georgia club returned the favor last weekend when it hosted Orlando City and came away with a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Grace Donner. GSA finished the weekend with a 2-0 win over VSI West FL Flames. Maya Boles scored her second goal of the season in the victory.

GSA trails Charlotte Soccer Association in the Southeast Conference Standings in the early light of the season. CSA is 2-0-1 on the year after a 1-1 draw against Concorde Fire on Saturday and a 1-0 win over Birmingham United. Madison Gleason and Kristen Nixon were the goal scorers for the North Carolina club.

In the Golden State, So Cal Blues, West Coast FC, San Diego Surf, and Arsenal FC are off to a great start with all teams holding a 2-0-0 after the first weekend of play for those teams.

club soccer player mia hoen beckMia Hoen-Beck of McLean U16

So Cal Blues and West Coast FC hold the top spot in the conference for now due to goal differential after both finished with +8. Forward Ashley Sanchez, who has three goals and one assist, led the Blues in scoring.

Up the coast, MVLA began its ECNL campaign with a 6-1 win over San Juan Soccer Club. De Anza Force also jumped quickly out of the gate with a 3-0 win over Mustang SC. Sophia Dertorossian, Kayla Fong, and Samantha Tran all scored in the win.

U15:

The fireworks were going off in Colorado over the weekend with Real Colorado lighting up the scoreboard against Sereno Soccer Club and SC Del Sol.

Forward Jayne Lydiatt scored a hat trick in the 5-0 win over Sereno on Saturday. U.S. U15 Girls National Team forward Mallory Pugh scored three times for Real Colorado on Sunday in the 7-1 win over SC Del Sol on Sunday. Pugh, who was highlighted in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s ECNL preseason Players to Watch, has six goals and five assists on the season.

Real Colorado midfielder Julie Mackin has also been electric this season with one goal and seven assists.

San Diego Surf was also cruising offensively over the weekend with a 5-0 win over Eagles Soccer Club and a 3-0 win over Real So Cal. Midfielder Olivia Erlbeck had three assists in the two games.

In Virginia, Julia Phillips tapped in a cross from Meaghan Nally and FC Virginia improved to 2-0-0 on the season with a 1-0 win over Virginia Rush on Saturday. Terry Foley’s side is top of the Midatlantic Conference to start the season.

Dallas Texans improved to 4-0-0 with a 3-0 win over Texas Rush and a 2-1 victory over Lonestar. Forward Madison Haley and midfielder Haley Berg have been at the front of the attack with the two combining for eight goals and three assists.

U16:

McLean Youth Soccer (1-0-1) notched its first win of the season with a 5-0 thrashing of Richmond Strikers on Saturday. Mia Hoen-Beck and Kaitlyn Forsht both scored two goals while Stephanie Stahl provided a pair of assists.

In the Southeast Conference, Charlotte Soccer Academy kept its top spot in the standings with wins over Concorde Fire and Birmingham United. The trio of Lauren Lucas, Caylin Prillaman, and Katelyn Watkins has paced the attack with five goals and seven assists between them.

TSC Hurricane also enjoyed a six-point weekend with a 1-0 win over Lonestar on Saturday followed by a 4-0 win over Texas Rush on Sunday. Oklahoma State commit Tatum Wagner scored a hat trick in the win on Sunday.

So Cal Blues started the season with a pair of victories in conference play. The Blues topped Strikers 1-0 on Saturday behind a goal from midfielder Sydney Magnin. The Blues beat Slammers FC 2-0 on Sunday with goals from Anika Rodriguez and Nikole Rosen.

U17:

The defending national champions, Slammers, opened up their title defense with a 3-0 win over Arsenal FC on Saturday. Sierra Winder, Sammy Solaru, and Lauren Guerra scored in the shutout victory. USC commit Kayla Mills provided two assists in the win.

SC Del Sol U17 was one of the few Arizona teams to enjoy the trip to Colorado over the weekend. Behind the standout play from Jorian Baucom, SC Del Sol managed a 2-2 draw against Colorado Rush on Saturday and a 3-0 win over Real Colorado on Sunday.

CASL Chelsea Ladies had a four-point weekend with a 5-1 win over Birmingham United followed by a 1-1 draw against Concorde Fire. Ohio State commit Mary Palmer scored the lone goal in the draw.

U18:

Portland commit Danica Evans pushed her season tally to 11 goals over the weekend in a pair of big victories for Colorado Rush. The Rush is leading the nation with 34 goals in the first five games.

CASL Chelsea Ladies, last season’s U17 ECNL National Champions, suffered their first setback of the season in a 0-0 draw against Concorde Fire on Sunday. Both clubs were shorthanded due to the U.S. U17 Women's National Team leaving for World Cup preparations on Wednesday. 

In the Texas Conference, the Dallas Texans moved to 3-0-0 with a 4-0 win over Texas Rush on Saturday. Texas recruit Jasmine Hart is leading the team in scoring with five goals in three games. 

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