Eclipse Select teammates Alexa Gaul and Taylor Vancil share a common dream of playing one day for the U.S. Women’s National Team. As friends, the duo are well-positioned to help spur one another on to new heights as they reach for their goals.

Taylor Vancil competing with Eclipse.

“Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be like Mia Hamm and all of the other great women who have played this sport.” Vancil said.

“I want to play professionally after college,” says Gaul, “My goal is to make the full National Team.”

Both girls opted against playing for their high school soccer teams, instead jumping at the chance to play for the powerhouse Illinois club Eclipse North 90/91. And so their rivalry is born, right?  Wrong.

Brianna Scurry and Hope Solo they are not. These girls get along great.

They have embraced their role as co-goalkeepers, usually only playing one half, and together have helped lead Eclipse to several club accomplishments including regional and national championships. Even more unusually, both will be on the roster of the U17 Women's National Team later this month in Trinidad at the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament for the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup.

Eclipse goalkeeping coach Mike Bristol and head coach Mike Nesci were mentioned by both girls as being instrumental in their development as players. “I wouldn't be where I am today without my coaches,” says Alexa, “especially my goalkeeper coach Mike Bristol.”

Taylor and Alexa are each blessed with quick feet, soft hands, and a cerebral understanding of angles that has led to them both being top college recruits. Gaul is headed to Texas, Vancil to Louisville.

While both girls are passionate about being goalkeepers now, that wasn’t always the case.

“I never really wanted to be a goalkeeper,” admits Vancil. “One day though, the goalkeeper on my U-11 Real Colorado Red team got a back injury and wasn’t able to play anymore. Our team was in need of a goalkeeper and my mom told the coach that he could try putting me in. She knew I could do it, but that I would never volunteer because I liked the action of the field. After that, I realized how much fun it was. I would say it came pretty naturally.”

Gaul became a keeper at the age of 6, but was quick to joke about the reason why.

“I never understood offside, so my coach put me in goal and after that I just kept playing it because I loved it!”

Alexa Gaul training with the National Team.

The girls, while professional, and goal oriented, still entertain the child within. They both mentioned Anchorman as being one of their favorite movies. It’s their friendship that has helped make a tricky situation, that even our own National Team couldn’t handle, a positive for their club.

There is no doubt the competition they have put each of through, day in and day out, and the training they have received playing for Eclipse has helped push them to become the players they are today. At the heart of their competition is the most simple, shared desire of all athletes, they want to do whatever they can to help their team win.

So whether it’s Taylor Vancil or Alexa Gaul in goal, one thing is for sure, the fortunes of Eclipse Select, and maybe even the Women’s National Team, is going to be a bright one.

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