ZARAPHETH, NEW JERSEY – Elite Clubs National League teams and players continued to trudge along toward the national finals scheduled for Colorado in July, competing Saturday at the PDA Memorial Day Showcase here. Below are some featured match details and the full set of scores.

U15 Mustang vs. Stars of Massachusetts

Stars of Massachusetts and Northern Cal side Mustang Soccer faced off and battled until the last second of the game to a scoreless tie. This draw began with Mustang Soccer controlling the beginning stages of the match. They had a few early chances that put their opponents on their heels.

Holding it together for Stars of Mass center defender Emily Kuefler covered so much ground and helped lead their defense through the Mustang strong attacks. This did not last too long, at which time Stars of Mass began to find the ball and seemed to regain control of the game somewhat similar to that of Mustang.

Throughout the whole first half neither team dominated to the point that one should have secured a win. There were a few good attempts at the goal by both teams. Early in the half when Mustang was controlling majority of the play, Allasandra Dutto played a nice ball across the frame of the goal, but her teammate Alexandra White was unable to connect, when she put her shot wide of the goal. Not long after this Mustang’s goalkeeper, Taygan Grundy mishit a goal kick which turned into a shot on goal by Star’s forward Rylee Osgood. Grundy redeemed herself with a save off Osgood’s shot as well as a very nice breakaway save minutes later. Stars forward Brooke Murphy broke free from the opposing defense and went in on a breakaway to get shut down by a Grundy’s solid sliding save.

Mustang’s next attempt on goal came when Allasandra Dutto received a pass around the penalty stripe. Her shot went wide due to the amount of pressure put on her by the Stars defense. While continuing to apply pressure on the Stars defense Erika Perez had a quick turn and shot, but Emily Harris, the Stars goalkeeper, robbed her of that effort. Mustang’s final attempt on goal came when Allasandra Dutto took matters into her own hands, while the final seconds of the half ticked away, by going on an aggressive dribble inside the box and ripping a shot that hit the post. None of her teammates were there to follow.

The second half started out very similar to that of the first half with Mustang controlling most of the play. This control translated into lots of movement in their attacking third; however, it did not seem threatening enough for a goal. Once Stars of Mass adjusted and began to settle in, their best attempt on goal occurred. Stars attacker Rachel Morrier maneuvered through the Mustang defense where she put herself in a semi breakaway situation in the right corner of the box. She then hit a nice shot that hit the opposite post which allowed for a second attempt which also hit the post. This great attempt on goal was then shortly called dead due to off side.

Soon after, Stars of Mass playmaker Shea Newman took a free kick from 20 yards out. Newman took all the set pieces for Stars of Mass many of which caused problems for the Mustang defense. This attempt on goal from 20 yards out seemed to be the perfect situation for Newman, but once again it did not translate into a goal, rather it hit directly into the Mustang wall. Stars of Mass began to overtake much of the play starting midway through the second half which continued for the rest of the game. Newman found herself inside her opponents’ box, but nailed a bullet right at the Mustang keeper.

Mustang had one more chance on goal when Remi White hit a shot just wide of the post. In the final minute of the match, Stars of Mass excited their fans when Brooke Murphy put Christina Wakefield in behind the Mustang defense, but hit her final shot over the goal. This somewhat back and forth play between the two teams never translated into a goal, but there were many situations that led to shots that just missed or forced both goalkeepers to make saves in order to secure the shutout.

U16 Slammers FC vs. Eclipse Select

The matchup between Slammers FC and Eclipse was a battle in which both teams had moments where they controlled the play and had their fair share of attempts on goals. It was not until the only goal of the game scored by Bridget Hillsman of the Eclipse that led the Eclipse to begin to take over for the remainder of the game. The beginning stages of the first half consisted of both teams adjusting to the game where neither team had control of the ball.

The first shot of the game came from Eclipse’s Michelle Prokof from twenty five yards out. Prokof found herself in dangerous situations throughout the game causing problems for the Slammer’s defense. The Slammers defense seemed impenetrable at the start with the athletic, aggressive center defender Kailey Hackett anchoring their defense.

Slammers had their fair share of chances to put a score up in the first half, but they could not pull through. One of their best chances came when Samantha Trenary put Markie Henderson in on a breakaway. Henderson got a good shot off, but Eclipse goalkeeper Christina Mursuli came up with a great diving save. Mursuli played a solid match making both the routine as well as the difficult saves. This secured the shutout in the end. Minutes later Lauren Sajewich of the Eclipse went on a fifteen yard dribble taking a shot about twenty yards out. The Slammers goalkeeper, Alegra Kastens tipped the shot over the crossbar. Sajewich could be found all over the field creating opportunities for herself and teammates for the remainder of the match. Lastly, the Slammers had the final attempt on goal of the half when Trenary played Madeline Bauer a nice ball resulting in a shot that hit the post and came right back to Mursuli.

The start of the second half began scoreless and the Slammers had the majority of the play. Early in the second half Slammer’s Bauer went in on a breakaway, but Mursuli came up with the save once again. Off Mursuli’s distribution, Eclipse answered with a breakaway of their own that resulted in a goal kick. Approximately twelve minutes into the second half Hillsman had the only score of the game. It came when she was left all alone about ten yards out. She placed the ball into the lower right corner. The goal began Eclipse’s domination of the remainder of the game. A few other opportunities came about for Eclipse, but it was this goal that secured the victory for Eclipse. A few of these opportunities to note came from Sajewich at the top of the box. She did a quick turn and separated herself just enough from a Slammers defender to get her shot off, but it went just wide.

Taylor Schissler got herself end line at one point late in the second half which resulted in a great driven ball across the frame of the goal. The cross went past the Slammers keeper to find the head of Summer Schafer, but it went just wide as well. As the half went on not only did the Eclipse have the majority of the play but they began to pick apart the Slammers defense. A somewhat back and forth game, ended in a dominating victory for the Eclipse.

Saturday Results

 

U15 Saturday Results
Freestate Soccer Alliance ECNL U15	1-4	Real So Cal ECNL U15
Virginia Rush Nike ECNL U15	1-3	Minnesota Thunder Academy ECNL U15
SoccerPlus Connecticut ECNL U15	2-5	Sereno Soccer Club ECNL U15
FC Bucks ECNL U15	2-1	Dallas Sting ECNL U15
Albertson Fury ECNL U15	4-2	Arsenal FC ECNL U15
Ohio Premier Eagles ECNL U15	1-3	San Diego Surf ECNL U15
Connecticut FC ECNL U15	2-1	De Anza Force ECNL U15
Birmingham United ECNL U15	1-5	West Coast FC ECNL U15
FC Stars of Massachusetts ECNL U15	0-0	Mustang SC ECNL U15
FC Virginia ECNL U15	0-2	Slammers FC ECNL U15
Ohio Elite Soccer Academy ECNL U15	0-3	PDA ECNL U15
Eclipse Select Soccer Club ECNL U15	3-0	Crossfire Premier ECNL U15
Washington Premier FC ECNL U15	3-2	Neusport FC ECNL U15
Bethesda SC ECNL U15	0-3	Carmel United ECNL U15
Scorpions SC ECNL U15	1-0	SC Del Sol ECNL U15
FC DELCO ECNL U15	2-0	Irvine Strikers ECNL U15
U16 Saturday Results
Connecticut FC ECNL U16	0-3	FC Bucks ECNL U16
FC DELCO ECNL U16	1-0	Minnesota Thunder Academy ECNL U16
Albertson Fury ECNL U16	2-1	Birmingham United ECNL U16
Sereno Soccer Club ECNL U16	0-3	Scorpions SC ECNL U16
FC Stars of Massachusetts ECNL U16	0-0	Washington Premier FC ECNL U16
Slammers FC ECNL U16	0-1	Eclipse Select Soccer Club ECNL U16
Irvine Strikers ECNL U16	2-0	Ohio Elite Soccer Academy ECNL U16
Neusport FC ECNL U16	0-4	SoccerPlus Connecticut ECNL U16
Real So Cal ECNL U16	2-1	Crossfire Premier ECNL U16
Carmel United ECNL U16	4-0	De Anza Force ECNL U16
Virginia Rush Nike ECNL U16	2-0	SC Del Sol ECNL U16
Freestate Soccer Alliance ECNL U16	1-0	West Coast FC ECNL U16
San Diego Surf ECNL U16	0-1	Ohio Premier Eagles ECNL U16
Dallas Sting ECNL U16	2-4	FC Virginia ECNL U16
Mustang SC ECNL U16	1-1	PDA ECNL U16
Arsenal FC ECNL U16	0-2	Bethesda SC ECNL U16
U17 Saturday Results
SoccerPlus Connecticut ECNL U17	0-1	Freestate Soccer Alliance ECNL U17
Ohio Elite Soccer Academy ECNL U17	2-0	Virginia Rush Nike ECNL U17
Connecticut FC ECNL U17	1-3	Eclipse Select Soccer Club ECNL U17
Crossfire Premier ECNL U17	1-0	Dallas Sting ECNL U17
Birmingham United ECNL U17	0-1	Ohio Premier Eagles ECNL U17
Minnesota Thunder Academy ECNL U17	6-3	Slammers FC ECNL U17
West Coast FC ECNL U17	0-3	FC Stars of Massachusetts ECNL U17
De Anza Force ECNL U17	1-4	Scorpions SC ECNL U17
Mustang SC ECNL U17	0-1	Real So Cal ECNL U17
San Diego Surf ECNL U17	2-0	SC Del Sol ECNL U17
Sereno Soccer Club ECNL U17	0-4	PDA ECNL U17
FC Virginia ECNL U17	2-2	Irvine Strikers ECNL U17
FC Bucks ECNL U17	5-0	Neusport FC ECNL U17
FC DELCO ECNL U17	1-1	Washington Premier FC ECNL U17
Bethesda SC ECNL U17	0-1	Carmel United ECNL U17
Albertson Fury ECNL U17	0-5	Arsenal FC ECNL U17