ECNL New Jersey: That's all, folks

ECNL New Jersey: That's all, folks
by Travis Clark
May 26, 2015

ZAREPHATH, N.J. — Memorial Day Monday offered one final chance for ECNL clubs and players to compete under sunny skies in Northern New Jersey.

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Here are a couple of highlights from the final day of play.

U15: Eclipse Select 3, Match Fit Academy 2

In a wild, back-and-forth matchup, Eclipse Select overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Match Fit Academy with three unanswered goals

Adrianna Naumoski scored twice for Eclipse, including the game-winning tally, as the Chicagoland side held on for the three points.

Match Fit Academy jumped out to an early lead when a cross from Rebecca Van Siclen wasn’t properly dealt with, as a poor clearance and pressure from Ya’nique Van Ness saw the ball deflected into the net.

After handling some Eclipse pressure, Van Siclen was in the midst of things again, finding the back of the net to extend the lead. It didn’t take long for Eclipse to cut into the lead, as Naumoski made it 2-1 from the penalty spot before the second half.

Pressure continued to build from Eclipse through forward Schylar Kingsley and Amanda Rapaduski. It was the latter who eventually tied the game, as she burst through the middle of the Match Fit back line and blasted home the game’s tying goal.

That set the stage for Naumoski’s winner, as she was on hand to tap home from a cross that hit the far post and bounced in front of the goal.

U16: Boston Breakers Academy 3, McLean Youth Soccer 1

Another standout performance from Eve Hewins led the way for Boston’s second win in two days, scoring a pair of goals in a defeat of McLean Youth Soccer.

Dangerous chances were hard to come by in the first half, limited to shots from distance, although Boston’s Emily Damrell had a free header from a corner that she nodded straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. Jensen Margheim nearly put McLean out in front right after the break, forcing a good save from Boston’s Megan Adams.

Hewins’ pace and burst were trouble for most of the day against McLean, and she was played in behind the defense for the game’s first goal, slotting it in past the ‘keeper. The second was of similar fashion, as she corralled the ball near the top of the box and fired home.

Defender Emily Stranne gave McLean hope as the minutes started ticking down, blasting in a very nice shot from 20 yards out that tucked into the top corner.

With McLean chasing the game, Elizabeth Weimer rounded out the scoring with an insurance goal for the Breakers in the final five minutes.

U15 Michigan Hawks 2, PDA 1

Goals from Ariana Griffin and Madison Myers secured the victory for the Hawks in a clash between two strong club teams. Kayla Lee’s consolation goal late in the second half provided for an entertaining finish but the Hawks held on.

Both teams fashioned chances in the game’s early going, as Myers ripped a shot from distance that bounce just wide, while Lee forced a good save from Hawks goalkeeper Julia Lower.

Myers eventually grabbed the first goal of the game from a corner kick that was cleared only to the penalty spot, where she turned and fired into the upper corner.

Jessica Schildkraut and Amy Pasternoster were in the thick of things for PDA as the hosts searched for the equalizer. Schildkraut had a good look in front of goal that forced Lower to make another save.

Griffin extended the lead with a left-footed blast from range that nestled into the top corner from a layoff by Madison Donley, who enjoyed a storming day on the flanks.

Just when it seemed like Michigan Hawks would maintain possession and kill off the game, a great ball from Schildkraut found a spring Lee on the left side. She controlled the ball mid-stride and tucked it under Lower to cut into the lead.

The Hawks held on, however, for the 2-1 victory, surviving a late flurry from PDA, which included a glorious chance from Pasternoster that missed just wide.

U15: East Meadow SC 4, Carolina Elite Soccer Academy 0

A three-goal first half outburst from East Meadow secured a Monday win for the East Coast outfit against Carolina Elite. Ariel Tillman scored once and Sarah Bayer twice during that stretch that put the game more or less out of reach.

After an even start, Tillman and Bayer scored less than a minute apart to jolt the game to life, with both goals coming on the break. Bayer struck again right before the halftime break, and midfielder Alexa Mihale rounded out the scoring with a left-footed effort from range, the exclamation point on the day.

U17: FC Bucks 1, Maryland United 0

A strike from Sydney Hicks provided the game’s only goal, as the Pennsylvania side closed out the weekend with a win against Maryland United. Julia Panko setup the decisive tally.

U16: Ohio Elite Soccer Academy 1, Arsenal FC 0

Another team closing out the weekend with a one-goal victory was Ohio Elite. Paige Knorr’s goal stood up to make up the difference, finishing a left-footed strike past the Arsenal FC ‘keeper.

U17 Caroline Elite Soccer Academy 2, Strikers FC 0

Goals came from Kailey Mattison and Elizabeth Stahlman carried Carolina Elite past California side Strikers FC. The South Carolina club finished the weekend undefeated with two wins and a draw.

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