Veteran coach Brian Moore likes the look of this season’s Concorde Fire U17 team, which has begun Southeast Conference play with a home win over CESA and two draws in Florida against VSI West Flames (formerly Brandon) and Orlando City.

He felt the team was “a bit fortunate” to draw VSI.

“They hit the post in the last few minutes. They are a good team and we were fortunate to keep them out of the net,” he said. “But our back line was pretty strong too.”

Moore likes his new-look back line, with former Birmingham United player Kelly Dorney joining the club to join Nicole Brandley (a Georgia Southern verbal) at center back, and talented defender Molly Moroney, who has committed to Alabama, moving to right back. Taylor Dowse is the left back.

“She’s not a lefty but she plays the position well and has become a staple for us there,” Moore said of Dowse. “Brandley is strong. Moroney is strong. Dorney is a very athletic defender coming over so we’re pretty strong in the back.”

Moore added that the team has dynamism both up top and in the middle of the park, mentioning holding midfielder Kenzie Winters as having been singled out by other coaches as a force for Concorde in winning possession, and Sydney Shultis and Sydney Lurie for providing opposing defenses plenty to think about.

Still, Moore said the sum of the playing pool surpasses the parts.

“The real strength with this group is the team,” he said. “This is a group of good solid soccer players. There are some good teams in our conference but we should challenge for the conference title and I’d be very surprised to not be in the top 3 (playoff position in this year’s ECNL format) as long as we can stay healthy.”

Concorde hosts North Carolina clubs Charlotte SA and CASL Chelsea this weekend.

Concorde fire U17 ECNL Roster

Goalkeeper: Ashley Fleck

Defender: Nicole Brandley, Kelly Dorney, Taylor Dowse, Molly Moroney, Brittany Rooker, Anna Lee, Ashley Keller

Midfielder:  Cameron Cox, Abigail Reddig, Kylie Ruffule, Kenzie Winters, Sydney Shultis

Forward: Amanda Bartholomew, Taylor Lott, Merrill Stovroff, Sydney Lurie, Taina Anglade