Day One
M Mary Cochran, PDA U14: One of the day’s most enticing matchups was PDA-De Anza Force, two typical development stalwarts with national title aspirations. Curtis operated as PDA’s No. 8 and was a tremendously successful engine throughout the day. PDA’s ultimate 2-1 win was largely fueled by Curtis’ tireless work rate.
D Reece Wortmann, Real Colorado U14: Anywhere the WNY Flash went on Thursday, Wortmann seemed to shadow their collective attacking movement. The looming presence at center back was a constant for Real Colorado, and the capable organizer in the middle also hit a nice outlet pass or two to spring the attack.
F
Natalie Moore, Indiana Fire Jrs. U14: Give Moore credit for persistence. As the Fire’s dropping forward, Moore was a constant in the attacking third on Thursday. The Fire ran up against the Seattle Reign, one of the favorites in this division, and it was ultimately Moore’s well-taken goal that secured her side’s 1-0 victory in a hugely significant three-pointer.
M Alexys Mai Ocampo, Arsenal FC U14: The biggest blowout of the day belonged to Arsenal FC, which routed a quality Charlotte SA side 6-1. Arguably the most inescapable presence on the field for either team for the duration was Ocampo’s. She camped out in the hole underneath Arsenal’s forward line and positively picked Charlotte SA apart. True No. 10s like this don’t come around often.
M Macaira Midgley,
Michigan Hawks U14: As expected the title contender Hawks took care of their first match in a 3-1 win, and the inescapable influence of Midgley was perhaps the game’s most clear and present constant. As the central fulcrum in the Hawks’ gameplan, Midgley practically had her hand in every part of the match. But her greatest utility was as a creative passing force.
F
Samiah Phiri, Solar Chelsea U14: Solar Chelsea entered as perhaps the best U14 here, and despite a draw
Samiah Phiri managed to stand out. Her lanky build and speed up top allowed her to separate from defenders and create a constant sheen of danger.
M Kei Kitamura, De Anza Force U14: De Anza has a rich recent tradition of producing thoughtful creative midfielders, and Kitamura could be next in line for the throne. The creative impetus for De Anza’s quality U14 team had herself a day on Thursday, and her vision is among the best in the nation.
M
Korbin Albert, Eclipse Select U14: It’s almost hard to believe Albert is playing up with 2021s as a 2022, because her practiced calm in the middle is uncanny. Albert enjoyed a huge day for Eclipse Select, which won its first game behind a five-goal effort. As a central heat generator, Albert’s perfectly weighted passes and vision were invaluable on the day.
F Bailey Wesco, Dallas Texans U14: While the Texans ultimately fell to Eclipse Select, they did put three goals up on the board in a losing effort. Wesco was perhaps the most visible of Texans’ prodigious attacking corps on Thursday, dipping into and out of traffic with her wiry frame and quick-burst speed in tight corners.
D
Alexandra Mohr,
San Diego Surf U14: Fullbacks don’t always get the most attention on this stage, but Mohr deserved her corner of the spotlight for her performance on Thursday. One of the smallest players on the field, Mohr played much bigger than her size, and her ability to cut in and find on-rushing attackers while standing up the opposition was notable.
M
Jaelin Howell, Real Colorado U18: Arguably the most heavily recruited player in Illinois, Howell had plenty of eyes on her Thursday when her Real Colorado side opened up. Shockingly enough, they were upset by
St. Louis Scott Gallagher, but that didn’t detract from yet another quality individual day from Howell, who’s off to
Florida State in the fall.
F
Kirsten Davis,
St. Louis Scott Gallagher U18: SLSG’s 2-0 win over Real Colorado was the eye-opener of the day, and Davis’ performance as the stand-up No. 9 continually giving RC fits was one of the most visible actions of the game. RC simply had no answer for Davis’ physicality, which opened up the midfield behind her for better and more lethal movement. Good day for the
Texas Tech signee.
F
Catarina Macario,
San Diego Surf U18: It’s no surprise that the leading scorer in ECNL history wasted little time opening her account in Rockford. She scored less than five minutes into Surf’s first game, which set the tone for an eventual 4-1 blowout. Macario, who’s headed to
Stanford this fall, is still as dangerous as ever.
D
Sarah Clark,
Michigan Hawks U18: There are a lot of big names on this Hawks U18 side, but one to pay attention to is assuredly center back Clark. She was an immense presence in Hawks’ 1-0 shutout win over prodigious scorers Concorde Fire, and it was largely her calm and tackling ability that arranged the back line into such a formidable outfit on the day.
GK
Mariel Gordon,
FC Dallas U18: FCD might not’ve picked up all three points, but Gordon’s day had a huge hand in why they were able to ultimately pick up one.
West Coast FC’s attack berated the FCD back line, and Gordon, constantly barking orders and snatching out aerial balls, was at the heart of the reason why FCD was able to live to see another day.
D
Crea Baker-Durante, Boston Breakers U18: The Breakers ran out a 3-5-2 on Thursday that ultimately proved successful in a 3-0 win. Baker-Durante was the left wingback peg in the formation, and she was rampant. She scored a beautifully chipped goal just before half, and her tireless work up and down the left touchline made her half of the field impenetrable.
D
Mikenna McManus,
West Coast FC U18: West Coast is one of the favorites at the U18 age largely because of its prodigious attack, but its defense should get at least half the credit. McManus served as a hugely significant left back on Thursday, sweeping away attack after attack and no doubt making the coaching staff at
Northeastern, annually one of the scariest defenses in the country, quite happy for 2017.
GK
Savannah Madden,
San Diego Surf U18: It shouldn’t come as any real surprise Madden finds herself here after Surf’s first day. As arguably the best keeper in Rockford, the 2017
Texas commit had a heck of an outing in only letting in one goal against a loaded Solar Chelsea team. She was typically assured in the air despite her lack of height and remains one of the best reaction save keepers in ECNL history.