U14 Girls ECNL Win St. Louis Scott Gallagher Tournament
Nov 16 2011 - TW/CM
St Louis-Congratulations to the U14G ECNL team who won the SLSG tournament over the weekend of November 5th.
In game 1, the 14G ECNL faced Grand Rapids (MI). Despite going down a goal early in the game, the girls fought back in the second half and created multiple chances before Dani Rhodes converted a penalty kick, after being tripped in the box late in the half.
Game 2 pitted the U14 girls ECNL against IPSC(IN). Battling both their opponent and stiff wind, the girls again ound themselves behind. However, this time the deficit was 2 heading into the halftime break presenting an even more difficult challenge than their earlier match.
With a strong wind at their backs, in the second half, the 14G ECNL went to an attacking formation starting 5 forwards 2 central midfielders and 3 defenders.
The move paid off when Dani Rhodes pulled a goal back early by getting onto the end an Emma Langer cross. The team pushed forward throughout the second half creating chance after chance. What seemed to be inevitable tying goal finally came with less than 3 minutes left when Dani Rhodes headed in a perfectly weighted cross from Taylor Klug. The game winner came with no time remaining as Jessica Cooley found Rhodes in the box who played the ball across the face of the goal to Delaney Hughes who slotted home the cross, completing the comeback.
Day 2 of the tournament, was Defender's Day. As despite playing 3 matches girls did not surrender a goal through regulation or extra time. The day began with a a defeat of SLSG Premier 2-0 in the final game of group play.
The semi final game found FCM U14G ECNL matched against Hammer FC from Ohio. The teams played to a goalless draw through the overtime period.
In the resulting shootout, both teams missed their first kicks before Tori Cichantek (gk) came up big diving to her right to make a spectacular save and putting FCMN U14G ECNL in the driver seat. Dani Rhodes, Emma Langer, Delaney Hughes and Payton Wesley all finished their kicks from the spot to propel the FCM girls into the final.
The final matched FCM against SLSG Metro (IL). With the game tied at 0 - 0 Emma Langer broke the deadlock,early in the second half, when she got on the end of a loose ball in the box, and bent her shot into the far corner to put FCM up 1- 0. Jessica Cooley added a second and Taylor Klug headed in the third to ensure the team would take home the championship.
Strong defending over the weekend from Tori Cichantek,Julia Lehnen, Hannah Perlewitz, Amanda Durst, Hannah Michaelson,Tessa Estock and Ari Banks made things tough for their opponents.
In the middle of the field Eden Charles, Payton Wesley Jessica Cooley, Holly Hough and Emma Langer worked hard all weekend and covered alot of ground on both sides of the ball.
Up top,pressure from Taylor Klug, Brianna Klopfer, Delaney Hughes and Dani Rhodes constantly caused turnovers from their opponents.
Thanks to assistant coaches Mikhaila Baltes and Emma McDivett (who is recovering from injury).
Coach Tony Wright was very pleased with his team's performance. "As the weekend wore on we figured out how to win," coach Wright said. Each game presented us with different problems and we solved everything that came our way. It's always fun as a player and as a coach to come back from two goals down and win. I thought that was the springboard we needed for the weekend. Congratulations to all the girls they worked hard for this Championship." |
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