McLean Youth Soccer Association

The under-17 girls McLean ECNL Power soccer team just returned from Chicago, having won a national title. The ECNL is the elite national league for girls youth soccer teams, made up of the strongest youth soccer teams across the nation. Coached by MYS Technical Director Clyde Watson, the Power qualified for the national finals tournament in Chicago after a league season that started in September and ended in May. After ending up at the top of their 36 team flight with only one loss all year, the Power were seeded first for the national finals.

The Power started the tournament against a team from Charlotte, North Carolina that went up early in the match by two goals. After that wake-up call, Morgan Reuther, Nicole Johnson (both committed to play for UVA starting in 2013) and Cali Hutson (a James Madison commitment for 2013), put goals into the back of the net to overcome the deficit in the second half. That win propelled the team to a semi-final match up against a team from Washington State.

In the Washington match, the Power showcased their defensive strengths. Anticipating very competitive matches, the McLean ECNL staff called up U16 McLean defensive standout Natalia Barrow to play with the Power because of some injuries. Barrow, teaming with Evelyn Robinson (committed to play at South Carolina) in the middle of the back line, was outstanding. Dana Daniels tended goal for most of regulation, holding the Washington group scoreless. Late in the match, Watson substituted keepers, inserting UVA-bound Morgan Stearns into the match to close it out. Yet, despite the prolific scoring from the first day, the Power could not generate a goal in regulation or two overtime periods. The match went to penalty kicks. Stearns was undeniably brilliant in the penalty kick session, stopping two of Washington’s four shots. Meanwhile, Robinson, midfielder Regan Houston (heading to play at William & Mary this coming fall), Johnson and Hutson converted their penalty kicks, advancing the Power to the finals.

The victory against Washington set up a championship finals match against the top club from Minnesota, who the Power had recently played to a 2-2 draw over Memorial Day weekend in New Jersey. Watson had a few tricks up his sleeve. James Madison commit Allie Bunner came into the match mid-way thought the first half and finished a ball into the net to put the Power up one to nothing. Bunner, who had done the same against Minnesota a month before, could play only briefly due to a swelling ankle, but she made the most of her time. Bunner’s cushion was short-lived. At the end of the first half, Minnesota was awarded a free kick, equalizing the score at 1-1. Deja vu all over again? Not quite. In the second half, the Power were relentless. The Power’s defense was solid and the mid-field controlled the ball. Johnson twice served balls to Reuther, who all match had given the Minnesota defense fits, and she finished them into the back of the net, clinching a 3-1 victory for the Power and a national championship cup. At the very end of regulation, an unsuspecting Watson received a well--earned Gatorade bath to cool him off in the mid-90 degree heat.

In addition to the players mentioned above, the Power’s roster included Ariana Alston, Carson Cyphers (committed to VCU), Jen Grundy (committed to Rice), Tori Hanway, Emily Hester, Maryfay Jackson, Jess Ku, Lindsey Sawczuk, Marlo Sweatman (committed to Florida State), Nisrene Tabbara, and Alexandra Wong (committed to VCU). The Power graduate only Regan Houston, so the remainder of the team will be in tact to try to win another national title for McLean in their senior year.