Eclipse Select adds Callan, McNellis to coaching staff

Mark McNellis (left) and James Callan

By CHARLIE CORR
slidetackles@mail.com

CHICAGO – Eclipse Select Soccer Club welcomes in two new coaches to its staff starting in 2017-18. James Callan has been named the Eclipse Select Director of U-8 to U-10 East and Mark McNellis will be Eclipse Select East Coach.

McNellis and Callan have a wealth of former playing and coaching experience and have spent their recent years at United Soccer Academy, with Callan serving as the director of coaching since 2012 and McNellis as senior coach since 2011. Both will begin their Eclipse Select responsibilities this fall.

Callan grew up in Peru and moved to the U.S. in 1994. He is a former player at Amundsen High School in Chicago’s North Side and the NAIA’s St. Xavier University.

McNellis has been a fixture in the Chicagoland soccer community for many years. He is a former all-state athlete at Hinsdale South High School, where he is the program’s all-time goal scoring leader. McNellis was part of DePaul University’s soccer team from 1991-93.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Seven Eclipse Select players wrap up exclusive id2 Camp in Indianapolis

By CHARLIE CORR
slidetackles@mail.com

CHICAGO - Over the years, Eclipse Select Soccer Club has featured a number of talented players who have earned the opportunity to participate in the id2 Training Camp Program. It is an opportunity for the country’s top youth soccer players to be in an environment where they are identified, developed and scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s national team programs.

Eclipse Select proudly featured seven players for a March 23-26 camp in suburban Indianapolis: midfielder Korbin Albert (Gurnee, Ill.), defender Kate Dobsch (Winnetka, Ill.), forward Devin Lynch (Naperville, Ill.), forward Dakota Lyons (Mettawa, Ill.), defender Emma Phillips (Munster, Ind.), midfielder Brielle Rochester (Libertyville, Ill.) and midfielder Jenna Stayart (Cary, Ill.).

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

I-4 Derby lives up to billing

By CHARLIE CORR
charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com

A hallmark of the USL’s growth and fan support has been the budding regional rivalries that have coalesced. Heading into the 2017 season, much anticipation surrounded Saturday’s opening match between newcomers the Tampa Bay Rowdies and second-year Orlando City B in this I-4 Derby.

The game and environment lived up to the hype as an Al Lang-record crowd of 7,710 was on hand during the Rowdies’ 1-0 victory.

“It was unbelievable,” said Georgi Hristov, who scored the game’s lone goal, a second-half penalty kick. “I think everyone understands in this organization with [Owner] Bill Edwards that we are trying to do something different here in Tampa Bay. It’s very important to us, and I really appreciate all the people coming tonight and that they’re going to keep coming and sell out the next game too.”

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.

Richmond Kickers' Conor Shanosky delivers in new role

By CHARLIE CORR
charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com

The Richmond Kickers have never been short of leadership among its roster, particularly being a club that qualifies for the USL Cup Playoffs every season.

For defender Conor Shanosky, his leadership role took on a new level as he wore the captain’s armband. In front of a City Stadium-record crowd of 8,021, Shanosky delivered the lone goal during a 1-0 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday.

“Obviously it’s a big honor to wear the captain’s armband – first time in my career, so that was nice,” Shanosky said. “It’s always very special. But I think we’ve got a lot of leaders on the team. We’ve got a good group. It’s about building that and doing better as a group and keep pushing.”

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.

Eclipse Select to hold U.S. Soccer Development Academy ID sessions

By CHARLIE CORR
slidetackles@mail.com

Eclipse Select Soccer has announced its U.S. Soccer Developmental Identification Sessions for players with the birth years 1999-06. These sessions are for identifying players from outside our current club that would be interested in playing in the USDA for the 2017-18 season. The sessions run Jan. 3-8 at the Darien Sportsplex.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select Alumni: UNC freshman Redei bound for College Cup

By CHARLIE CORR
slidetackles@mail.com

CHICAGO - Former Eclipse Select Soccer Club forward Zoe Redei (Highland Park, Ill.) is headed to the 2016 NCAA Women’s College Cup. The North Carolina freshman and her side advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s quarterfinal round with a 1-0 victory against South Carolina on Friday in Columbia, S.C.

Redei, who has worked her way back from an ankle injury, has been playing a reserve role for UNC during the postseason. On Friday, she registered two shots in 36 minutes as the Tar Heels improved to 17-3-4 on the season.

“They’ve improved so much since I’ve been out,” Redei told dailytarheel.com a week ago. “They just continue to improve, and it’s just amazing to be back playing with them.”

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse alumna Stuenkel named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week

By CHARLIE CORR - slidetackles@mail.com

CHICAGO – Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna Karly Stuenkel (St. Charles, Ill.) was honored by the Big Ten Conference on Tuesday, earning Offensive Player of the Week accolades for her big performances this past weekend to lead Iowa to a pair of wins. The junior midfielder scored two goals during the team’s 4-1 win against Colorado State last Friday. Then on Sunday, Stuenkel tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal and assisted Iowa’s third goal – all in the opening 15 minutes – to lead the Hawkeyes to a 5-1 victory against SIU Edwardsville in Iowa City, Iowa.

Elsewhere Virginia freshman Alyssa Gorzak (Naperville, Ill.) recently tallied a goal to lead the No. 3 Cavaliers to a 2-0 victory against No. 25 Pepperdine at Klockner Stadium.

North Carolina freshman Zoe Redei (Highland Park, Ill.) tallied her third goal in five games thus far in her collegiate career, helping the Tar Heels to a 2-0 win against Villanova on Sunday at the Duke Nike Classic in Durham, N.C. She earned all-tournament honors.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.