Thursday, September 26, 2013

Eclipse Select Alumni: TCU's Prokof of Gurnee earns Big 12 honors

TCU freshman Michelle Prokof /
Photo provided by TCU athletics
CHICAGO (Sept. 26, 2013) -- Former Eclipse Select Soccer Club forward and Texas Christian University freshman standout Michelle Prokof (Gurnee, Ill.) was honored for her goal scoring frenzy last weekend for the Horned Frogs.

Prokof scored all four team goals during a two-game stretch and was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive and Newcomer Player of the Week. They marked the first weekly honors of her young career, and she is the sixth player in Big 12 history to earn both accolades for the same week.

In other Eclipse Select alumni news, Notre Dame junior defender Sammy Scofield (Geneva, Ill.) scored a game-winning goal with only three seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Irish to a 1-0 victory against Syracuse last Thursday in ACC action. Scofield's header was the latest winner in regulation in the program's history.

For more, visit www.EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select's Zoe Redei named to U-17 WNT for World Cup Qualifying

Eclipse Select's Zoe Redei (left)
holding the 2013 U-15 ECNL
National Championship
trophy with Becky Koch.
CHICAGO (Sept. 26, 2013) -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club forward Zoe Redei (Highland Park, Ill.) is one of 19 players who have been named to the U.S. U-17 Women's National Team roster. This group, which will include one more roster spot, will be competing for the USA in the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championship from Oct. 30-Nov. 9 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Redei currently plays for Eclipse Select's U-16 Elite Clubs National League team. In 2012-13 at the U-15 level, she helped Eclipse Select win the ECNL National Championship, followed by a title at the US Youth Soccer National Championships, where Redei was named to the USYSA U-15 Best XI.

For more, visit www.EclipseSelect.org.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Eclipse Select Alumni: Newsom nets MVC Goalkeeper of the Week

Aryn Newsom
CHICAGO (Sept. 19, 2013) -- Former Eclipse Select Soccer Club goalkeeper and Illinois State redshirt junior Aryn Newsom (Manteno, Ill.) was named Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.

Newsom earned her first shutout of the season during Illinois State’s 4-0 victory against SEMO on Friday, making two saves in that game. Then Newsom posted a career-best 13 saves in a 3-2 victory against No. 22 Marquette on Sunday. Ten saves came in the second half.

Gurson earns second weekly CCAC honor: Robert Morris senior forward Gordy Gurson (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) was named CCAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season on Tuesday. Gurson tallied the lone goal as Robert Morris upset NAIA No. 2-ranked Hannibal-LaGrange College (Mo.), 1-0, last Saturday.

For the latest Eclipse Select news, visit www.EclipseSelect.org.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Eclipse Select's Meg Sadera to play for Colgate in fall of 2014

CHICAGO (Aug. 19, 2013) -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club's Meg Sadera (Winnetka, Ill.) has the range to play anywhere between the defense and forward positions, and that resourcefulness will come in hany in the fall of 2014 when she plays for Colgate in the Patriot League.

While this program might have a sense of randomness being in the middle of New York State, the Raiders' current fall lineup features seniors and Eclipse Select alumni Christy Patterson (Kenilworth, Ill.) and Kelsey Hough (Lake Forest, Ill.)

"Kelsey Hough said she loves it -- the school, social life -- and she reassured me to go for it," Sadera said. "I visited this spring just before we went to PDA in May (for a national showcase) and I loved the campus. I met with a lot of girls on the team, and overall there was a big balance between soccer and academics.

"I'm just excited to be able to have the chance to play in college after committing kind of late," Sadera said. "It's a weight lifted off of my shoulders."

For the latest Eclipse Select news, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Eclipse Select's Addie Boardman kicks off 2013 fall season at DePauw

CHICAGO (Aug. 8, 2013) -- There are those who pick up a sport late in their youth days, and then there is Eclipse Select Soccer Club midfielder Addie Boardman.

Having spent more than a decade focused on volleyball, Boardman made a chance to her schedule by picking up soccer. She made that decision for her junior year at LaPorte High School, and now two years later, the LaPorte, Ind., native is preparing for the 2013 campaign for DePauw's women's soccer team.

"I had been a volleyball player for 12 years, but I still wanted to do a fall sport," Boardman said. "I went out for soccer, and honestly I had only played YMCA soccer when I was 5. At that time, I hated the running. But I decided to go out for LaPorte High School's team and made all-conference, which I didn't expect at all."

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Eclipse Select's Katy Karabetsos joining San Jose State in 2014

Eclipse Select's Katy Karabetsos
CHICAGO (Aug. 6, 2013) -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club midfielder Katy Karabetsos admits she had some good fortune on her side when committing to a collegiate program, and sure enough that pathway started in Las Vegas.

Karabetsos' performance at the Las Vegas Players Showcase in March paid big dividends as the Buffalo Grove, Ill., native and member of Eclipse Select's U-17 Elite Clubs National League team caught the eyes of San Jose State's women's soccer program.

After they contacted Eclipse Select President Rory Dames to get the ball rolling, the Spartans are now looking forward to having Karabetsos on the pitch starting in the fall of 2014.

"It was just luck, I guess," Karabetsos said. "We were at the showcase in Vegas and their coach happened to be walking by and saw me stand out during a game. He contacted Rory and showed interest."

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

IN THE NEWS:

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

U.S. U-20 MNT's Wil Trapp evolving under Brian Bliss's eyes



U.S. U-20 MNT's Wil Trapp
For anyone who has followed the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team leading up to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, they would know just how consistent and essential midfielder Wil Trapp has been throughout the year for this group.

The Gahanna, Ohio, native rose through the ranks at the Columbus Crew's Development Academy, earned a professional homegrown contract with the club late last year, and now he is coming off a 1-1 draw against France on June 24 in the U-20 World Cup -- a game that featured Trapp wearing the captain's armband.

Watching Trapp's rise front-and-center has been Crew technical director Brian Bliss, who joined the MLS organization in 2008 and has been Trapp's assistant coach for the U-20 MNT and head coach Tab Ramos.

"He was the crown jewel in our system ever since he was about 14," Bliss said. "We have signed some previous homegrown players before Wil, but none had the accomplishments that Wil had at the youth level and college, as well."

For more, visit ussoccer.com.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Eclipse Select's Aguilera set for Wright State this fall

CHICAGO (May 17, 2013) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club NWI forward Paige Aguilera (Crown Point, Ind.) has thrived as a predominantly left-footed player on the pitch, and Wright State is looking to take advantage of that element.

Aguilera is committed to play for the Horizon League squad starting this fall, and she certainly hopes to make an immediate impact.

“I think I will have a chance of starting right away, but I need to push myself,” Aguilera said. “Being left-footed, they said they have a need on the left side. I could also be more of a midfielder or push up as a forward on the left side. They told me if I train hard during the summer and go over the regimen they gave me, do well and come in, I should have a good shot.”

Aguilera is certainly amped up about the next chapter in her career.

“I can’t be more excited,” Aguilera said. “Ever since I was younger, I’ve always wanted this, and to get there to train for my first college game is a great feeling. It’s everything I’ve worked for.

“The first time I visited the campus, everything fell into place,” she said. “I hung out with the team. And the fact that they have a good medical field words hand-in-hand with joining their soccer program, so it was perfect. I loved everything about it.”

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.