Eclipse Select wins title at three age groups at Kicks 4 Kids Classic

CHICAGO (Aug. 28, 2014) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club garnered three titles at the 2014 Kicks 4 Kids Classic hosted by Crystal Lake Force over the Aug. 23-24 weekend. The event also served as a great opportunity for teams to play up an age level, and Eclipse Select had an exceptional performance in that regard.

The Eclipse Elite USYSA 2019 (U-14) and Elite USYSA 2018 (U-15) teams played up to win the U-15 and U-16 groups, respectively. Additionally, Eclipse Premier North Black 2021 (U-12) earned a title at the U-12 level.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select Alumni: Ellenwood, Jarsombeck shine in college openers

CHICAGO (Aug. 26, 2014) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and Arkansas junior Ashleigh Ellenwood (Michigan City, Ind.) picked up right where she left off last season, scoring a dramatic 88th-minute goal to lead the Razorbacks to a 2-1 victory against Oklahoma State on Sunday in Fayetteville, Ark.

Elsewhere, Illinois State sophomore Paige Jarsombeck (Tinley Park, Ill.), who transferred from Creighton to the Redbirds over the summer, made an immediate impact for her new squad. In her Illinois State debut, Jarsombeck tallied a 26th-minute goal during a 4-1 victory against Northern Illinois on Friday in Normal, Ill. Two days later, Jarsombeck scored a 56th-minute goal and Illinois State rolled to a 5-1 victory against Central Michigan on Sunday in Normal.

For the full Eclipse Select alumni report, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Wildcats Waiting in the Wings, Part III: Eclipse Select's Kayla Sharples

Before Kayla Sharples joined Eclipse Select Soccer Club, she had mostly been an offense-based player, but the club saw she had intangibles that worked well on the defensive side to utilize her full arsenal.

Those aspects of her game have now helped pave the way to a promising college path as the Naperville, Ill., native will join fellow 2013-14 Eclipse Select U-17 Elite Clubs National League teammates Hannah Davison and Aspyn Repp at Northwestern starting in the fall of 2015.

“The style of the defenders on Eclipse is more offensive, so when they put me in that different role, it was something that I knew I could be strong at,” Sharples said of her initial move to the defense. “They helped me on the defensive aspects of the game and what I have to do in certain situations – when to drop off, when to step up as a unit, and communicating.”

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Wildcats Waiting in the Wings, Part II: Eclipse Select's Aspyn Repp

Eclipse Select Soccer Club U-17 Elite Clubs National League defensive midfielder Aspyn Repp (Lake Bluff, Ill.) has always had her eyes on Northwestern’s soccer program, having watched their games growing up.

“One of my best friends’ dads used to play at Northwestern, so when I was younger I’d go to the men’s games and spend some evenings at Lakeside Field,” Repp said. “I thought it was great – the lake, the atmosphere, and the men’s program is pretty strong. I remember them going to the Elite Eight one year, so it was pretty exciting.”

Now, Repp will have a chance to strengthen the Wildcats’ women’s soccer team. Repp is one of three Eclipse Select players to commit to the Northwestern program for 2015, joining fellow club defenders Hannah Davison and Kayla Sharples.

“I’m super excited about it,” Repp said. “I love Kayla and Hannah, and to know that I will be spending the next five years between club and college playing with them, that is comforting.”

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Wildcats Waiting in the Wings, Part I: Eclipse Select's Hannah Davison

Eclipse Select Soccer Club has always had its share of ties with Northwestern’s program, but the 2015 campaign will be an interesting one to watch for a variety of reasons.

The Big Ten squad has been in a transition mode with the arrivals of former Wisconsin-Milwaukee head coach Michael Moynihan and assistant David Nikolic after the Wildcats’ 2011 season. When Eclipse Select’s U-17 Elite Clubs National League trio of Hannah Davison, Aspyn Repp and Kayla Sharples steps into the program, that NU team will be completely branded by this coaching tandem.

“They have definitely changed a lot with the program,” said the Geneva, Ill., native, who was the first of this Eclipse Select trio to commit to Northwestern early in 2013. “It will be a unique situation when we join the 2015 class, because when we come in, all four years – freshman, sophomore, junior and senior – will be recruited by Michael and David. Hopefully we can be at the top of our division when we all get there.”

The fact that all three current teammates could play a significant role together post-Eclipse Select makes this even more unique.

“We’re all very excited to be able to enter something like this together, because it can be nerve-wracking to make a transition like that,” Davison said. “Now, I have two of my friends there as we head to college, and we have that team chemistry, foundation and background that we will benefit from.”

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.