Eclipse Select's Redei to represent USA in U-17 NTC Invitational

Eclipse Select forward Zoe Redei

CHICAGO (Jan. 27, 2014) -- Eclipse Select forward Zoe Redei (Highland Park, Ill.) has been named to the U.S. Under-17 Women's National Team roster when the USA hosts a four-team tournament from Feb. 5-9 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center in Carson, Calif.

Meanwhile, Eclipse Select defender Hailey Blanchard (Frankfort, Ill.) is also out west to take part in the 2014 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program National Training Camp running from Monday through Friday at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz. Blanchard was part of the ODP camp at this time last year, and she competed in the id2 camp in New Jersey during the fall of 2013.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

New York Times: Eclipse Select's Rory Dames on early recruiting

Eclipse Select President Rory Dames

Eclipse Select President Rory Dames was recently interviewed by the New York Times for its piece, "Commiting to Play for a College, Then Starting 9th Grade." Here is a snippet:

"The early recruiting system has given significant power to club coaches, who serve as gatekeepers and agents for their players. One of the most outspoken critics of this process is Rory Dames, the coach of one of the most successful youth club teams, the Chicago Eclipse. ... Dames generally refuses to connect colleges with girls before their sophomore year in high school, when he thinks they are too young to be making decisions about what college to attend."

Read the full article at NYTimes.com.

Eclipse Select Hires Chris King as Director of Coaching

CHICAGO (Dec. 16, 2013) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club announces the hiring of Chris King as the Eclipse Select Director of Coaching. The longtime member of Ohio Premier, who has served as the club’s technical director, will start his Eclipse Select tenure in January of 2014.

Mike Nesci, who has recently held the director of coaching role, has been appointed as the Eclipse Select Vice President under Eclipse Select President Rory Dames.

“We’re incredibly excited to be bringing in Chris King as an important piece of our Eclipse Select family at the start of the New Year,” Eclipse Select President Rory Dames said. “His coaching track record and success at developing elite youth players speaks for itself. For the past several years, we have always been of the mindset of bringing in Chris at some capacity with our club, so to see this come to fruition is really exciting for all of us.”

“I’m excited to get here and work with Eclipse with Rory and Mike, who are very established in the soccer community,” King said. “Over the years, we’ve had some great battles, and I have a lot of respect for them and what they do. To have a club like Eclipse Select and to have it on top for as many years as they have had, I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

• Q&A with Chris King

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select's Redei shines on international stage for U.S. U-17 WNT

Eclipse Select forward Zoe Redei

CHICAGO (Nov. 28, 2013) -- As one of only two uncapped players heading into the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championship in Jamaica, Eclipse Select forward Zoe Redei thought she would need to wait her turn to have a voice on the U.S. U-17 Women's National Team.

Turns out, Redei would put together a National Team debut unparalleled by any previous women's player at the Youth National Team or senior National Team level.

The Highland Park, Ill., native scored a whopping four goals in her U-17 WNT debut and earned some well-deserved praise and acknowledgment during the tournament in late October and early November.

Following her four-goal game against Guatemala, Redei felt the heavy reception from the home front:

"My parents were watching at home and were not able to make it to Jamaica. All my teammates were watching. When I came back from the game, I had a bunch of text messages and notifications. I was really surprised. Almost all of my teammates texted me to tell me how proud they were. A bunch of people at home were sending me messages on Facebook, Instagram, people I didn't even know."

Read more about Redei's experience on EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select Alumni: Jovanovic earns weekly award from UAA

University of Chicago's Natalia Jovanovic

CHICAGO (Oct. 30, 2013) -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and University of Chicago senior forward Natalia Jovanovic (Gurnee, Ill.) earned University Athletic Association Athlete of the Week honors. Jovanovic scored both goals, including an overtime game-winner, in last Wednesday’s 2-1 victory against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. For the season, Jovanovic has five goals and eight assists.

In other alumni news, Michelle Prokof (Gurnee, Ill.) scored her eighth goal of the season to lead TCU to a 1-0 win against Iowa State last Friday in Big 12 play. ... Goalkeeper Aryn Newsom (Manteno, Ill.) made five saves in a 3-0 win against Drake as Illinois State clinched the outright regular-season title in the Missouri Valley Conference on Sunday. ... Former Florida State defender Casey Short (Naperville, Ill.) is joining the National Women's Soccer League's Chicago Red Stars for 2014.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

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.

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.