Eclipse Select Alumni: Bendell helps South Carolina reach Elite Eight

Paige Bendell

South Carolina sophomore Paige Bendell (Orland Park, Ill.) was called in for her first start when center back Taylor Leach was suspended because of a pair of yellow cards in the team’s previous match. Bendell rose to the occasion against one of the top teams in the country, helping the South Carolina back line blank No. 6 North Carolina, 1-0, on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C., to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

This marks South Carolina’s first appearance in the tournament’s quarterfinals. The Gamecocks improved to 14-5-5 and will now face Florida State on Friday in Tallahassee.

Elsewhere, Penn State freshman Katy Keen (Zionsville, Ind.) only logged 12 minutes over her past two games, but her time was important in helping the Nittany Lions reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Keen came off the bench and assisted Penn State’s opening goal by Raquel Rodriguez in the 40th minute to take a 1-0 lead against Virginia Tech on Sunday in the third round of the tournament. Penn State went on to a 2-1 victory as Keen posted the second assist of her first collegiate season.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select Commitment: Foster Ignoffo Bound for Kentucky in 2016

Foster Ignoffo

Eclipse Select Soccer Club forward Foster Ignoffo (Geneva, Ill.) had not initially envisioned Kentucky as a collegiate choice during her search. But with the help of a fellow teammate and the interest of an SEC program that has some of the best facilities and staff to offer, Ignoffo ultimately knew it was her best choice.

Several months ago, Ignoffo made the commitment to play for the Wildcats program starting in the fall of 2016.

“Kentucky had everything that I wanted and it felt like the right fit for me,” Ignoffo said. “It will be a great opportunity to play in the SEC, and their head coach Jon Lipsitz is a big reason why I committed. He seems like a great guy and great coach, and I can’t wait. Everything that Kentucky has, the campus, everything for its athletes, it will be a great experience.”

Ignoffo is enjoying a strong season with Eclipse Select this year. She has a team-leading 10 goals in 11 games as the Eclipse Elite ECNL 2016 (U-17) side is off to an 11-0-0 start in the Elite Clubs National League’s Midwest Conference.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select Alumni: Pappalardo leads Colorado to Round of 32

Olivia Pappalardo

Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and Colorado junior Olivia Pappalardo (Niles, Ill.) scored the opening goal – which proved to be the winner – and the Buffaloes defeated BYU in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Boulder, Colo.

With chilly conditions and a snow-covered pitch, Pappalardo wasted little time giving her side the upper hand. In the seventh minute, she launched a 20-yard shot past BYU goalkeeper Katherine Snyder and into the upper right corner of the net to take a 1-0 lead. It was Pappalardo’s second goal of the season and third of her collegiate career.

Elsewhere, Illinois State sophomore midfielder Dagny Olson (Champaign, Ill.) played an integral role in leading Illinois State to a 3-2 victory against South Florida on Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Tampa, Fla.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select forward trio named to U.S. U-20 WNT camp

CHICAGO (Oct. 1, 2014) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club forwards Alissa Gorzak (Naperville, Ill.), Reilly Martin (Carmel, Ind.) and Zoe Redei (Highland Park, Ill.) have been called into a U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team camp taking place in mid-October in Chula Vista, Calif.

U-20 head coach Michelle French will bring in a group of 32 players from Oct. 12-19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. This group of players, mostly consisting of players born in 1996 or 1997, opens the new cycle that will focus on qualifying for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Elite USYSA 2017 (U-16) stays perfect in MRL

CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2014) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club’s Midwest Regional League contingent is coming off a trip to St. Louis this past weekend. Among the most noteworthy performances was the Eclipse Elite USYSA 2017 (U-16) team, which moved to 3-0-0 in the MRL season, earning back-to-back wins in St. Louis.

Eclipse rolled to a 6-1 victory against Sporting JB Marine Premier on Saturday and shut out Lou Fusz Paulsen (Mo.) on Sunday in the First Division White.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select Alumni: Schissler brace lifts Ohio State

CHICAGO (Sept. 11, 2014) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and Ohio State sophomore defender Taylor Schissler (New Lenox, Ill.) had an offensive performance to remember.

Schissler scored her first two collegiate goals to lead Ohio State to a 3-0 victory against George Mason on Sunday to cap off the Ohio State Tournament in Columbus. Schissler is coming off a 2013 freshman campaign where she recorded three assists in 18 games.

Among other alumni news, Ohio University sophomore Carly Manso (Vernon Hills, Ill.) was recognized by the Mid-American Conference as its co-offensive player of the week, and for a second time this season, DePaul midfielder Alexa Ben (Schaumburg, Ill.) was named the Big East Conference Rookie of the Week.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select begins ECNL season with 4-0-1 mark vs. Blue Valley SC

CHICAGO (Sept. 10, 2014) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club’s five Elite Clubs National League teams traveled to Kansas this past Saturday and posted a 4-0-1 record against Sporting Blue Valley at the Overland Park Soccer Complex.

Eclipse Elite ECNL 2016 (U-17) tallied five unanswered goals after conceding an early score for a 5-1 victory against Sporting Blue Valley, led by a Channing Foster (Murray, Ky.) hat trick. The Eclipse Elite ECNL 2017 (U-16) team had a similar path en route to its 5-1 victory. After conceding an own goal, Eclipse rallied back with Sam Salay (Glenview, Ill.) tallying the equalizer and Camryn Biegalski (Lombard, Ill.) scoring the first of her two goals.

Eclipse Elite ECNL 2018 (U-15) built a two-goal cushion and defeated Sporting Blue Valley, 2-1. Eclipse Elite ECNL 2019 (U-14) earned a 2-0 victory and Eclipse Elite ECNL 2015 (U-18) notched a 1-1 draw.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select midfielder Alia Martin called into U.S. U-18 WNT camp

CHICAGO (Sept. 10, 2014) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club midfielder Alia Martin (Carmel, Ind.) has been called into a U.S. U-18 Women’s National Team camp taking place Sept. 13-20 at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center in Carson, Calif.

The core of this particular U-18 WNT squad will potentially form the USA’s qualifying team for the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Martin played for Eclipse Select’s U-16 Elite Clubs National League title-winning team this past summer, as much of this group enjoyed a second straight ECNL crown.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.