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.

Eclipse's Van Zanten joins U.S. roster at CONCACAF U-15 Championship

Eclipse Select's Kiki Van Zanten (back right)

By CHARLIE CORR
slidetackles@mail.com

CHICAGO - Eclipse Select Soccer Club forward Kalyssa “Kiki” Van Zanten (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) is one of 18 players who will represent the U.S. U-15 Girls’ National Team at the 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship.

The tournament takes place from Aug. 9-21 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

“We’re happy that Kiki will be representing Eclipse Select and the U.S. squad during the U-15 tournament next month,” Eclipse Select Vice President Mike Nesci said. “This age group has seen several of our club players in the national team mix this year, and Kiki’s play is deserving to be a part of this select group. We’re hopeful that she plays a big part during the tournament, continues to develop as a player through this valuable experience and look forward to a strong performance from the U.S.”

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Jubilant base sings praises for 2018 USL expansion side Nashville FC

By CHARLIE CORR
charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com

With supporters group The Roadies providing a euphoric scene Friday afternoon, the USL’s 2018 expansion franchise Nashville FC was officially welcomed into the league.

USL President Jake Edwards, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, club ownership and more were in attendance at Bridgestone Arena, soaking in the chanting, the drumming and most importantly the realization that the professional game is on the horizon in Nashville.

“It’s great to be marched in by such a rowdy group of fans,” Barry said as she directed her attention to The Roadies. “This is really a great day for Nashville because we are a sports city. We love soccer because it’s a beautiful game, because it rewards teamwork, skill and endurance, and it’s also an international sport. For many people in the south, it’s the ‘other’ football, but for most of the people in the world, it’s the only football. We are certainly looking a lot more like the rest of the world as we embrace all the people who move here, who have all nationalities, and colors and accents. We are becoming so diverse.”

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.

All five Eclipse Select ECNL teams qualify for Nationals

By CHARLIE CORR - slidetackles@mail.com

Eclipse Select Soccer Club has enjoyed an incredibly successful run in recent days at every level to either clinch a national postseason berth or compete in the finals state side.

All five ECNL teams officially qualified for a spot at the 2016 ECNL National Playoffs. The draw was held on Thursday. The ECNL Playoffs run June 23-28 in Oceanside, Calif., north of San Diego, and the ECNL Finals take place July 8 and 9 in Germantown, Md.

Among other recent accomplishments, the Eclipse Select USYSA 2020 team won the U-14 age group at the 2016 Illinois Presidents Cup this past weekend. Eclipse defeated FC United Select Red 3-1 on Sunday in Naperville.

The Eclipse Select Pre-ECNL 2021 team recently took second place in the U-13 age group in the Illinois State Cup. The highlight was during Saturday’s semifinal when Eclipse defeated FC United in penalty kicks to advance to Sunday’s championship.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

First-place New York Red Bulls II embracing new target

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com

The view always is different at the top, and for the New York Red Bulls II, they are perfectly comfortable with the pressure that will come with it.

NYRB II defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders 1-0 on Thursday at Red Bull Arena thanks to a seventh-minute goal from Sean Davis. The win puts the Red Bulls II even with Louisville City FC atop the Eastern Conference at 8-1-3 and 27 points.

“Maybe we are increasing the size of that target by being in first place, but we welcome it,” NYRBII Head Coach John Wolyniec said. “We want good and highly competitive games. We want the other team’s best because that’s our best chance at getting better.”

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.

Eclipse Select Update: Carthage goalkeeper Emily Furmanek

Eclipse Select GK Emily Furmanek

By CHARLIE CORR - slidetackles@mail.com

Eclipse Select Soccer Club goalkeeper Emily Furmanek (Orland Park, Ill.) is a fitting example of a competitive athlete within Eclipse’s dedicated base who plans on maintaining that drive alongside an ironclad academic and professional plan.

Furmanek recently graduated from Sandburg High School – playing in a regional championship on the day of her graduation – and she will now embark on her collegiate path at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. The Division III program competes in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), and representing the Lady Reds will go hand-in-hand with her occupational therapy major, which set Carthage apart in her search.

“I’ve been playing soccer forever,” Furmanek said. “It’s not going to be my career, but I also knew I wanted to play soccer in college. The occupational therapy program was a big point in going there. Soccer is always going to be a part of my life.”

For the full article, visit EclipseSelect.org.