Players That Impressed: ECNL Girls 2025 North Carolina National Event

The ECNL Girls North Carolina National Event took place from May 30 – June 1 as some of the nation’s best teams went head-to-head in the league’s final showcase of the 2024-25 regular season.

ECNL North Carolina featured 198 total teams across the U15-17 age groups.

Below are some of the top players from the weekend’s event sorted by graduation year. You can also nominate a player who stood out during the event through the following link.

2029

Siena Ettinger | Forward
World Class FC 2010 (NY)

Ettinger had a highly-productive weekend, accumulating 3 goals and 1 assist as World Class FC 2010 had a perfect 3-0-0 record at the showcase. Ettinger scored a goal in each of World Class FC’s victories, which came against a trio of tough opponents: Michigan Hawks, FC Prime and Nationals SC.

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Kayleigh Phillips | Midfielder
FSA FC 2010 (CT)

Scored 2 goals and notched 1 assist while also setting up several corner attempts, crosses and through balls using elite speed and quickness while alternating at wingback and striker. Phillips was a key contributor to the success of FSA FC 2010, helping lead the team to a perfect 3-0 finish with 7 goals and 0 goals against. Kayleigh (KJ) is a current 8th grader, playing up on the 2010 squad.

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Lilly Yakel | Defender
Portland Thorns Academy 2010 (OR)

Stood out as a dynamic outside back who contributed all over the field, showcasing her relentless work rate and nonstop runs up and down the flank. She scored 2 goals and consistently shut down opponents with smart, composed defending. Her impact on both ends of the field made her one of the top performers of the weekend for her Portland Thorns Academy 2010 team.

2028

Maddie Trimble | Defender
FSA FC 2010 (CT)

FSA FC defender and team captain Maddie Trimble not only showed her dominance as a defender – finishing the tournament with zero goals against – but she also showcased her versatility, splitting her playing time between the back line and the holding mid position over the course of her team’s 3 wins over Beach FC, Utah Royal FC, and Space Coast United. Trimble has a wide array of strengths, notably her closing speed and 1v1 ability on the defensive side, along with her decisive dribbling and passing when building possession.

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Ricki Bravo | Midfielder / Forward
FSA FC 2010 (CT)

The FSA FC midfielder and forward was a key offensive force in the team’s 3 wins, scoring 2 goals over the course of the event. She consistently broke through defenses with sharp dribbling, using quick footwork and tight ball control to create space.

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Peyton Hussey | Midfielder
FSA FC 2010 (CT)

Hussey led her team to an undefeated 3-0-0 record with 1 goal and 4 assists, winning the 2010 flight at ECNL NC. She scored the first goal of the weekend, burying a shot from well outside the 18. She had assists in all 3 games and was involved in 5 of the team’s 7 total goals. One of her assists included an amazing back heel pass. She commanded the midfield with great touch passes and racked up 5+ slide tackles, creating a steady flow of turnovers.

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Gabby Beinecke | Forward
Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy 2009 (PA)

Beinecke tallied 2 goals and 5 assists as her Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2009 team went 3-0 to win their age group at the showcase. Her explosive pace on and off the ball consistently broke down opposing defenses and created key scoring opportunities. She’s proven herself as one of the top playmakers in the state of Pennsylvania for the Class of 2028.

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Addison Cheney | Forward
Scorpions SC 2010 (MA)

Cheney was the catalyst of the Scorpions SC 2010 attack, scoring 3 goals and recording 2 assists over the course of 3 games. She showed her ability to score in a variety of game situations, including on set pieces as she powered home an impressive header off a corner kick from Quinn Dwomoh. Cheney has high-end speed and makes quick decisions with the ball at her feet, always looking to take full advantage of every possession.

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Chloe Breslin | Defender
Charlotte Soccer Academy 2010 (NC)

Dominated play on the back line all weekend, helping Charlotte SA post an unbeaten 2-0-1 record. Breslin made great tackles to cut down several promising possession possessions for their opponents, and she helped the CSA attack by sending some highly-effective long passes up the field. She’s calm and composed under pressure, and has a great feel for the shape of the field and spacing.

2027

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Caelyn Dyer | Defender
Pleasanton Rage 2008 (CA)

Dyer earned Player of the Match honors after an outstanding defensive performance during the ECNL Girls National Selection Game. The Pleasanton Rage 2008 defender was a pivotal member of the back line for the East Team, as they rose to the challenge while facing the daunting task of marking a collection of the nation’s top talent from the West Team.

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Cali Smith | Midfielder
PDA Blue 2009 (NJ)

Representing a nationally-renowned PDA Blue 2009 side, Smith and her teammates managed to fight through the rain and mud to keep their offense on track. PDA leaned on their well-established team chemistry to make key passes and break defensive lines even in the subpar field conditions, and Smith was a big part of that. Smith had multiple assists on the weekend, including one on a fantastic team goal, finished off by Amari Manning. (WATCH)

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Leah Mendolia | Forward
East Meadow SC 2009 (NY)

Mendolia solidified East Meadow’s win over Classics Elite with 2 impressive goals. On the run from the defensive end, Mendolia saw the goalie off her line and scored from 40 yards out. She then placed a free kick from outside the box in the top right corner, helping fuel a dominant 3-0 victory for her side.

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Amelya Boedeker | Midfielder
Challenge SC 2008 (TX)

A major contributor for a Challenge SC 2008 squad that swept their 3 opponents in Greensboro. Boedeker netted a pair of goals while making a number of great defensive plays in the midfield, and helping control the possession battle.

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Anna Qawasmy | Goalkeeper
FC DELCO 2009 (PA)

Qawasmy, had a stellar weekend in net for FC DELCO 2009, conceding only 1 goal over the course of 3 games. She came up with quality saves in every game, most notably in a contest against an extremely challenging Bay Area Surf squad. She held off Bay Area Surf’s attackers with some fearless saves, and stayed connected to her back line throughout the contest, working together to preserve the clean sheet.

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Rylie Saltzman | Defender
World Class FC 2009 (NY)

Saltzman served as a key contributor to a World Class FC back line which managed to shut down renowned PDA Blue attackers Deus Stanislaus and Amari Manning in a 1-0 win. She had no defensive errors against a strong MVLA SC side, and she helped contain FC Prime during a 1-1 draw in tough field conditions.

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Emily Krichbaum | Goalkeeper
Northern Virginia Alliance 2009 (VA)

Krichbaum only allowed 1 goal with multiple saves over the 3-day event. She showed consistency in leading from the back and staying calm under pressure. Her previous field experience shows in her confidence and control with the ball at her feet, and using that to build strong possessions out of the back.

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Julia Amireh | Midfielder
NC Courage Academy 2008 (NC)

It’s clear why Amireh is a member of the U.S. Youth National Team roster pool, with her smooth footwork and high speed of play putting her in elite company. Only a small handful of youth players in the entire country can match Amireh’s precision and technical skills at the same level of pace that she plays with consistently.

Awesome angle of my goal at #ECNLNC!! Check it out⬇️ @NCCourageAcad @ECNLgirls @TopDrawerSoccer @PrepSoccer @TheSoccerWire @ImYouthSoccer @JREskilson @USYNT @ECNLMidNorth pic.twitter.com/nHWmFUBsbK

— Julia Amireh (@juliaamireh2) June 3, 2025

2026

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Avery Riley | Forward / Midfielder
Challenge SC 2008 (TX)

Another big time contributor for a Challenge SC 2008 offense which steamrolled the competition at ECNL North Carolina, Riley found the net 4 times over the course of 3 straight wins. Riley was in top form at the showcase, reading the game especially well on a play where she got open in front of the far post, driving home a header off a nice cross.

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Ava Rodriguez | Defender / Winger
Atlanta Fire United 2008 (GA)

The Class of 2026 Coastal Carolina commit wrapped up her U17 season with Atlanta Fire United 2008 on a high note, making significant contributions all over the field. Rodriguez is a two-way player who was called upon to line up on the attacking side at ECNL North Carolina, scoring 2 goals at the showcase. (HIGHLIGHTS)