2005 Girls Shine as RDA Teams Finish Year at ECNL National Playoffs
July 9, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
After a full year of action, the Elite Clubs National League season culminated with their National Playoffs, and five of our Riverhounds Development Academy sides qualified for the season-ending competition.
Two girls sides - the 2004 and 05 teams - earned their way into events played in Lakeland Ranch, Fla. last week, while three of our boys teams - the 04, 05 and 06 sides - took part in tournament play that wrapped up this week in Browns Summit, N.C. The two sites had recruiters representing more than 100 colleges in attendance, making it one of the biggest showcases of the year nationally.
"After a demanding regular-season schedule, it was great to have five of our RDA teams represented at the ECNL National Playoffs," RDA director Scott Gibson said. "All of the players competed in an extremely competitive format in front of college coaches from all over the country. This experience will help all of the players and coaches to grow as we move into the 2021-2022 competitive season."
The 05 Girls, who missed out on a spot in the top-tier Champions League by the slimmest of margins during the regular season, showed their class while taking part in the North American Cup by reaching the semifinals.
The side began play in the knockout-format event with a 3-1 win over McLean YSA (Va.). Lola Abraham and Ava Boyd scored in the first half, but McLean pulled a goal back before Julia Lozowski sealed the win in Round 1.
Next up was a quarterfinal tilt against Classics Elite SA (Texas), which likely went down as one of the best matches of the tournament. The two sides went toe-to-toe for the duration, but neither team scored a breakthrough, sending the match to penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Goalkeeper Ashley Vith shared the shutout at full time with Jordan Spozarski, and Vith was monumental in the shootout, saving each of the first two penalties - the second with some quick reflexes to keep the ball from crossing the line off the post. Abraham, Boyd and Fiona Mahan converted for the Hounds, who advanced 3-0 in thrilling fashion.
The semifinal ended up being the team's stumbling block when they faced United Futbol Academy (Ga.). United jumped out to a quick two-goal lead, and though the Hounds pulled a goal back before halftime through Alexis Tylenda, United got the only goal in the second half to take a 3-1 win and the spot in the final.
The 04 Girls were tripped up in their start to Showcase Cup B, as eventual semifinalist Mustang SC (Calif.) took a 5-2 win. The team battled onward through the consolation bracket, falling on the ninth kick of penalties to the LA Breakers (Calif.) - Tessa Dellarose and Audrey Bianco scored in the 2-2 draw - before winning their closing match over Orlando City SC, 1-0, on a Dellarose goal assisted by Abby Weis.
On the boys side, the competition took a different format with one large Champions League rather than tiered brackets.
Though none of our three qualifiers advance from the group stage, the 06 Boys showed well, finishing pool play with a 1-1-1 record. The team dropped its opener to eventual group winner Charlotte SA (N.C.), 2-0, but things got rolling with a 1-1 draw against World Class FC (N.Y.) and ended on a high note with a 1-0 win over Mustang SC.
The end of the ECNL playoffs brings the 2020-21 competitive season nearly to a close. July still holds the US Club Soccer National Cup, which our 06 Girls and 06 East Girls qualified for, as well as three USL Academy League matches at Highmark Stadium on July 14, 17 and 25.
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