Players To Watch: ECNL Girls 2023 St. Louis National Event

The ECNL Girls National Event calendar kicks off September 29 with ECNL St. Louis. ECNL STL will feature 92 teams from across the league’s U12-U15 age groups.

To view the schedule for ECNL St. Louis, click here.

Ahead of the weekend’s action, here are some players to know from this year’s event. Players are listed according to their graduation year.

To submit additional nominations for Players to Watch, click here.

2030

2029

Josie Hanson | Defender
Crossfire ECNL 11 (WA)
Represented Washington at West Region ODP Championship and West Region Camp 2023. This quick footed Centerback disrupts plays and reads the field at a high level. Hanson is a double-threat on both sides of the field. She is also an asset on set pieces and has a flair for scoring game-winning goals.

2028

Mia Arnold | Forward
Bethesda SC ECNL 10 (MD)

A true number nine, Arnold can create havoc for defenses both on and off of the ball. As a striker, she can create just the right amount of space to hammer a shot on target or pick out a teammate in open space. She also possesses a clever first touch that can jump start the attack anywhere on the pitch.

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Ava Simpson | Goalkeeper
Bethesda SC ECNL 10 (MD)

One of the top goalkeepers in her age group (she was recently called up to the USYNT 2010 Talent ID Center event), Simpson is a highly technical goalkeeper that can also make an acrobatic stop when needed. She possesses excellent field vision and can pick out teammates with either a long throw or a booming punt in open space. Furthermore, she is a strong leader and works seamlessly with her defense to control the pace of the match.

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Broklynn Davis | Defender
Solar 09 (TX)

Captained Solar to an early strong start in ECNL Texas Conference play (2-0-0, 6 points). Davis was a member of the U13 Solar team that won the National Championship in 2021-2022 and placed second at the age level in 2022-2023. She was also recently called up to the USYNT U-14 Central Region ID Camp.

2027

Katelyn Jernigan | Forward
Michigan Hawks 09 (MI)

Dominates attackers in the Hawks defensive third with timely tackles and tight, consistent marking Jernigan is one of the top defenders in the 2009 age group. In one-on-one situations she can make the decisive challenge to end an attacking chance and also place the ball in an area that gives her teammates an optimum amount of time to re-organize. Katelyn was recently called up to the USYNT Regional ID Camp for the 2009 age group.

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Giselle Aguilar | Midfielder-Forward
Solar SC 09 (TX)

Scored Solar’s second goal and added an assist in their 2-0 win against Tulsa earlier in the month. Aguilar can take even the smallest amount of space and exploit, either hitting her teammates with a pintpoint pass or creating her own shot on target. Aguilar was called up last season to the USYNT U14 ID Camp.

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Landry Gannon | Midfielder
Solar SC 09 (TX)

Works seamlessly to link the Solar defense with the attack by stringing together long possessions and speeding up or slowing down play depending upon the score. She is also an asset on set pieces, scoring two goals off of free kicks in Solar’s 7-1 win over Oklahoma City Energy FC. She was also selected over the summer to play in the ECNL Conference Cup.

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Kamoree Slater | Forward
Solar SC 09 (TX)

Aguilar’s strike partner up top, Slater likes to go directly at defenders and can hit shots from a variety of points inside the eighteen yard box. Slater netted a brace in Solar’s 7-1 opening day win against Oklahoma City Energy FC.

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Lila Kontuly | Forward
Eclipse Select SC 09 (IL)

Started the 2023-2024 ECNL season in fine form, scoring eight goals for Eclipse to lead them to the top of the Midwest Conference. Her combination of strength and speed makes her dangerous up top for opposing defenses. She can also hit the one touch pass to teammates in open space. She was also selected to participate in the recent Michigan USYNT ID camp, IL ODP State team & Midwest ODP Team.

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Araceli Perez | Defender
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Green 09 (MO)

Recently nominated for Missouri’s 09 Olympic Development Program, Perez is a swiss army knife in the field and can play any position on the pitch. In the midfield, her timing and patience helps set SLSG up for success.

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Chloe Guenther | Midfielder
KC Athletics 09 (MO)

As a 2010, Guenther currently captains the 4-1 KC Athletics 09 ECNL team. She can play all three midfield spots as she has great vision, range of passing but is also good at breaking up play. She has scored two goals and has four assists this year in league. She is also the captain.