East Team takes 2-0 victory in ECNL Girls Regional League Selection Game in K.C.

KANSAS CITY – On Friday night, the stars of the ECNL Regional League gathered at Paragon Star Sports Complex for the Continental Tire ECNL Regional League Selection Game.

The two sides battled back and forth in a competitive opening half, but just before halftime the East got the breakthrough goal when Ava Grosso (FC Westlake) broke past the West defense and fired a shot on goal that was initially saved, but she gathered the rebound and calmly put it in the back of the net to open the scoring.

In the second half, the East continued to put pressure on the West defense. The East was rewarded for the continued pressure when Molly Johnson (Tennessee United SC) scored to double the East’s lead to 2-0.

The East defense remained strong throughout the night, anchored by goalkeepers Alexis Crawford (Challenge SC) and Taryn Lewis (Sting Nebraska), and ultimately held onto the clean sheet to capture the 2-0 win.

After the game, Johnson was named the Player of the Match and credited her teammates for being a great group that was able to build chemistry very quickly between one another.

“I’ve been lucky to have a great group of people with me and gotten to know these girls very quickly,” Johnson said. “It’s just been fun.”

Johnson also credited the atmosphere of the game, saying it was the biggest crowd she had ever played in front of.

“I’ve never played in front of any crowd this big,” Johnson said. “I’ve had some crowds, but nothing like this. It’s been so fun. I was nervous coming in, but it’s been a very comfortable and really fun experience.”