ECNL Girls National Playoffs 2022 Day 2 Recap

The ECNL Girls National Playoffs continued on Thursday in Seattle with the second day of competition. See below for a look a look back on some of the day’s action.

Leave No Doubt

PDA Blue’s U17 team saw themselves in a precarious situation on Day 2 of the ECNL National Playoffs.

Despite winning in their first game of group play on Wednesday, the team found themselves down against Albion Hurricanes Thursday afternoon.

Needing a win to have a decent shot at a knockout round bid, Albion Hurricanes quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead against PDA Blue, putting the New Jersey side on their back heels. But as the half wore on, PDA Blue slowly found their game, and just before the end of the first half, the team knocked in a goal to make it a 2-1 contest.

Armed with momentum, PDA Blue came out firing in the second half. The team built off a promising end to the first half and applied pressure to Albion Hurricanes, eventually evening the game at 2-2.

Now with the game tied, PDA Blue pushed forward to complete the comeback. Meanwhile, Albion Hurricanes were desperate to keep their championship bid alive, putting numbers forward in hopes of finding the game-winning goal.

In the end, it was PDA Blue who broke through, netting the game’s finally tally to secure the 3-2 victory.

“Going down 2-0 early is never easy,” said PDA Blue Head Coach Madison Tiernan. “However, the determination and our team’s will to compete for 90 minutes pushed us through. The importance of staying true to our identity as a team makes us special, and doing the dirty work together pulled us together for the victory.”

With two games in hand, PDA Blue now faces off against their toughest match of the ECNL Girls National Playoffs: Crossfire Premier.

Winner moves on to the Knockout round. Loser leaves their fate up to chance.

“We are extremely proud of this win, but we are focused on the next game,” Tiernan said. “We are focused and ready for the next match against Crossfire Premier.”

Our favorite time of year + our favorite sight to see ?

Thank you to the hundreds of scouts who packed our sidelines during day two of #ECNLplayoffs pic.twitter.com/bR4SrLr75O

— ECNL Girls (@ECNLgirls) June 24, 2022

Role Model

Brandi Chastain is an American hero. And now she is molding the next generation of superstars.

Chastain is best known for her iconic World Cup penalty kick goal against China to clinch the 1999 World Cup for the United States.

Now, Chastain coaches for De Anza Force’s ECNL Girls U14 team, whom are competing at the ECNL National Playoffs with the dream of bringing home a national championship trophy.

On the 50th anniversary of Title IX being signed into legislation, Chastain praised the ECNL for their efforts for continuing progress for female athletes and reflected on what it has meant for female athletes to get to this point.

“We are in lovely Seattle for the ECNL showcase, and I just want to shout out to all the people responsible for making this possible,” Chastain said.  “Those people are some who were involved some 50 years ago when Title IX was enacted in 1972. 37 years ago changed the course of history of women in sports. And now, these young girls get to benefit because of it. Don’t forget, everyone is a steward of Title IX and we are the ones responsible for making sure that it continues for generations to come, so that young girls like these can continue to play at an elite level and continue to progress women’s sports as a whole.”

50 years ago today, #TitleIX was signed into law, paving the way for women’s sports and equal opportunity across the college landscape.

Because of this historic decision, athletes like Brandi Chastain became an inspiration for a younger generation. pic.twitter.com/ZhEIJ4iqc6

— ECNL Girls (@ECNLgirls) June 24, 2022