ECNL Girls National Selection Game in St. Louis highlighted by Jayla Blue’s 4-goal effort

On Friday night, the stars of ECNL St. Louis took the field for the Continental Tire ECNL National Selection Game at World Wide Technology Soccer Park for a high-scoring showdown, highlighted by a superstar four goal performance from FC Alliance’s Jayla Blue. (ROSTERS)

The East got on the board five minutes in when Audrey McKeen (VDA) found Blue inside the box with a perfect pass that was fired home to put the East on top 1-0. Just minutes later, Blue found the back of the net again for her second goal of the night to double the East lead inside the first 10 minutes.

The East continued to pile the pressure on the West in the first half. Gatorade National Girls Player of the Year Maddie DiMaria (SLSG Navy) nearly gave the East their third, but Sophia Hall (Penn Fusion SA) kept the score at 2-0 with a great save.

The West had a few chances to cut into the East lead midway through the half, but Caroline Birkel (SLSG Navy) stood strong in goal while also getting some help from the crossbar in the 29th minute, to keep the game at 2-0.

In the second half, goalkeepers Vanessa Cabrera (Pateadores) and Vivian Wheeler (San Juan SC) both made big saves in the opening moments of the half to keep the score at 2-0.

In the 53rd minute though the offenses for both teams exploded, with four goals being scored in a back and forth four minute stretch.

Madie Donovan (Sporting Iowa) chased down a ball that ricocheted off the post and put in the rebound to cut the East lead in half at 2-1.

The East responded moments later though, as Blue scored her third goal of the night to complete her hat trick and restore the East’s two goal lead.

The West immediately answered though as Donovan scored again to cut the lead to 3-2, but just a minute after Donovan’s goal, Blue responded again, scoring her fourth goal of the night to once again restore the East’s two goal edge.

The two sides weren’t done scoring though. Sadie Peterson (Charlotte SA) made a tremendous run into the box and fired home the fifth goal of the night for the East, before Maci Barlow (Seattle United) fired a missile from distance into the back of the net in the closing minutes to give the West their third, resulting in a 5-3 final.

After the game, Blue was named the Player of the Match for her incredible four goal performance that led the charge for the East. In front of an incredible crowd, Blue said the East’s chemistry was amazing and helped the team get off to a great start.

“The girls were amazing. The atmosphere was great,” Blue said. We clicked immediately and the chemistry was awesome. I wanted to score a hat trick, but I guess I had to go above and beyond.”

The hat just wasn’t enough for Jayla Blue who earned the title the Continental Tire NSG Player of the Match! #ECNLSTL pic.twitter.com/QkKTAPlSbI

— ECNL Girls (@ECNLgirls) December 14, 2024