Players to Watch: ECNL Girls Regional League 2024 California Showcase

The third ECNL Girls Regional League showcase of 2024 is coming up March 8-10 in Davis, California.

ECNL RL California will feature 150 teams from across the league’s U15-U18/U19 age groups. To view the schedule, 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.

You can nominate also nominate a player who has stood out this season that will be attending the event through the following link.

2027

Mikayla Williams | Goalkeeper
United PDX RL 08 (OR)

Stormed out to a 6-1-0 record in Northwest Conference thanks in large part due to the play of Williams inside the eighteen. Her quick decision-making and ability to dictate the pace of the match has helped PDX claim the ECRL Northwest Conference title and earn the 2023 Crossfire Challenge championship in the Gold Division. Across all competitions PDX are 14-4-2 while allowing just seven goals.

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Hannah Sommerhalter | Midfielder
Association FC RL 09 (CA)

Recently selected to participate in the USYNT 2009 ID Center event in Orinda, Sommerhalter has taken a strong 2023-2024 campaign with Association’s 09s (5-2-0, 15 points) and run with it. She provides a steadying presence in their midfield, using her tight ball control to slow down play and force the opposition to chase. She can also spark the attack with a quick diagonal pass into open space.

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Emily Peikert | Defender
Sting Royal RL 09 Soutar (TX)

Serving as Sting’s captain and an integral part of their backline Peikert has been instrumental in their success early this season. As their starting center-back she has been tasked with making the difficult clearances and stopping attackers through the center of the pitch. Thanks in part to her efforts, Sting have allowed just seven goals in Texas Conference play this season. In addition to her ground work, she is also an asset in the air, clearing dangerous crosses out of her own box and creating goal-scoring opportunities off of set pieces in their attacking third.

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Camila Brower | Forward
Eagles SC RL 08 (CA)

Coming off of a superb stretch with El Salvador’s under-17 Youth National Team at the CONCACAF Championship, Brower will look to use her experience to help Eagles soar in ECNL play. In even under the tightest of pressure, Brower excels using her technical skills to open up play in the attacking third. While she can create goals for others, she has a knack for hitting blistering shots on target. Her golazo against Costa Rica helped pull off a 2-2 draw for La Azulita.

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Hailie Gates | Goalkeeper
San Juan SC RL 08 (CA)

At six foot, Gates provides an imposing presence for San Juan inside of their eighteen yard box. Her athleticism and precise timing allows for her to make the difficult saves look pedestrian. Across all competitions this season, she has led San Juan to a 19-2-4 record. They have also racked up multiple top flight finishes including the NPL Capital Championship, a California State Cup bracket honors, the Placer Girls Cup Championship, and the Scottsdale Cup Championship.

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Mackayla McCoy | Midfielder
Arizona Arsenal RL 09 (AZ)

A dynamic wing back, McCoy shows her speed and scores or assists almost every game. She has also perfected the flip throw, a highly difficult maneuver to undertake but effective in providing breakaway opportunities for teams.

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Bria Moriarty | Forward
Beach FC RL 09 (CA)

Scored 19 goals along with 6 assists this fall for Beach, helping them go undefeated (11-0). After leading her team to Nationals last season, Bria and Beach are looking to use their experience at the ECRL to help prepare for the difficult spring season ahead.

2026

Emma-Kate Swenson | Forward
NTX Celtic RL 08 (TX)

Bombs defenses with her darting runs to goal, using her lightning speed to break through backlines and force defenders to scramble to catch up. Whether it is with her pacey shots on target or her passes into open space she is a nightmare for defenders to mark and a dangerous attacking piece for Celtic from the midfield. She is also more than capable of handling herself in big games, having scored four goals at the recent ECRL St. Louis event. Celtic have dominated North Texas Conference play this season and are currently sitting in first place (10-0-2, 32 points).

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Giada Gooch | Midfielder
LA Breakers RL 08 (CA)

Led a high-powered attack Breakers that through the fall had scored 21 goals in Southwest Conference-Mojave Division play. Gooch is effective at moving her team from a defensive posture to an attacking one, making decisive dribbles up to open up and force defenders out of position. She can also hit the long ball out wide, giving her teammates her space to building attacking chances. Her work in the midfield was integral to the Breakers making the ECRL playoffs, earning her Southwest Conference First Team honors.

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Jordan Stejskal | Midfielder-Defender
Oklahoma Celtic RL 08 (OK)

Shifts between playing in the midfield and defense, providing Celtic a measure of stability as they build possessions out of the back. Her ability to hold the line and kickstart the attack with her quick passes has helped her team earn an undefeated record so far in Texas Cup play (3-0-0, 9 points). Serving as Celtic’s captain, she has helped lead the team through a tough Texas Conference , winning each of their last three matches.

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Mia Sieminski | Midfielder
Bay Area Surf RL 08 (CA)

Received All-League First Team honors at Berkeley High, leading the team with seven assists. She also finished at the top of the team in goals, including a four goal performance in their 7-1 win over Skyline. Her patience and service into the attacking third for BHS helped the team qualify for the CIF North Coast Section Division 1 playoffs.

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Elyssa Hernandez | Midfielder
Santa Clara Sporting RL 08 (CA)

Sporting’s captain and starting center-back, is known for her exceptional vision and precise passing abilities, which contribute to her team’s offensive and defensive strategies. Her calm and composed demeanor on the field helps keep her teammates settled, a crucial trait for a leader in her position. Recently making her international debut with El Salvador’s U17 National Team at the CONCACAF Championships, Hernandez showcased her defensive prowess by effectively creating pressure situations that led to goal-scoring opportunities, further solidifying her reputation as a reliable and strategic player.

2025

Abby Cano | Midfielder-Winger-Defender
California Odyssey RL 07 (CA)

Coming off of a strong high school season in which she led Sanger to a Division I Semifinal appearance, Cano will be looking to use her lockdown defensive work and knack for scoring clutch goals to help the Odyssey get back into the NorCal Conference race this spring. She has already proven that she can deliver in big matches in 2024, burying the go-ahead goal for Sanger in their Quarterfinal victory over SLO.

Got opening goal against SLO for D1 quarterfinals with Andrea’s perfect assist!! pic.twitter.com/zSDjdNytGB

— Abby Cano ♡ (@AbbyC2007) February 17, 2024

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Kendyl Sumlin | Goalkeeper
Beach FC RL 07 (CA)

Racked up seven wins in a row across all ECRL competitions to wrap up Beach’s fall campaign in 2023, allowing just three goals during that time frame. Sumlintimes her dives perfectly to help parry shots over the bar and wide of the mark with ease. In addition to playing soccer, she also excels at volley ball which is evident in how confident she is with glove work and how she times making her leaping efforts.

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Eliana Estrada | Midfielder
Crossfire Premier RL 07 (WA)

Serving as Crossfire’s captain for a fourth consecutive season, Estrada has led the team once again to the top of the Northwest Conference table (6-0-1, 19 points). The two-time Redmond High School Offensive Player of the Year has a nose for goal and can take whatever space is given to her in an opponent’s defensive third and capitalize on it. She can also make the necessary track backs on defense to help slow down attackers.

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Chloe Tran | Midfielder
Rebels SC ECNL RL 07 (CA)

Named to the Southwest’S All-Conference First Team last season, Tran has followed it up with an equally impressive 2023-2024 campaign, pulling Rebels into first in the Sonoran Division (8-3-1, 25 points). Off of the ball, Tran can slide past defenders and immediately turn whatever is given to her into goal-scoring opportunities. Her work in the midfield was integral to Rebels winning both the Albion Cup, the Wave Cup, and the NextGen Manchester City Cup. She is also coming off of a strong High School season for Patrick Henry in which she earned Second Team All-Conference honors.

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Aysu Unver | Forward
East Meadow SC ECNL RL 07 (NY)

Received All-County honors for her standout season in defense at Long Beach High School, leading the team as a junior to the State Quarterfinals. She made a seamless transition back into the club game for EMSC, captaining the 07s to an undefeated record at the ECRL Florida Winter Showcase. Unver buried a penalty kick goal in the opener, giving her team a 1-1 draw against Highland FC.

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Isabella Newell | Midfielder
Arizona Arsenal ECNL RL 06/05 (AZ)

Coming off of a standout season with Hamilton High School where she helped lead the team to a 6A State Championship appearance. In 2023, she had a strong club season leading AZ Arsenal to a ECRL Southwest Regional appearance and helped the Mid-City Lions go undefeated at last year’s Jefferson Cup.

2024

Jaycee Tonner | Defender-Midfielder
Heat FC RL 06/05 (NV)

For alternating between the defense and in the midfield, Tonner plays a key role in holding attackers from entering Heat’s defensive third. Tonner can make a quick interception and immediately start possession, surveying the field for passing options and executing. Thanks to her efforts, Heat have allowed just eleven goals this season, third lowest in the Southwest 06/05 Conference. With Silverado High School this fall, Tonner helped the Falcons make the 4A Southern Regional Finals while earning a Las Vegas Review Journal Honorable Mention.

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Maya Courtenay | Forward
Snohomish United RL 05/06 (WA)

Key member of a dangerous Snohomish United attack, consistently making strong runs off of the ball and possessing superb finishing abilities. Snohomish have made it to the top of the Northwest table (9-2-0, 27 points), scoring 44 goals along the way. Courtenay has committed to playing college soccer in 2024 at Sonoma State.