ECNL: FC Virginia opens strong with four wins in five matches
By Jimmy LaRoue
FC Virginia’s ECNL teams had a strong weekend, as its Under-14, U-15, U-16 and U-18s all picked up wins.
The club’s U-14s started the season with a 3-0 win over visiting Virginia Rush (1-1-0) in its only league match of the weekend, getting goals from Kathleen Brumagim, Catherine Kwitnieski and Susanna Weisskopf.
FC Virginia’s U-15s (2-0-0) scored a 1-0 win over Rush (1-1-0) on a goal from Julia Phillips in the 56th minute after teammate Meaghan Nally made a run down the left side and crossed inside for Phillips, who put the ball in the net for the lone goal of the match.
FCV’s U-16s (1-1-0), meanwhile, scored a 4-1 win over Rush. Kristina Diana scored twice, and Jillian Edwards and Maura Aman added goals in the win. Edwards, Elise Andrich and Taylor Zelman had assists. In FCV’s most dominant game over the weekend, the U-18s defeated Rush 7-0.
Rush did pick up one win over the weekend over FCV, a 1-0 victory in the U-17 matchup. Rush got a goal from Jacqueline Kim in the win.
The Richmond Strikers’ U-15s picked up their first win of the ECNL season, defeating McLean Youth Soccer 1-0. The Strikers made a lone goal from Sunny Gelnovatch, daughter of University of Virginia men’s coach George Gelnovatch, stand up for the win.
The Strikers’ U-17s also showed well against McLean Youth Soccer in a scoreless tie. The Strikers U-17s have yet to give up a goal in two matches this season.
McLean’s U-18s, who won a B Flight championship last season as U-17s, picked up their first win of the season after beating the Strikers 4-1. McLean got two goals each from Morgan Reuther, a UVa. commit, and Emily Hester. Reuther and Lindsey Sawczuk added assists. Kelly Slewers scored the Strikers’ lone goal.
