Ela Soccer Club

Our Ela Elite U18 gals just won’t take a summer break.  They represented us at the FC Milwaukee tournament August 15th – 17th, bringing home silver in the Women’s U19 Gold bracket division.

Although they remained toe to toe the first half against the 5 time state champions, FC Milwaukee, they were defeated by a single goal in the second half (1-0).

They arrived  at the games short-handed.  Earlier in the week they lost Michelle Rowley (Mundelein HS), one of their starting defenders, to a broken collarbone.    In addition, due to summer commitments, some players were unable to compete.  However, the team played the hand they were dealt and did an outstanding job with the talent that they did bring to Milwaukee.

With only 12 players, this first year team won Saturday (4-0) against MYSC Blue (Milwaukee).  They did not show any signs of weakness when they won their second game (2-0) against the Waukesha Freedom (ranked 3rd in Wisconsin), this time covering the field with only 10 players. 

13 players on Sunday were enough to tie (1-1) the NSA Premier Tigers (ranked 3rd in Illinois).  It was an especially sweet victory because they had lost to them (4-0) just two weeks prior in Muscatine.  Even with a tie, their calculated goal differential was enough to win the bracket. 

They shutout the Rockford Dactyls (2-0), in the semi-finals, which dropped them into the championship game against FC Milwaukee.

The Ela organization congratulates the U18 team for their hard work and determination.  They overcame their  obstacles and were rewarded with some mighty sweet success.
 

The Team

Kelsey Armour  (Warren Twnshp HS)
Katie Budd  (Antioch HS)
Kim Carroll  (Mundelein HS)
Abby Eckstrom  (Mundelein HS)
Ashley Gustafson  (Cary Grove HS)
Alex Hauser  (Carmel HS)
Megan LeBaron  (Grayslake Central HS)
Jenny Miranda  (Mundelein HS)
Maddie Ogrinc  (Carmel HS)
Liz Perrenot  (Carmel HS)
Michelle Rowley  (Mundelein HS)
Natalie Saunders  (Niles North HS)
Kelly Schoen  (Carmel HS)
Charlotte Seidel (Lake Forest HS)