ECNL: Comeback Win Sees U-16 Girls Progress To National Finals In San Diego

FRISCO - A run of four consecutive wins at the ECNL U-16 Champions League National Playoffs in Rockford, Illinois this past week allowed the FC Dallas U-16 girls team to book a spot at the ECNL National Finals in San Diego, California, in early July.

Dallas defeated Jacksonville FC, Ohio Premier and the Minnesota Thunder to emerge from Group D during the first days of competition, before eliminating the Boston Breakers 3-2 in a knockout round match to clinch a place among the country's top four teams.

An impressive 15-1-2 showing during the regular season earned Dallas a spot at the ECNL National Playoffs after the team finished in first place in the Texas Conference.

The team carried this good form into its three group matches, outscoring its opponents 11-3 during the stretch. Forwards Haley Sorrell and Sydney Richards each scored four goals during the three games, with the other three goals coming courtesy of forward Diana Ordonez.

Ordonez, Richards and midfielder Hollyn Torres all starred in the knockout round match against Boston, which went to two extra-time periods.

Dallas went into halftime trailing the Breakers 2-0, but used two goals shortly after the break to get back on level footing. After neither side was able to find a go-ahead goal during the first period of extra time, Dallas managed the breakthrough early in the second period and held on for the victory.

Ordonez scored twice, Torres scored once and Richards provided all three assists in the match. The team is the eighth FC Dallas ECNL side to reach a National Final, and it is the second straight year for this group of players, who made the U-14 National Final last year.

Concorde Fire (Georgia), FC Stars (Massachusetts) and Tophat SC (Georgia) join FC Dallas at the National Final, held on July 7th and 8th in San Diego.

Concorde will face FC Stars and Dallas will play Tophat SC in the two semifinals. The winners will contest the final, while the losers will face each other in a third-place match.