ECLIPSE SELECT TIES PREP FOR YNT CAMP, WNT PLAY
Duo joins U-17s; Naperville’s Short heads to Sweden; boys’ program announces league plans for 2017-18
CHICAGO (June 2, 2017) – Eclipse Select Soccer Club’s current and former members are representing U.S. Soccer’s senior and youth national teams this month. And in other exciting Eclipse Select news, the club announces big plans for the 2017-18 season for the boys’ program as a number of teams will be represented at the Elite Clubs National League and Northern Illinois Soccer League.
The U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team is starting a 10-day camp through June 11 in San Diego, and two Eclipse players are among the 24-player group called in by coach Mark Carr. Midfielder Ainsley Ahmadian (Naperville, Ill.) and forward Kalyssa “Kiki” Van Zanten (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) have been included in this camp, which serves as preparation for a July trip to China.
This age group is also in the midst of the cycle that will look to qualify for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.
Short set for first trip abroad with WNT: Eclipse Select alumna and U.S. Women’s National Team defender Casey Short (Naperville, Ill.) will be abroad with the squad for a pair of matches in the upcoming week. Short is one of five players who are headed to their first senior national team trip abroad. With the Chicago Red Stars and other NWSL teams in action, the WNT contingent is slated to compete in this weekend’s league play before traveling to Sweden for the start of camp.
The U.S. faces Sweden on Thursday, June 8, in Gothenburg, Sweden (12:30 p.m. CT | ESPN2, UDN), and then takes on Norway on Sunday, June 11, in Sandefjord, Norway (12 p.m. CT | FOX). The USA has a busy summer hosting the 2017 Tournament of Nations from July 27-Aug. 3, with Australia, Brazil and Japan heading to the U.S. for this elite international event. Short has earned four caps this year, logging 360 minutes, and has now appeared in eight games with the WNT.
In other club news, the Eclipse Select Boys will be joining the Elite Clubs National League and Northern Illinois Soccer League for the 2017-18 season, with one team competing in each age group of the Boys’ ECNL and more than 15 additional teams competing in the NISL.
“We are really excited about the future of our boys’ program, and the Boys’ ECNL and NISL are great platforms for our players to compete in,” Eclipse Select President Rory Dames said. “The NISL has a long history of providing great local competition and programs, and participating in the Boys’ ECNL aligns our male and female programs philosophically.”