ECLIPSE SELECT ALUMNI: VALPO DUO SWEEPS MVC ACCOLADES
Griffin of Hinsdale, Moulton of Sycamore earn respective offensive, defensive player of the week honors
CHICAGO (Aug. 24, 2017) – The NCAA season is underway, and that means a bevy of Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumni will be playing a significant part for their respective collegiate programs.
Standing out from this past weekend, was a massive first impression in Missouri Valley Conference action as a pair of alumni were honored for their efforts.
Valpo junior forward Sydney Griffin (Hinsdale, Ill.) was named the MVC Offensive Player & Newcomer of the Week, tallying two goals and assisting another in her first two games at Valpo. Griffin recorded a goal and assisted the winner during a 3-0 victory against Grace last Friday at Brown Field. Then two days later, Griffin notched the winner during a 2-0 shutout victory against IUPUI. Griffin transferred from New Hampshire, and Valpo enjoyed the newcomer’s solid start to the season.
Not to be outdone, Eclipse alumna and Valpo junior goalkeeper Drew Moulton (Sycamore, Ill.) was the MVC Defensive Player of the Week. She earned a pair of clean sheets, posting two saves in the season-opening win against Grace and then a five-save effort to shut down IUPUI.
This marked the first time since 2005 that the Crusaders program earned multiple conference player of the week honors.
Valparaiso joined the Missouri Valley Conference this season after competing in the Horizon League.
Gorzak strikes for Cavaliers: Virginia sophomore Alissa Gorzak (Naperville, Ill.) scored the opening tally for Virginiaduring the club’s 2-0 victory at UNC Wilmington on Friday. Her 18th-minute goal served as the winner for the Cavaliers, who opened the season as the No. 11-ranked team in the country. Gorzak’s side hits the road once more at West Virginia before they enjoy a season-long five-game homestand from Aug. 27-Sept. 10.
Gorzak was named to the 2016 ACC All-Freshman Team after tallying a goal and four assists in 22 games a season ago.
Madden, Golden Eagles top Kentucky: Marquette redshirt junior forward Carrie Madden (Deer Park, Ill.) picked up right where she left off a season ago, netting a goal to lift the Golden Eagles to a 2-1 victory against Kentucky on Sunday at Valley Fields in Milwaukee. Madden’s 64th-minute goal opened the game’s scoring as the two sides combined for three goals within a span of less than 13 minutes.
Madden is coming off a six-goal campaign to lead the Golden Eagles squad in 2016. She was named to the All-Big East Conference Preseason Team earlier this month.
Sharples, Wildcats off to strong start: Northwestern junior defender Kayla Sharples (Naperville, Ill.) had a well-rounded opening weekend on multiple fronts as the Wildcats opened the season with a pair of shutout victories. Sharples tallied the lone goal during Northwestern’s 1-0 victory against DePaul on Friday at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Ill. Her header just before halftime provided everything the Wildcats needed as they improved to 8-1-0 all-time against DePaul (6-0-0 against the Blue Demons in matches in Evanston).
Then on Sunday, Sharples alongside fellow junior teammate and Eclipse Select alumna Hannah Davison (Geneva, Ill.), once again posted a clean sheet during a dominant 3-0 victory against Illinois State.
McGowan, Irish open with pair of clean sheets: While Notre Dame’s offense was hit-or-miss over the two-game weekend, the one steady element was the Irish’s defense. No. 18 Notre Dame, with the help of senior defender Ginny McGowan (Lake Forest, Ill.), did not concede a goal to open the season at 1-0-1. Notre Dame kicked off the season with a scoreless draw against Butler as McGowan played the full 110 minutes. The Irish offense woke up Sunday, and the defense again was flawless to the tune of a 4-0 victory against Butler.
Elsewhere, University of Illinois-Chicago sophomore forward Tamae Douglas (Chicago, Ill.) scored the program’s first goal of the 2017 season. It gave UIC an early lead against Eastern Michigan on Sunday, but the Flames would end up falling 2-1.
For the latest Eclipse Select news, visit EclipseSelect.org.
About the Eclipse Select Soccer Club: The Eclipse Select Soccer Club was formed in 1997 to facilitate elite-level youth soccer players and has evolved into a program consisting of more than 60 teams throughout the Chicagoland area. The club offers programs for boys and girls soccer players of all levels and ages, from preschool children to collegiate-level and national-team athletes. Eclipse Select believes in creating an environment that is physically and mentally challenging so players reach their highest potential. Eclipse alumni include the likes of current U.S. Women’s National Team defender Casey Short, three-time All-American and former Notre Dame midfielder Jen Buczkowski, and former U.S. Women’s National Team and Santa Clara standout midfielder Leslie Osborne. Hundreds of Eclipse boys and girls have continued their soccer careers at the collegiate level. Eclipse Select’s office is located at 700 Oak Brook Road, Suite A, in Oak Brook, Ill. For more information about the Eclipse Select Soccer Club, visit www.EclipseSelect.org and follow Eclipse Select on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EclipseSelectSoccerClub) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/eclipseselectsc).
Eclipse Select prides itself as one of the few clubs across the country to compete in both the Elite Clubs National Leagueand the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for 2017-18. The Eclipse Select girls’ side has showcased itself on the big stage with multiple ECNL national titles and the 2010-11 ECNL Overall Club Championship crown. The Eclipse Select boys will be competing in the inaugural season of the Boys ECNL, looking to match the national success from the girls. For more on the ECNL, visit www.EliteClubsNationalLeague.com and www.BoysECNL.com. Also new to the 2017-18 programming, Eclipse Select is competing in the inaugural season of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s girls’ season. Four teams, ranging from U-14 to U-19, are taking part in the first Girls’ Academy campaign. For more, visit www.USSoccerDA.com.
Athletico Physical Therapy is the official provider of physical therapy and athletic training for Eclipse Select.