WEEK 1 2021 RUNDOWN – ECLIPSE SELECT ALUMNI
OAK BROOK, Ill. – Eclipse Select alumni kicked off the 2021 fall season last week across many Division I NCAA programs. Major storylines included freshmen Nina Nicosia (Elmwood Park, Ill.) and Julia Simon (Wheaton, Ill.) both scoring two goals each for the Louisville Cardinals in their debut while senior Nicki Hernandez (Naperville, Ill.) tallied a game-winner versus Bowling Green and two assists against Butler in Michigan’s opening two matches.
Okay Julia, we see you!
56' | Cards 4, Western Michigan 1
💻: https://t.co/mhbd3fzxKI#GoCards pic.twitter.com/6WMLEjG3Ls— Louisville Women's Soccer (@ULWomensSoccer) August 20, 2021
✔️ First goal of the season
✔️ First goal of her collegiate careerNina Nicosia finds the back of the net!
8' | Cards 1, Western Michigan 0
💻: https://t.co/mhbd3fzxKI#GoCards pic.twitter.com/QmlgQ7RCxX— Louisville Women's Soccer (@ULWomensSoccer) August 19, 2021
GOALSCORERS
Senior Natalie Vaughn-Low’s (Dekalb, Ill.) two goals against Eastern Michigan led Illinois State’s to a 4-0 victory. Sophomore Zivana Labovic (Schererville, Ind.) looked to earn “goal-of-the-year” with a half-volley from the top of the 18-yard box which beat the Detroit Mercy goalkeeper top corner. Labovic tallied her first assist of the season a game later versus Eastern Michigan. Senior Ally Mussalem (Palo Heights, Ill.) scored the Boilermakers’ only goal as Purdue tied No. 18 Vanderbilt.
Spartans strike again!
Gia Wahlberg and Danielle Stephan tally assists and Zivana Labovic's laser from the top of the box finds the back of the net!
MSU 4, UDM 0 | 61'#GoGreen | #LabovicLaser pic.twitter.com/dc9UC00EM8
— Michigan State Women's Soccer (@MSU_wsoccer) August 20, 2021
PLAYMAKERS
Wisconsin Milwaukee’s senior, Gabby Schwartz (Chicago, Ill.) tallied two assists against Western Illinois while Kylie Sprecher (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) of Marquette and Lauren Stibich (Western Springs, Ill.) of Illinois each had an opening week assist. A major featured freshman from week one was Yulexi Diaz (Chicago, Ill.). She played in all 200 minutes of the University of Illinois-Chicago’s first two matches.
Over 100 Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumni, both male and female, are rostered across every level of college soccer at Division I, II, III, and NAIA. There are 45 alumni designated as freshmen entering their first year of college. The remaining includes 23 sophomores, 17 juniors, 17 seniors, and six graduate students with an additional year of eligibility due to the altered 2020-21 season.