WEEK 4 2023 RUNDOWN- ECLIPSE SELECT ALUMNI

Week 4 of the 2023-24 collegiate season was filled with excitement as many of our alumni put on stellar performances. Notable storylines include Freshman Bella Najera (St. Charles, IL.) scoring in 3 out of the last 4 games for the Spartans, notching one in both games vs. NC State (2-1) and Dayton (2-2). As well as Junior Hannah Bebar (Naperville, IL.) finding her first 2 goals and an assist in Harvard’s victories over Syracuse (5-2) and NC State (2-0). 

GOALSCORERS

Senior Kennedy Berschel (Bensenville, IL.) had quite the weekend, scoring her first goal of the season in the Illini’s game vs. Mizzou (1-2), as well as contributing an assist late in their Senior Day match to push past Pepperdine (3-2). Emma Phillips (Munster, IN.) added a third goal to her stat sheet on Thursday early in the second half, ending in a 4-1 Wildcat victory over Weber State. Julia Simon (Wheaton, IL.) notched a second goal to her season record within the first 2 minutes of play, resulting in a 1-1 tie for the Billikens at Brown. Junior forward Megan Hutchinson (New Lenox, IL.) tallied both her second goal and assist for the Boilermakers in their games vs. TCU (1-2) and Western Kentucky (2-1), and Abby Kalou (Buffalo Grove, IL.) added two more goals on the season in Lesley’s 8-0 win at VTSU Lyndon.

PLAYMAKERS

Rachel Kutella (Elk Grove Village, IL.) found the first assist of her senior season in the Tigers victory over Illinois (2-1). Arianna Lombardi (Bourbonnais, IL.) followed last week’s hat trick performance with two assists in the Pioneers’ 2-1 victory over Edgewood, as well as being named a WIAC Kwik Trip Athlete of the Week. Zivana Labovic (Schererville, IN.) notched her first assist of the year in the Spartans’ 2-1 win at NC State. Junior Ella Richards (Chicago, IL.) found her second assist of the season in the Eagles’ 3-2 win over Sacred Heart. Kiara Pralle (Bourbonnais, IL.) tallied her first assist of the season in Lipscomb’s 2-1 victory over Ole Miss. Sophomore Xcaret Pineda (Bolingbrook, IL.) added a second assist to her record in the Cowgirls’ 1-0 win at Arkansas State. Tommy Coughlin (Crystal Lake, IL.) got his first assist of the season in Green Bay’s 2-0 victory at Detroit Mercy. Ella Koleno (Chicago, IL.) logged her second assist of the season in the Bears’ 5-0 win vs. Carroll. Bella Diorio (Lockport, IL.) found her first assist as a Horned Frog in TCU’s match at Butler, and Katie O’Malley (Western Springs, IL.) notched her second assist for the Redbirds in their 4-1 victory over Western Illinois.


KEEPERS CORNER

Some big time saves from Junior keeper Gandhi Cruz (Aurora, IL.) managed to keep the Falcons at bay, coming up with a season high of 7 saves in the Blue Devils draw at Bowling Green, as well as earning the Big East Goalkeeper of the Week! Ashton Kudlo (Schererville, IN.) also came up big for her team – facing a season high of 18 shots and coming up with 5 saves in IUPUI’s 1-0 win at Dayton. Lauren Boafo (Hanover Park, IL.) and the Broncos played a tough fought match at Michigan over the weekend, facing a season high of 15 shots and coming up with 4 saves. Emma Gaspari (Naperville, IL.) made her sophomore season debut in the Cannoneers game against Ramapo – making a season high of 9 saves on 25 shots faced. 


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 34 alumni designated as freshmen entering their first year of college. The remaining includes 31 sophomores, 36 juniors, 19 seniors, and one graduate student with an additional year of eligibility.