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Episode 5 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features three coaches who play a major role in creating a youth-to-pro pathway in the ECNL discussing the many elements that contribute to a thriving professional pathway within the United States, and more specifically, within the ECNL! Mario Sanchez (Louisville City Academy), Scott Gibson (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC), and Oliver Wyss (Orange County SC, West Coast FC) join Dean Linke and Jason Kutney to dive deeper into this topic, looking to identify specific lessons that can be extracted and applied to all clubs working in the development space.

With Election Day just behind us, it was fitting that the teams of the RDA made their way to the Washington, D.C. area last weekend.

Hounds teams took the field for the girls’ weekend at the Premier Cup in Bethesda, Md. and at the Nation’s Capital Cup in Fairfax, Va., and by Sunday, there was no shortage of teams topping their division and playing in finals.

The Premier Cup featured a round robin-only format in most divisions, and the 2002/03 Girls came out atop the most challenging bracket by the slimmest of margins.

Melissa Riggins scored what turned out to be a crucial goal in a 1-1 draw with Maryland United to open the weekend, and Tessa Dellarose put things away with a monster game Sunday, as she scored all four goals in a 4-0 win over Skyline Elite (Va.). That was enough for a 2-0-1 record and plus-8 goal difference on the weekend, two better than Maryland United for first place.

The 05 Girls didn’t need to count goals for their first-place finish, as they won all three matches on the weekend. Ava Boyd found the net in all three matches, a 5-1 win over the host club and 2-0 wins over Southwestern Youth (Va.) and Black Mountain (Pa.). Alexis Tylenda and Julia Lozowski also had three goals each for the 05s.

The 02/03 Composite Girls also finished atop their group with a little help, as Natalie Allen and Casey Breier scored Sunday for a 2-1 win over Minnesota’s Mid-City Lions. That completed a 2-1 tournament, no small achievement on its own, but the Hounds secured first place when Vereinigung Erzgebirge, the Pa. team that handed them their lone loss, dropped its final match on the same day.

Meanwhile, the 04 Girls were the only team that had a true head-to-head matchup to determine first place of its division, as they faced Bethesda SC knowing a win earned them first, while a loss or draw gave the hosts the top spot. Audrey Bianco scored twice in the final match, and Gabby Hill-Junke put the game out of reach in a 3-1 Hounds victory.

Meanwhile, barely an hour to the south, Hounds teams were enjoying finals soccer but not having much fortune at the Nation’s Capital Cup.

The 09 East Girls were mere kicks away from snagging their division’s trophy, but after playing out a scoreless final with fellow group winners Southwestern Youth, it was the Virginia club that took the trophy on penalties, 4-1. The Hounds ended their weekend with a 2-1-1 record overall.

Also reaching the finals were the 06 East Girls, who got an Ave Yurko goal for a 1-0 semifinal win over Arlington SA (Va.), but McLean (Va.) came out on top in the title game, 2-0. The 03 East Girls got a Tali Sizemore goal but fell 2-1 in their final to Fredericksburg (Va.), that after a 4-2 semifinal win over Penn Express FC.

And the 2010 RDA II Girls also were tripped up in their final, falling 1-0 to Maryland’s Xenezies Academy in a match where the Hounds were better in possession. That loss was the only blemish, as the RDA II side won its first three matches on the weekend.

There were plenty of other wins amidst the weekend’s action, and results can always be found on the Live Results page on www.riverhounds.com.

Sunday, Nov. 15

At the Bethesda (Md.) Premier Cup:

• The 05 Girls finished top of their bracket after closing with a 2-0 win over Black Mountain YSA. Ashley Vith recorded a clean sheet in her first start in goal, and goals by Ava Boyd and Julia Lozowski accounted for the winning margin.

• Tessa Dellarose had her striking boots on, scoring two goals on each side of halftime to give the 02/03 Girls a 4-0 win over Skyline Elite (Va.). The margin of victory was enough for the Hounds, who went 2-0-1 on the weekend, to secure the top spot on goal difference.

• The 02/03 Composite Girls picked up their second win of the weekend, 2-1 over the Mid-City Lions (Minn.). Natalie Allen and Casey Breier scored for the Hounds, who moved the ball with some excellent combination play across the field.

• Audrey Bianco’s two goals led the 04 Girls to a 3-1 win over Bethesda SC in a physical, high-level matchup that determined the top spot in the group. Gabby Hill-Junke added the third goal for the Hounds to clinch the result, and Emma Van Meter was stellar in goal behind a good defensive performance.

• The 06 Girls played evenly with Lower Merion, but errors at the back in the second half send the RDA side to a 2-0 defeat.

• The 04 Regional League Girls fell behind by a pair of goals against Yardley-Makefield. The team came out with a better second half and got a Sydney Gray goal from a corner kick, but the Hounds couldn’t get a tying goal and fell, 2-1. Gray nearly equalized from a free kick, but her effort hit the crossbar and stayed out.

At the Nation’s Capital Cup in Fairfax, Va.:

• The 09 East Girls were in it right to the final whistle, but they were beaten 4-1 on penalties by Southwestern YA (Va.) after the two group winners played out a 0-0 draw. To reach the final, the 09s closed out group play with a 3-0 win over Salisbury United (Md.) with goals scored by Rylee Leasher, Mikaela Bunovich and Ava Ruvalcava.

• Ave Yurko scored the lone goal to send the 06 East Girls to the final with a 1-0 semifinal win over Arlington SA (Va.), but it was another Northern Virginia side, McLean, that claimed first place by knocking off the Hounds in the championship game, 2-0.

• The 03 East Girls also picked up a semifinal win, 4-2, over Penn Express FC, but like their younger counterparts, they were stopped in the final by Fredericksburg FC (Va.), 2-1. Tali Sizemore had the goal in the final for the Hounds, who played well but wore down against a good opponent.

• Milan Pennetti, Larkin Carroll and Gabby Bunyak all scored for the 10 RDA II Girls, who seemed to save their best on the weekend for the knockout rounds with a 3-0 semifinal win over McLean (Va.). The team was slow to get going in the final, however, but settled in against a physical Xenezies Academy (Md.) side that was happy to clear their lines with a big ball out of the back. The Hounds had chances, but it was the Marylanders who got the lone goal with four minutes remaining.

Saturday, Nov. 14

At the Bethesda (Md.) Premier Cup:

• Melissa Riggins, Tessa Dellarose, Jordyn Kowalkowski and Honora Armfield scored to get 02/03 Girls in the win column, 4-0 over York’s FC Ballyhoo. Angelina King was a standout defensively for the Hounds, who controlled play for much of the game.

• The 02/03 Composite Girls battled well, but some small mistakes along the back line proved costly in a 4-2 loss to Vereinigung Erzgebirge.

• The 04 Girls were beaten by a set piece goal from Eagle FC, 1-0. The Hounds had chances to pull ahead early and to pull level after the goal, but they were unable to find the net.

• The 05 Girls were tested by a dangerous Southwestern Youth (Va.) side, but the Hounds came out on top, 2-0. Ava Boyd scored the first goal and turned provider on the second, setting up Alexis Tylenda for the goal that put the game out of reach.

• The 04 Regional League Girls were convincing 4-0 winners over Calvert SA (Md.). Abby Weis scored a pair of goals, and Sydney Gray and Daniela Garner also found the net for the Hounds.

• The 05 Regional League Girls struck the crossbar three times but couldn’t get one under it, as they had to settle for a 0-0 draw with Keystone Athletic. Jillian Blake recorded the clean sheet in goal for the Hounds.

• The 06 Girls were second-best in their tournament opener, as they fell to Bethesda SC, 6-0. The team was much better in their second match of the day but couldn’t come away with a point in a 2-1 loss to Loudoun Soccer (Va.). Kristi Gorman got her first RDA goal in the loss, circling the keeper to score after latching onto a Sophia DeJesus through ball.

At the Nation’s Capital Cup in Fairfax, Va.:

• A big win started out the 07 East Girls’ day, as they toppled West Virginia FC, 5-0. Leah Paugh had a hat trick as the Hounds were very good moving the ball around on a sloppy field, and Jaden Kantorick and Adi Belanger also scored. The side followed up the win with a 2-2 draw against Maryland United. Carmella Simco had both goals in the second match, in which the team continued to move the ball well but weren’t as clinical in front of goal.

• The 09 East Girls got things rolling with a 3-1 win over North Chesapeake (Md.). Coaches hailed a complete team effort, which included goals by Cam Kapr, Lauren Paugh and Rylee Leasher. The team’s second match was a tough one, as they fell to Loudoun Soccer (Va.), 2-1.

• The 08 East Girls ran out of steam late against ECNL side McLean (Va.), as they fell 3-1 in a match that was tied with nine minutes remaining. Jiana Patterson scored in the defeat. The team bounced back to take a point from their second match, a 1-1 draw with Loudoun Soccer that saw Annalyse Bauer notch the Hounds goal.

• Milan Pennetti scored from a free kick and on the end of a corner kick as part of a 4-2 win by the 10 RDA II Girls over Vienna Youth Soccer (Va.). Ashleigh Mitrik and Gabby Buynak also scored, as the Hounds moved the ball well from midfield to attack. The team won again, 3-1, when they faced Calvert SA (Md.). Alexa Peeler, Mitrik and Pennetti scored for the Hounds, who played very well out of the back from goal kicks and transitioned well by playing the ball wide through the midfield.

• The 10 East Girls had a pair of disappointing results, falling 1-0 to Maryland United and 2-1 against Loudoun Soccer. Gloria Kovscek had the goal for the Hounds, who played well enough to win in both matches but were hurt by small mistakes on both ends of the field.

Friday, Nov. 13

At the Bethesda (Md.) Premier Cup:

• The 02/03 Girls kicked off their weekend with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Maryland United in a battle of ECNL clubs. The Hounds trailed in the game until 20 minutes remained, when Melissa Riggins finished by getting on the end of a Tessa Dellarose free kick. As a whole, the team showed plenty of encouraging signs for their first outing and had chances to win.

• The 02/03 Composite Girls side were comeback kids, scoring twice in the final five minutes to swipe a 2-1 win over Salisbury United (Md.). Casey Breier and Mikaela Small scored for the Hounds, who can improve on the performance but showed a lot of heart to get the result late.

• Ella Dinwiddie scored on her club debut by finishing a pass cut back to her by Mary Kate Lape, and that was all the 04 Girls needed to take a 1-0 win over Philadelphia SC. The Hounds had chances to finish four or five goals, and the team was excellent defensively, pressuring the ball and not conceding a single shot on goal.

• The biggest win of the day belonged to the 05 Girls, who knocked off homestanding Bethesda SC, 5-1. Alexis Tylenda and Julia Lozowski scored two goals apiece, and Ava Boyd added one of her own. Fiona Mahan and Kate Friday commanded the midfield, a big reason for the Hounds’ dominance in the match.

• The 04 Regional League Girls controlled much of play but ended up with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Virginia Legacy. Despite the loss, Aleah Parison played a strong game in goal, and Alena Taladay stood out at center back.

• The 05 Regional League Girls did well for their first outing as a group, but a late first-half corner kick scored by Skyline Elite (Va.) ended up deciding the match, as the Hounds fell 1-0. Marianna Dorsch and Halle Rager anchored a good performance by the backline.

Progress can take time and hard work, but the payoff can arrive suddenly.

The 2008 Girls saw their work this fall rewarded in a big way, as the team got its first point and its first win in ECNL play — both on the road — as part of last weekend’s Riverhounds Development Academy (RDA) play.

The side, which had dropped its first four Ohio Valley Conference matches, began its weekend Saturday with a 2-2 draw with Ohio Elite in Cincinnati. The team shook things up with a new 3-5-2 formation, and the shift paid off.

Averie Bierker scored the rebound of a Emme Kline before striking again by getting on the end of a through ball, as the 08s took a 2-1 lead to halftime. Ohio Elite applied plenty of pressure in the second half and pulled level with about 10 minutes to play, but the Hounds held on for the point and even had a few chances to win on the counter.

Things went from good to great on Sunday, as Bierker scored again after just five minutes, and the 08s made that lead stand up for a 1-0 win at Racing Louisville on Sunday in Kentucky. Once again, the Hounds were put under pressure holding a lead, and fitness was tested with only two available substitutes. But the defense remained connected, and goalkeeper Maddie Knowles did well to record her first clean sheet in ECNL play as the Hounds completed a four-point weekend.

The 07 Girls made the same road trip and got three points of their own with a 1-0 win over Ohio Elite. Mia Deramo scored with an excellent control, turn and finish, and Molly Kubistek added another shutout to her tally for the season. The second match on the trip was a frustrating one, however, as the 07s fell 1-0 to a defensive-minded Racing Louisville outfit, despite putting 15 shots on goal and hitting the crossbar on three different occasions.

The 07 Regional League Girls were in Kentucky a day earlier, and they did come away with a 1-0 win over Louisville. The margin could have been more thanks to great pressure by the Hounds’ forwards, but Cece Wessel‘s goal was enough to swipe three points. The second day of the trip took them to face Tennessee SC, and though the team went ahead first through Sidney Dowers, the game turned as injury and fatigue took a toll in a 3-1 defeat.

Elsewhere, the 08 RDA II Boys were 5-0 winners in Great Lakes Alliance play against Canton United (Ohio). Joseph Preston and Mark Martella each had two goals in the win, and Harper Boles completed the scoring. Also taking a league win were the 07 East Girls against Hotspurs West, 4-0. Rebecca Walters notched a pair of goals, and Carmella Simco and Leah Paugh also found the net in an all-around commanding victory.

In addition to these highlights, results from all the RDA action each week can be found by checking out the Live Results page, located in the Academy section of www.riverhounds.com.

Sunday, Nov. 8

In ECNL matches in Louisville, Ky.:

• The 08 Girls picked up their first ECNL win with a 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville. Averie Bierker scored the game’s lone goal just five minutes into the match. Playing with just two substitutes, the Hounds wore down toward the end of each half, but the side remained connected defensively and held on to cap off a great four-point weekend on the road.

• It was near miss after near miss for the 07 Girls, who were beaten by a nose by Racing Louisville, 1-0. Despite having 15 more shots on target and striking the crossbar three times, the Hounds couldn’t push one over the line, while the hosts cashed in on a defensive error by scoring their lone shot on frame.

In ECNL Regional League matches in Franklin, Tenn.:

• The 07 Regional League Girls took a first-half lead on a Sidney Dowers goal, but host Tennessee SC took command in the second half and sent the Hounds to a 3-1 defeat. Things were looking good for the RDA to start, as the team had the better of play. Things began to get disjointed as the game progressed, and the loss of Lily Hillegas to an injury further contributed to the Hounds’ breakdowns.

• The 08 Regional League Girls were disconnected in the back and the midfield, and the side will need to strive for plenty of improvement after a lopsided 8-0 loss to Tennessee SC. 

In GLA matches played locally:

• Rebecca Walters scored a pair, and Carmella Simco and Leah Paugh also had goals in a 4-0 win for the 07 East Girls over Hotspurs West. Credit goes across the board for what was largely a dominant performance.

• The 10 East Boys went toe-to-toe with an unbeaten SCS United side and made the league leaders work for a 4-1 win. Jacob Gaudi netted the Hounds’ goal in defeat.

Saturday, Nov. 7

In ECNL matches in Cincinnati:

• The steady progression for the 08 Girls continued, as they nabbed their first point in ECNL play with a 2-2 draw against Ohio Elite. A change in formation yielded excellent returns, and Averie Bierker netted a pair of first-half goals — the first the rebound of an Emme Kline shot and the second on the end of a good through ball — after the team went behind 1-0. The team conceded a tying goal but withstood some late pressure to get the draw, and the Hounds even had a few opportunities to grab the win late on the counter.

• The 07 Girls gave a great effort until the end and were winners in a defensive battle, 1-0 over Ohio Elite. Mia Deramo bagged the lone goal with a strong turn away from pressure and well-placed shot, and Molly Kubistek recorded yet another clean sheet in goal for the Hounds.

In ECNL Regional League matches in Louisville, Ky.:

• The 07 Regional League Girls  took a 1-0 win over ECNL newcomers Racing Louisville behind a Cece Wessel goal. The win was a solid team performace, as the back line held firm and the forwards did an excellent job applying pressure. The one missing piece at times was finishing, which prevented the Hounds from expanding the lead.

• The 08 Regional League Girls were bested by Racing Louisville, 3-0. The Hounds came out strong and battled evenly with the hosts, as both defensive units were stout. Fitness ended up being the Hounds undoing in the second half, as the team wore down in the unseasonable heat and surrendered two late goals.

In GLA matches at Highmark Stadium:

• The 08 RDA II Boys played well from the opening whistle, and their pressure was too much for visiting Canton United (Ohio) in a 5-0 win. Joseph Preston’s pace and Mark Martella’s work rate yielded a pair of goals for each, and Harper Boles completed the scoring for the Hounds.

• The 07 East Boys continued to battle inconsistency, and they were unable to find the net in a 4-0 loss to Allegheny Force.