U14 girls elite went 4-0-1 in the SLSG Tournament in St. Louis.  They gave up zero goals against, scoring 7 goals.  In group play they had 2 wins and a draw, earning 7 points and winning the group.

Game 1 was a 2-0 win over St. Louis Scott Gallagher White, the tournament host.  Devon Kennedy and Lisa Harwardt scored the goals.  The game was controlled by Ela, but the goals didn't come easily.  In dramatic fashion, they put two goals in within 45 seconds of each other during the last 7 minutes of the match.  Devon slotted in the game winner on a rebound after a great run by Emma Jaeger.  Lisa secured the win with a 15 yard breakaway mere seconds after the kick-off.  The defensive corps of Rachel Keur, Natalie Paparone, Charlotte Langbo and Amy Richards set the tone for the whole weekend, keeping SLSG at bay.  Alexis Malka and Courtney Trom also shored up the back throughout the match and tournament; changing the tactics of the squad by making numerous overlapping runs from the back.

Game 2 was also a 2-0 win.  This was a very important game, as WC United Wildcats also won their first game, so this result would take control of the group.  A goal by Savannah Kruse gave the team a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.  Halley Havilcek put in the 2nd about halfway through the second half to secure the win.  Mackenzie Connington and Claudia Debiase were essential in helping the sqaud control the ball and keep possession as Ela began to launch attack after attack.  Ashley Nensel had 3 saves during her second shutout win in a row. 

Game 3 was a 7 a.m. match that would determine the group winner.  Mid Missouri United were 1 and 1, but a loss here would knock us out.  In a game where the wind was very strong, Ela held the ball and the tempo for the majority of the match.  A tie or win would give the group to Ela, so the 0-0 final was a welcome result.  Natalie Young made several great runs in the attacking third, but just wasn't able to notch her first goal for the tournament.  Courtney Bruckman was a defensive asset in the midfield, using her versatility to play in the center midfield, but also as an outside mid when the team changed formation midway through the second half.

The semi-finals matched Ela up against a familiar opponent, Chicago Inter Homer Glen, who the squad lost to in IWSL league play, 1-0, just two weeks earlier.  Wasting no time, Emma Jaeger guided in the game-winning goal just 30 seconds into the match.  Her first goal of the tournament was well earned, as Emma had put in a lot of great runs and chances on goal throughout the weekend.  The 1-0 half-time lead was deserved, Ashley Nensel made 2 goal saving stops to keep that lead heading into the break.  The second half began with Ela on the attack, but Homer Glen gained control for a good 8 minutes about halfway through.  Ashley made 2 great saves on high balls that were destined for goal.  As the match opened up with Homer Glen looking for the tying goal, Ela had a few chances to add to the lead.  The midfield battle was essential in the semi-final.  With Ela controlling most of the midfield through Casey Kirby's tireless physical play, the squad was certainly ready for the final.

Matched up against Team Evanston, who won an emotional semi-final in a penalty kick shootout, Ela was certainly prepared to finish the weekend undefeated and un-scored upon.  The first half saw no goals, but also saw Ela set the pace and rythym of the match.  Evanston dished out some physical play that Ela was all too happy to answer, but as the half wore on, Ela began to wrest control of the ball and of the chances.  Casey Kirby, Claudia Debiase, Courtney Bruckman and Halley Havilcek all had some of their best play during the weekend as they battled for control of every tackle, punt, pass and ball.  The second half was nothing but waiting for the inevitable Ela goal.  Chance after chance were just missed, until Emma Jaeger popped in her second straight match winning goal with about ten minutes left.  Five minutes later, Ela was dealt a blow when centerback Rachel Keur gained a concussion after a foul from behind by an Evanston forward.  Undaunted, Ela shored up defensively and continued to keep Evanston at bay.  Lisa Harwardt slid back to fill in for Rachel after the injury.  Keeping up the attack and unwilling to stop playing with three forwards, Ela's best defense was continuing to attack.  The effort paid off as Devon Kennedy bookended the weekend by scoring the 2nd and last goal of the tournament, to go along with her opening strike the day the before.  A 2-0 final gave Ela the championship.