UMBC

RICHMOND, Va.—Incoming women’s soccer freshman Morgan Taylor (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) was named to the Elite Clubs National League Under-17 All-Event Team at the ECNL/PDA College Showcase, the league announced last week.

The ECNL All-Event Teams are selected based upon nominations from coaches and scouts based upon individual and team performances over the course of the three-game event. The ECNL/PDA College Showcase took place May 28-30, at the PDA Soccer Complex in Zarephath, N.J.

A week earlier, Taylor helped lead the Freestate Soccer Alliance ECNL U-17 team to the State Cup final. Then at the ECNL/PDA College Showcase, the team captain anchored a back line in a shutout despite playing without their starting goalkeeper in the first game and was also spectacular on defense in a 3-1 loss to the top team in the field, as well as in a 4-1 win.

Taylor was named one of the top 20 players in the state of Maryland by ESPN Rise. The center back also helped lead her Severna Park High School team to the regional and district titles and was an all-state selection in 2010.

“We were very happy to see Morgan selected to the All-Event Team,” said UMBC head coach Alyssa Radu, who also coaches Freestate SA. “The ECNL provides the top players around the country the opportunity to play and compete at a very high level. Morgan played consistent and tough all weekend to earn these honors. We saw this type of play out of Morgan throughout the recruiting process, and we look forward to her performing the same way in the black and gold. We are getting very excited to get our season underway, and Morgan along with the rest of her class keep adding to that excitement.”

Next up for Taylor and Freestate is ECNL National Championships, which will take place July 14-17 in Aurora, Colo.

The ECNL is a non-profit national youth soccer league founded in 2009 to provide the best possible developmental environment for American female youth soccer players through the creation of the highest level of national competition and an identification and development program to provide an avenue for players to participate in U.S. Soccer’s National Teams. Each of the 52 member clubs field a team in the U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-18 age groups, each competing for the ECNL National Championship, the ECNL National Club Championship and promotion and relegation between flights. The ECNL is sanctioned by U.S. Club Soccer.

Incoming freshmen Alyssa Brummitt (Freestate SA) and Estelle Bol (St. Louis Gallagher) also play on ECNL teams.