Scorpions Shine in the Sunshine State

Written by Gabe Henderson

Scorpions SC kicked off 2026 in impressive fashion, competing at ECNL Florida. The club sent five girls teams to the Sunshine State to showcase their skills against many of the best clubs from across the country.

Between National and Regional, over 450 college coaches gathered to watch players compete at the ECNL Florida showcases in Lakewood Ranch and Sanford.

“Florida was a great event for our players - we not only competed well, but we performed and showcased to the best of our ability in front of hundreds of college coaches,” Scorpions SC DOC Evan Burokas said. “These showcase games can be very tricky. Some teams we face are at the height of their season after playing 15+ games together, whereas our players have only played 3-4 games prior to attending. Despite that challenge, our girls handled the games very well across the entire weekend and also played some attractive soccer along the way.”

2010 ECNL National Girls

Coach Kevin Mascary’s U16 side had a rough start to the weekend, suffering a heavy defeat to an Atlanta Fire United squad that would go on to finish second in the showcase table.

“Showcases feel more intense because we’re playing new teams and players we’ve never seen,” fullback/midfielder Hailey Rollins said. “[Playing against strong competition] reminded me how important it is to stay focused because small details can make a huge difference at this level.”

While the first outing didn’t go as expected, the remaining performances highlighted the team’s resilience and strength, as they fine-tuned the small details Rollins referenced.

“I am so proud of [my team] for being able to persevere through [a rough first performance],” goalkeeper Greyson Helie said. “I would definitely pride our defense as one of the strengths of our team, so that [first game] was an outlier for us.”

Those words rang true in Scorpions SC’s subsequent games. The 2010s team rebounded nicely with a 3-0 victory over Jacksonville FC and a 0-0 draw against Washington Premier.

“We had hoped to win all of our games going into the showcase,” midfielder Maeve Soden said. “We had a disappointing first game, but I am very proud of my teammates for how we responded, playing two much more competitive games after [the loss].”

Scorpions SC’s 2010 ECNL National side finished the weekend 1-1-1, which saw it place 43rd in an 80-team table. Regardless of standings, each player emphasized how proud they were of their team’s showing.

“Our goal was to come out of the showcase with confidence, which I think we accomplished,” Rollins said. “I'm proud of how our team competed, and it motivated me to keep working hard and getting better.”

As Rollins alluded to, the players also found out a lot about themselves at this prestigious event.

“The one thing I will take away from this showcase is to trust myself,” Helie said. “I know that I am stronger than I believe, and I will always have room to improve, but if I don't have faith in my own abilities, how should I expect my teammates to trust me? My position requires confidence and leadership qualities for my team to thrive, so that is what I will provide.”

Overall, it was an unforgettable weekend for the U16s in Lakewood Ranch.

“It was truly an amazing experience, and I am so grateful that I got the chance to play against such good competition and in front of so many coaches,” Soden said.

2009 ECNL National Girls

For Coach Andre Reis and his 2009 squad, one of the main goals at ECNL Florida was building chemistry, a point emphasized before the showcase.

“Since we had added new players and had only played one game together prior to ECNL Florida, the main goal was to build chemistry, adjust to playing with one another, and, of course, showcase our team to the best of our ability,” centerback Olivia Umina said.

The defender went on to say she believes the team met those prerequisites, which is an understatement. The 2009 squad’s first match in Lakewood Ranch ended in a 4-0 victory over FC Wisconsin.

“The most important quality our Scorpions team has is teamwork — nobody is alone on the field. If one player is one-on-one versus an attacker, there's always another player behind them willing to step in if they need help. This is what makes our team so special.”

Goalkeeper Isabella Alcantara echoed these sentiments, praising the team’s composure and togetherness on numerous occasions. 

“We all worked together, and after experiencing a lot of adversity previously, it felt like we got out of it,” Alcantara said. “We are finally coming together, and it's showing on the field with our hard work. Our team has clicked in a way it never has before.”

The rest of the weekend brought with it a 1-1 draw against NCFC and a narrow 1-0 defeat to WNY Flash. These results saw the U17s finish in the top half of the table with a plus-3 goal differential. 

“I think the key to our defensive success is collective responsibility, mentality and decision-making,” Umina said. “Even though we want to control possession, everyone on the field understands their role defensively, especially in transition moments. Coach Reis always says that when we lose the ball, the first thing that should come to mind is get it back. As a team, I think this mentality is what helps us most in maintaining possession.”

All in all, the 2009s netted six goals and let in just three across the weekend. Forward/midfielder Analise Pinto believes patience and maturity played a large role in the team’s goalscoring output at ECNL Florida.

“We have been working on moving the ball, keeping possession, and resetting in high-pressure situations, and this was key for us [at ECNL Florida],” Pinto said. “Learning how to create chances off counters and overall build-up play was [an area] we grew in. We were able to create offensive chances throughout each game, and the next step is putting away as many as we can to get the results we are looking for. I know we can do this, and I am excited to see our hard work pay off this season.”

Pinto isn’t the only player who believes the U17s have set a solid foundation for the season ahead. Overall, the team is brimming with confidence.

“I believe this season ahead will be great,” Alcantara said. “We have very high expectations as a team, and I believe our goals can be met if we keep up with them.”

2007/08 ECNL National Girls

The showcase results took a backseat to the bittersweet feelings for one U19 player.

“ECNL Florida 2026 was definitely a memorable experience for me,” left back and midfielder Meg Vieira said. “It was my first time back playing after tearing my ACL. It was a full-circle moment for me because I was playing exactly one year later, in the same place that I’d been when I tore my ACL. I am so grateful for everybody who helped and supported me during my recovery, and I felt like I owed it to them to give it my all.”

Vieira noted that a motivating factor throughout her recovery process was getting to retake the pitch in Lakewood Ranch. The versatile U19 player was named as one of Scorpions SC’s standout performers, and she cannot help but feel as if her play set the tone for what’s to come.

“I wanted to prove to everybody that this injury made me stronger, and I feel like I accomplished that. I did better than I thought I would. Playing at ECNL Florida helped my confidence and set me up for success for the rest of the season.”

Coach Mascary emphasized his desire to get results at ECNL Florida in the buildup to the showcase. While his ‘07/08 side finished with one win and two losses, the team feels good about its performances.

“Even though we didn’t get all of the perfect results, [ECNL Florida] was a step in the right direction for this season,” Vieira said.

There are particularly positive things to take away from Scorpions’ second match of the showcase, a 3-2 victory over Sporting Blue Valley. This performance followed a weekend-opening defeat, and the resilience is being celebrated within the squad.

“We played some tough games, but they helped us become a better team. We’ve been training hard, and everybody should be really proud of how they played. I think this season is going to be great, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”