Saline's Dager Scores Overtime Winner as Michigan Hawks Win National Soccer Title

Rising Saline High School senior Catherine Dager scored the goal that won the Elite Clubs National League U17 championship for the Michigan Hawks.

Dager, who has verbally committed to attend and play soccer at Villanova University in the fall of 2017, scored the the goal in a 1-0 overtime victory over San Jose-based DeAnza Force, ranked second in the country.

The game, played in Germantown, Md., remained tied at 0-0 after 90 minutes of regulation, with both teams having a few good chances.  It was Dager's breakaway in the 98th minute that was the difference maker.  After beating an offsides trap, Dager had a breakaway.  The goalie was able to get a hand on the initial chip attempt, but Dager outraced two DeAnza defenders to the ball and slotted it into the net just out of the reach of the defenders with her right foot while falling to the ground.  The team held on for the next 12 minutes and came away with the ECNL Championship.

.@HawksWolves 1-0 in the 1st OT. The keeper saved the first shot of the breakaway, but then this... #ECNLFinals pic.twitter.com/K6ldjCHei5

— ECNL (@theECNL) July 9, 2016

The U17 Michigan Hawks, compete in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) which consists of 79 teams throughout the U.S. and is considered the top female youth soccer league in the country.

After winning the Midwest Conference with a 13-1-2 record, the Hawks competed in the National Playoffs in Oceanside,  Calif., in late June.  In the playoffs, the team secured a spot in the quarterfinals  by winning in the group stage against teams from Virginia,  Colorado, and Texas.  After being down 2-0 late in the second half against the Dallas Texans, a beautiful give and go move was followed by a cross into the box by Dager for the assist that tied the game at 2-2.  The tie enabled the Hawks to win their group, leading to a quarterfinal match up against Phoenix based Del Sol FC, the number one ranked U17 team in the nation. A 2-0 victory against Del Sol ensued, with Dager producing another beautiful crossing assist in this game after slipping past a defender down the left hand side of the field. In the national Semi-final, the Hawks defeated the Los Angeles based Slammers FC 2-1.  Dager had the game winner in this game with a half-volley that slipped past the Slammers goalie.

Dager competes in sprints and long jump for the Saline High School track and field team.

More News from Saline

• What's Going on in Saline for St. Patrick's Day? Have you made your plans yet for St. Patrick's Day? Don't know where to get your corned beef and cabbage?
• Saline, Pioneer to Duke it Out in State Championship Saline hopes to swim past Pioneer in the second and final day of the MHSAA Division 1 meet at the Holland Aquatic Center Saturday.