Five teams emerge from ECNL Fall National Showcase with perfect records to start the 2010-11 season
TEMECULA, Calif. (Aug. 30, 2010) – The ECNL Fall National Showcase came to a close Sunday in Temecula, Calif., where a total of five teams opened the 2010-11 ECNL season with a perfect 3-0-0 record. Sixty-four teams participated in the event, which took place Aug. 27-29 at the John Blanche Memorial Soccer Complex.
The five teams to open the season with three victories were Neusport FC and Real So Cal in U-15 Challenge B, FC Milwaukee in U-16 Challenge B, San Diego Surf in U-18 Challenge A and West Coast FC in U-18 Challenge B.
“It was very apparent that all the players understood that this is a year-long league competition and that these games really mattered,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers. “The emotions, energy and quality of the games were very high and exciting to watch. In addition, between the ECNL Player Identification scouts and the U.S. Soccer Federation scouts, it was a great opportunity for the top players to show they could compete at another level.”
As one of 12 expansion clubs for the 2010-11 ECNL season, San Diego Surf had an impressive opening weekend of competition as all four teams leave Temecula in first place in their age groups.
“All of the games this weekend could have gone either way because you’re playing high-end opponents, but overall the attitude, quality of play and coaching was right,” said San Diego Surf Director of Coaching Colin Chesters. “It was very exciting to see the players step up to the level of play and if we can do that on a consistent basis, I think the experience this season is going to be great for everybody.”
Neusport FC was the highest-scoring U-15 team on Sunday, as they defeated FC Milwaukee 5-2 to improve to 3-0-0 on the young season. Real So Cal joined them atop the U-15 Challenge B standings with nine points thanks to a 1-0 victory over De Anza Force. In U-15 Challenge A action, Arsenal FC and San Diego Surf will leave Temecula tied for first place at seven points after both teams drew on Sunday.
FC Milwaukee was the only U-16 side to win all three of its contests this weekend following a narrow 2-1 win over Pleasanton Rage on Sunday in Challenge B action. The Challenge A standings are much tighter as Arsenal FC, Real So Cal and San Diego Surf each earned seven points at the Fall Showcase.
The U-17 age group continues to be the most competitive division as no team was able to truly separate itself from the pack. In Challenge A play, Arsenal FC and San Diego Surf lead the division with seven points apiece, however nine of the 10 teams in the division tallied at least three points during the weekend. The Challenge B table is even tighter, as only four points separate the six teams that took part in the event.
The West Coast FC U-18 team boasts the largest division lead coming out of the Fall Showcase, as the team’s nine points is five more than second-place Pleasanton Rage in Challenge B. San Diego Surf claims the top spot in Challenge A after the team went 3-0-0 in Temecula.
The ECNL Fall National Showcase provided tremendous exposure for the players taking part in the event as college coaches from around the nation were on hand to watch the action. In addition, four members of the U.S. Soccer staff have been at the event to scout for players with national team potential.
The ECNL regular season resumes with the second of five regular-season events Dec. 3-5 at the Final Four Showcase in Raleigh, N.C. The season will then continue with an ECNL National Event taking place Dec. 27-29 in Sanford, Fla.
About the ECNL:
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. The 2010-11 season is the ECNL’s second season. Each of the 52 member clubs in 2010-11 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 US Club Soccer.
About US Club Soccer:
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. A member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, US Club Soccer has grown to include member clubs and leagues in all 50 states. In addition to sanctioning and administering tournaments, leagues and other competitions as well as offering a range of programs for its members, US Club Soccer annually conducts the National Cup. US Club Soccer also directs its own player identification and development program – id2. For more information, please visit http://www.usclubsoccer.org.
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