TEMECULA, California – There are a lot of perks that come with an Elite Clubs  National League championship.

Rest is not one of them.

So in addition to the bling-bling (ahem, the trophy) and having their names catalogued in the record books, the defending champion U17 Mustang SC Rampage have received a much more taxing reward: they get to do it all over again.

A little more than a month since claiming the ultimate crown in Seattle, Mustang is back at it this weekend in the season-opening Fall Showcase which began Friday.

And if the team thought their victory lap would extend through the summer, Friday’s 2-1 loss to San Diego Surf was a harsh reminder that recent history is, well, history.

“It’s a quick turnaround, and the competition doesn’t allow you to letdown,” said Mustang coach Joe Owen. “We had the Surf Cup just a couple weeks after the final and now we’re here. It’s going to be a challenge. We have to get through this event and then get some time to rest in the fall.

The Surf made it tough to relax with a talented group that includes right back Laura Liedle, a right back and national teamer, midfielder Kate Perry and Maya Theuer.

The Surf scored on a corner kick in the first few minutes, and the Mustang, led by players like Celeste Boureille and Briana Gaines, rallied back to tie things but San Diego put the match away with a goal in the second half.

Far from the only show in Temecula, here’s a look at some of the other top matches and players from day one.

U17 De Anza Force 3, FC Milwaukee 3

This was a great back-and-forth match in the morning that featured lead changes on each score. Megan Louise Rauschnot gave Northern California side De Anza a 2-1 advantage only to watch the game tied up moments later on a rebound from FC Milwaukee’s Samantha Sanders.

It looked as though a goalkeeping error would give De Anza the match after Ali Jones netted a score after the opposing keeper dubiously blocked an easy ball – rather than catch it – right to her. Then just before the final whistle, Milwaukee earned a dramatic tie when Brianna LaBarbera’s strike nailed the post, allowing Geena Swentik to capitalize.

U16 FC Milwaukee 2, De Anza Force 1,

These two teams just have a thing for drama (the U15 match between the same squads was also a one-goal game). This time, FC Milwaukee attacker Sara Waters was the story. Her team trailing 1-0, she thought she had tied the game after scoring on an open run and even going into her celebratory strut, but those darn referees spoil everything. She was called for pushing off and the goal was wiped away.

Redemption came on a hustle play that saw her knocked to the ground during a scrum in the box - got up quick enough to beat the defenders to the ball and push one past the keeper.

“I knew I had to get up quickly to win the ball,” Waters said, applying an ice pack to her back as a result of the play. “It felt great to score that. I was so disappointed after the other one was taken away.”

Spurred by Waters' effort, FC Milwaukee scored on a corner kick to pull the win out in the final seconds.

Observations

• Her team, the U17 Colorado Rush, may have lost 2-1 to Arsenal FC but that Lindsey Horan sure is a special player. The national team star reminded everyone of her great combination of size and skill during day one.
• The U16 and U17 Irvine Strikers squads had dominant afternoons. The 16s won in a 6-0 rout and the 17s took a 2-0 victory on goals from Megan Daniels and Sara Kwan.
• Alexandra Chou played a good match for U17 SC Del Sol as her team knocked off Slammers FC.
• U17 Real So Cal goalkeeper Rebecca Magier played an inspired match and nearly kept a clean shot. She was under attack often, and made her share of saves including a stop on a penalty kick.

ECNL Fall Showcase Day One Results

U15
Arsenal 1, Colorado Rush 0
De Anza Force 2, FC Milwaukee 1
Neusport FC 2, SC Del Sol 0
Mustang SC 1, Slammers FC 1
San Diego Surf 2, San Juan SC 0
West Coast FC 6, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 3
KCFC 3, Irvine Strikers 0
Real So Cal 1, Pleasanton Rage 0

U16
San Diego Surf 1, Colorado Rush 0
Slammers FC 6, KCFC 2
Arsenal FC 5, Mustang SC 2
FC Milwaukee 2, De Anza Force 1
Real So Cal 5, San Juan SC
Irvine Strikers 6, Neusport 0
Pleasanton Rage 1, SC Del Sol 0
West Coast FC 2, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 2

U17
Arsenal FC 2, Colorado Rush 1
KCFC 1, Real So Cal 0
San Diego Surf 2, Mustang SC 1
SC Del Sol 3, Slammers FC 2
De Anza Force 3, FC Milwaukee 3
West Coast FC 0, San Juan SC 0
Pleasanton Rage 3, Neusport 0
Irvine Strikers 2, St. Louis Scott Gallagher 0

U18
De Anza Force 4, Arsenal FC 1
Real So Cal 1, FC Milwaukee 0
KCFC 2, Slammers FC 0
San Diego Surf 1, Real Colorado 0
Mustang SC 0, SC Del Sol 0
Neusport FC 3, Irvine Strikers 0
Sereno Soccer 1, San Juan SC 0
West Coast FC 2, Pleasanton Rage 0