REDMOND, Wash. – All season long, McLean Youth Soccer’s U18s hadn’t lost a game.
On the final day of play at the ECNL playoffs, the Virginia side was just minutes away from falling 1-0 in the U18 Championship game.
But once again, they found a way.
Grace Sklopan tied the game with two minutes left, and Annie Sorando latched on to a glanced header from Aleigh Gambone, providing the winning margin in a 2-1 victory against Ohio Premier.
It was a heartbreaker for the Ohio side, which defended tough all afternoon, as both U18 sides wrapped up Champions League player in Seattle.
In the other age groups, Tuesday’s quarterfinals settled which U14-U17 teams head to Richmond for the national semifinals on July 6-7.
ECNL National Semifinalists
U14: MVLA, FC Stars, Sting Dallas, San Juan SC
U15: Crossfire United, East Meadow SC, Slammers FC, Strikers FC
U16: So Cal Blues, Mustang SC, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy, San Diego Surf
U17: So Cal Blues, Mustang SC, Minnesota Thunder Academy, Davis Legacy
Below is a look at some of the standouts from Tuesday’s Champions League action spotted by TopDrawerSoccer.
