The ECNL schedule for a number of teams is about to get extraordinarily busy with a large swath of games squeezed into May before the playoffs kick off in June. The first weekend of May gives a glimpse at some of the teams that will be the focal point of the race for playoff spots over the next few weeks.
U14
Michigan Hawks are in action this weekend with home games against SLSG - IL and SLSG - MO. Hawks sit in second place in the champions league qualification with a 10-0-1 record and only five games left in the regular season. SLSG - MO gave Hawks their only draw of the season in the earlier meeting this season. Gretchen Skoglund and Lillian Schnieders scored goals for SLSG in a 2-2 draw.
In the Northeast Conference, FC Stars of Massachusetts hosts Boston Breakers on Saturday. FC Stars sit in first place in the New England Division with a 15-0-2 record. Boston Breakers is in second with a 9-5-3 mark. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw earlier this season.
CASL is in action this weekend with games against Richmond United and NC Fusion. CASL only has five games left in the regular season and the North Carolina club is trying to keep hold of its spot in the top ten in the national standings. CASL won the first meetings of the season against Richmond United and NC Fusion 1-0.
U15
Eclipse Select Soccer Club hosts Minnesota Thunder Academy for a pair of games this weekend. Eclipse is unbeaten in its last four and looking to extend that streak heading into the final month of the regular season.
Ohio Premier takes on Maryland United FC and Ohio Elite Soccer Academy this weekend in Ohio Valley Division play. Ohio Premier is first in the division, but Ohio Elite is close on its heels. This is the first meeting of the season between these teams.
Lonestar SC hosts Texas Rush this weekend in an important game for Lonestar. The Austin club is trying to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot and a three points on Saturday would go a long way to helping that cause. Lonestar defeated Texas Rush 2-0 in the first meeting this season. Grace Erdman and Giovanna Olivieri scored.
U16
Crossfire United hits the road this weekend for games against Utah Avalanche and FC Nova. This is Crossfire United’s only trip to Utah this season. United won the first leg of this pair of games 4-0 and 4-1 respectively. Haley Clark scored three of the eight goals that weekend.
Las Vegas Premier SA has a challenging weekend ahead with Slammers FC and San Diego Surf coming to town. This weekend marks the start of a busy month for the Las Vegas squad. Las Vegas Premier SA plays 10 games in May.
Connecticut FC also faces an important slate of games this weekend with Albertson Furt and East Meadow Soccer Club coming to town. Connecticut is trying to climb the playoff standings with a busy schedule upcoming this month. Yale commit Ciara Ostrander has been the key piece of the attack with four goals and four assists.
U17
The action starts early in the U17 age group with FC Bucks taking on PDA on Friday night. This is the second meeting of the season between these teams. PDA won the first leg 3-1. Bridget Galen scored the lone goal for FC Bucks in that clash.
FC Portland makes the trek to Utah this weekend for games against FC Nova and Utah Avalanche. Portland is coming off a successful April where it pulled 10 points from five games. FC Portland secured four points from these two games in the previous meeting this season. Corinne Togiai scored in both of those games.
U18
Dallas Sting cap off its regular season on Sunday with a game against Dallas Texans. Sting has been untouchable for much of this season with a 15-0-1 record and a plus 57 goal differential. Sting brings a seven-game shutout streak into the contest. Texans did manage to keep it close in the first meeting this season with Emily Bates bagging a goal for Texans in a 2-1 Sting victory.
Players to Watch
