Girls ECNL AZ National Event preview

Girls ECNL AZ National Event preview
by Travis Clark
March 31, 2022

The latest Girls ECNL National Event is on the schedule for this weekend, with U13-U17 matches split in the Phoenix area.

On Saturday night, the latest Girls ECNL National Selection Games will take place, featuring U16/17 teams, and two U15 teams battle it out.

Below is a look at some of the teams from each age group to watch.

U13

The youngest age group is set to feature 40 teams as part of the U13-14 event that will be in Scottsdale.

Several of the top teams from Texas at this age group are making the trip at U13. That includes FC Dallas and DKSC.

FCD actually opens the weekend against another one of the top teams from outside the Texas Conference in Legends FC. Eagles SC is a side to watch from California.

They’ll also take on another intriguing team to watch, as San Juan SC has a 10-1-1 record in conference play heading into the trip to Arizona.

U14

Yet to lose a game in conference play, De Anza Force heads to Arizona as one of the highest seeds in the Champions League standings. They’ll face SUSA, Real Colorado National and Sporting California Arsenal FC.

Real Colorado National is one of the teams higher in the current standings, with a 13-0-1 record, scoring 51 goals and conceding just seven times.

San Juan SC is also a formidable team at this age group, along with SLSG Navy. San Diego Surf brings a 9-1-2 record with them to Arizona. The offense of Slammers FC HB Koge is something to keep an eye on here. Strong at almost every age group competing, the U14s have scored 73 goals in just 12 games.

U15

With the location of this event, there are several prominent California teams to keep an eye on – especially with the high school season out west nearing an end. Slammers FC HB Koge lines up against SUSA, Minnesota Thunder Academy and MVLA.

SUSA is in the early stages of the season, with just a 5-0-1 record, making that opening game versus Slammers an intriguing one to watch. Connecticut FC is similar; rattling off four straight wins in regular season play. Legends FC has a solid record at this age group as well, along with San Diego Surf and the aforementioned MVLA.

Another typically strong club at just about every age group, Real Colorado National is strong at this age group. They open the weekend against Ohio Premier, before facing PDA Blue and Connecticut FC.

U16

Several of the top-seeded teams in the Champions League standings are making the trip. That includes Slammers FC HB Koge, Crossfire Premier and Internationals SC. The Ohio club team kicks off the Arizona event against San Diego Surf, a team that has conceded just four goals in 12 ECNL games this season.

Other top teams from California that are making the relatively short trip include MVLA, LAFC So Cal, Slammers FC and Legends FC.

Another team in the thick of the ECNL Champions League race is La Roca United. A diverse array of geographic opponents awaits. After opening up against Florida Krush, they’ll take on Heat FC and finish on Monday against Richmond United.

Richmond is one of a handful of East Coast teams making the trip. For many that played high school soccer, it’s early in the league season. But there should be formidable games from Connecticut FC, PDA Blue, FC Bucks and Bethesda SC, to name just a few.

U17

During Beach FC’s last national event in Tennessee, they won all three games by a combined 18-0 score. Games against SUSA FC, Portland Thorns and FC Alliance are on the schedule for them in Arizona.

A trio of tricky opponents are on the schedule for PDA Blue, which faces a trio of California opponents in De Anza Force, Slammers FC HB Koge and San Diego Surf.

Midwest Conference contenders Minnesota Thunder Academy head to the warmer climate of Arizona, winners of four straight – though the last game was on Feb. 6. On Saturday, they take on Legends FC, before getting tested by Strikers FC and finishing versus Pipeline SC.

Some of the other West Coast sides worth tracking that haven’t been mentioned include Mustang SC, La Roca FC, MVLA and Seattle United.

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