The new year brings fresh expectation across US Club Soccer’s 19 member National Premier Leagues. The NPL got off to a crackling start in 2013, and the season getting set to bleed over into 2014 en route to this summer’s NPL Finals in Greensboro, N.C.

With that in mind, here’s a glimpse at five programs (and the leagues in which they’re housed) with hopes of walking the gilded path to North Carolina in July.

Solar U15 boys (Texas Pre-Academy League): Solar has established itself in the Metroplex as one of the deepest programs around, and that’s evidenced here by the U15s’ success in the NPL. The Texas Pre-Academy League is one of the toughest in the country, and Solar is top of the nine-team U15 group with 21 points (7-0-1) through its eight games. The most impressive scalp came in September when Solar nipped a 1-0 win from always talented FC Dallas to assert its command here.

Davis SC Legacy U15 girls (NorCal National Premier League): NorCal is a tremendously competitive league with membership carrying something of an elite status in most circles. You couldn’t have found a more dominant side through the girls fall schedule than Legacy, which went unbeaten in its eight games with a 7-1-0 record. Even more impressive was how they did it, scoring 37 goals and conceding just five in those eight games. Keep an eye on the future path of the talented Mia Root, whose 15 goals were the most for any girl in any age bracket in the NorCal NPL system over the fall.

Boca United U18 boys (Florida Premier League): With 11 teams, the Florida Premier League is one of the country’s biggest in addition to being among its best, and it benefits from the ability to train comfortably year-round. The Boca United U18 Gold side carried the day in the fall and enters 2014 with legitimate hopes of streaking to Greensboro. The team captured 14 points from seven games to nip Chargers SC by a point, and the team’s 27-10 goal differential echoed their success.

NEFC U14 girls (New York Club Soccer League-NPL): NEFC has emerged as one of New England’s premier non-Development Academy programs across the board, and the U14 girls have upheld a lofty standard so far this season better than anyone. There are 20 total girls groups spanning from the U12 to U18 levels in the NYCSL, and no team across the board accrued more points through its first spate of games than the NEFC U14s in their U14 Group B. They’ve managed a perfect 10-0-0 record to start the year, and they have a stunning return of 42 goals to just three conceded.

Emerald City FC U18 boys (Puget Sound Premier League): As always the Pacific Northwest is a font of talent, and no NPL U18 side in the Seattle area has done more so far this season than the Emerald City FC U18s. Through 14 games, ECFC has a staggering 42 points and a spotless 14-0-0 record with 41 goals and just 11 against. Tynecastle FC is pulling up in second a full 13 points behind, and Emerald City’s 4-2 win over their second-place rivals on Dec. 13 seemed to further assert the dominant club’s command of the region’s U18 age bracket.

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