Potomac ECNL Florida review: Richmond United impress at Sanford event

The D.C., Maryland and Virginia area had several representatives from the Elite Clubs National League at the ECNL Florida showcase event in Sanford, Florida this week.

For all the teams from the Potomac region, it represents their final games until at least February, with everyone having the month of January off from league play.

Let’s take a look at how they got on in the warmer climes of Florida.

Bethesda SC

Under-18s 0-1 St. Louis Scott Gallagher – IL (12/28)

Under-18s 3-2 Concorde Fire (12/29)

Under-18s 2-4 East Meadow Soccer Club (12/30)

Bethesda SC’s Under-18s had a mixed time of it in Florida as they lost twice and won one of their three games. A 3-2 victory over the Concorde Fire on December 29 was sandwiched by defeats to St. Louis Scott Gallagher and East Meadow Soccer Club in Bethesda’s last games before the first weekend in March.

FC Virginia

Under-15s 0-0 FSA FC (12/28)
Under-16s 0-4 PDA (12/28)
Under-17s 3-3 San Diego Surf (12/28)
Under-18s 1-2 Atlanta Fire (12/28)

Under-15s 1-0 St. Louis Scott Gallagher – IL (12/29)
Under-16s 2-3 Michigan Hawks (12/29)
Under-17s 0-1 East Meadow Soccer Club (12/29)
Under-18s 1-5 Charlotte Soccer Academy (12/29)

Under-15s 0-1 Continental FC DELCO (12/30)
Under-16s 0-1 Dallas Texans (12/30)
Under-17s 5-0 Atlanta Fire (12/30)
Under-18s 2-0 Albertson Fury (12/30)

FC Virginia sent four sides to Florida but saw the majority of their games end in defeat in the Under-15s to Under-18s age groups.

Virginia’s Under-15s drew 0-0 with FSA and lost 1-0 to Continental FC DELCO, but the highlight was their 1-0 win over St. Louis Scott Gallagher thanks to a goal from midfielder Nicole Foley.

In the Under-16s age group, FCV lost all three of their games to PDA, Michigan Hawks and Dallas Texans, while their Under-17s finished with a 1-1-1 record. The highlight of their weekend was the Under-17s’ 5-0 win over the Atlanta Fire on the final day, a positive end with their next games coming at the end of February.

Finally, Virginia’s Under-18s lost two of their three games, although they ended positively too with a 2-0 win over Albertson SC. In their 5-1 defeat to the Charlotte Soccer Academy, Samantha Davis scored a hat-trick for their opponents.

Maryland United

Under-15s 0-2 Atlanta Fire (12/28)
Under-16s 0-0 Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (12/28)
Under-17s 0-1 Concorde Fire (12/28)

Under-15s 0-5 Boston Breakers Academy (12/29)
Under-16s 2-2 Concorde Fire (12/29)
Under-17s 1-1 FC Dallas (12/29)

Under-15s 3-3 AHFC (12/30)
Under-16s 1-2 Sockers FC (12/30)
Under-17s 1-2 FC Stars of Massachusetts (12/30)

Maryland United went winless across the Under-15s to Under-17s age groups in Florida, although the majority of their defeats were by one or two-goal margins.

In the Under-15s age group, Maryland lost 2-0 to the Atlanta Fire and 5-0 to the Boston Breakers Academy before drawing 3-3 with AHFC on the final day. Natalia Zapata scored both goals for the Fire in their victory, while against AHFC, United were led by goals from Emily Garrick, Sarah Gellert and Lily Stavisky.

Maryland’s Under-16s came away from Florida with two draws and one defeat from their three games. United drew 0-0 with Carolina Elite Soccer Academy, while Kathleen Gibbons and Elizabeth Wolfe were on the scoresheet in their 2-2 draw against Concorde Fire. Finally, Maryland ended their weekend on a slightly disappointing note with a 2-1 defeat to Sockers FC.

Finally, United went winless in the Under-17s age group after defeats to Concorde Fire and FC Stars of Massachusetts and a draw against FC Dallas. Abbigale Ellis scored Maryland’s goal against FC Dallas, while Sarah Osborne scored in the defeat against FC Stars.

McLean YSA

Under-15s 5-3 Birmingham United (12/28)
Under-16s 0-0 FSA FC (12/28)
Under-17s 1-2 East Meadow Soccer Club (12/28)
Under-18s 3-2 West Florida Flames (12/28)

Under-15s 1-4 FC Stars of Massachusetts (12/29)
Under-16s 0-1 GSA (12/29)
Under-17s 2-0 FC Wisconsin Eclipse (12/29)
Under-18s 0-1 Eclipse Select Soccer Club (12/29)

Under-15s 1-4 FC Dallas (12/30)
Under-16s 1-1 FC Wisconsin Eclipse (12/30)
Under-17s 3-0 Birmingham United (12/30)
Under-18s 1-4 Match Fit Academy (12/30)

McLean YSA also took four teams to Florida and enjoyed a number of encouraging results in the Under-15s to Under-18s age groups.

In the Under-15s, McLean started positively with a 5-3 win over Birmingham United, led by a brace from Megan Fisher and other strikes by Savannah Conner, Claire Constant and Grace Sklopan. However, they then went down to two consecutive 4-1 defeats to FC Stars of Massachusetts and FC Dallas, with Caitlin Moon finding the net against FC Stars.

McLean’s Under-16s had an encouraging display in Florida with two draws and one defeat. They kicked off with a 0-0 tie against FSA, although in the next game GSA triumphed 1-0 on a goal from Itohan Nosegbe. However, McLean ended well with a 1-1 tie against FC Wisconsin Eclipse.

In the Under-17s age group, McLean started poorly with a 2-1 defeat to East Meadow, with Breanna Mitchell their only player to find the net. However, they finished strongly with two big wins over FC Wisconsin Eclipse and Birmingham United. Ayan Adu and Meghan Kammerdeiner scored against the Eclipse, while Adu, Rayven Connor and Madeleine Dale scored against Birmingham.

Finally, McLean’s Under-18s started well with a 3-2 win over the West Florida Flames thanks to goals from Rebecca Callison, Kristina Diana and Lorato Sargeant. However, they then went down to two straight defeats against Eclipse Select Soccer Club and Match Fit Academy.

Richmond United

Under-15s 4-0 Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (12/28)
Under-16s 3-0 World Class FC (12/28)
Under-17s 2-4 Continental FC DELCO (12/28)

Under-15s 2-1 Vardar FC (12/29)
Under-16s 2-1 D’Feeters Soccer Club (12/29)
Under-17s 2-0 West Coast FC (12/29)

Under-15s 5-0 Orlando City (12/30)
Under-16s 0-0 FC Bucks (12/30)
Under-17s 2-2 Texas Rush (12/30)

Richmond United had a number of positive results on their travels in Florida, with their Under-15s conceding just once in their course of their three straight victories.

McKinley Burkett was United’s star in the Under-15s as she scored hat-tricks against Carolina Elite Soccer Academy and Orlando City and notched another against Vardar FC. Also on the scoresheet were Emily Crocco against Carolina Elite and Paige Franks against Vardar and Orlando, against whom she scored a brace.

United’s Under-16s went unbeaten also in their three games, and started well with a 3-0 win over World Class FC thanks to goals from Taylor Guy, Gabrielle Johnson and McKenna Maier. The following day, they beat D’Feeters Soccer Club 2-1 on goals from Riley Cook and another from Guy. Then, to complete a successful weekend, Richmond drew 0-0 with FC Bucks.

Finally, United’s Under-17s finished 1-1-1 after recovering from a 4-2 defeat to Continental FC DELCO. Taylor Alvey and Virginia Jesselson found the net for Richmond in the loss. Then, after a 2-0 win over West Coast FC, Richmond drew 2-2 with the Texas Rush thanks to a double from Keniya Fox.