ENPL announces four qualifying competitions in Northeast region
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Via US Club Soccer) – Building on the announcement of the first qualifying competitions for the Elite National Premier League (ENPL), the ENPL has now announced the qualifying National Premier Leagues and Boys ECNL Conference for the 2017-18 season in the Northeast.
Qualifying boys’ teams in five age groups from 14-U to 19-U from the New England Premiership (NEP), the New York Club Soccer League (NYCSL), Elite Development Program (EDP) and from the Boys ECNL Northeast Conference will advance to the ENPL Playoffs in June 2018. These teams will earn qualification to the ENPL Playoffs, based on their performances throughout the regular season in their respective competitions.
By providing qualification paths for both team- and club-based competitions, the ENPL will feature the best boys players in US Club Soccer. The regular season competition within each NPL and Boys ECNL Conference are unique and independently structured; however, all teams will focus on the same postseason destination: the ENPL Playoffs.
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The NEP covers the breadth of New England, with 20 member clubs and competition from 9-U to 23-U in both league and cup formats. Teams from NEP clubs were responsible for three NPL championships and two finalists during the 2016 NPL Finals, showing the depth and quality of the league. Member clubs are: Aztec Soccer (MA), Bayside FC (RI), Bruno United FC (RI), CFC North (CT), Liverpool International Academy (MA), FC USA Coastal (MA), FC Boston (MA), FC Stars (MA), GPS (MA), GPS (ME), GPS (NH), Lightning SC (NH), NEFC (MA), Seacoast United (MA), Seacoast United (ME), Seacoast United (NH), SFC New England (MA), Valeo FC (MA) and Western United Pioneers (MA).
Teams from the New England Premiership – NPL Divisions will have access to the ENPL platform. The NEP NPL Divisions will provide a clear, competitive and standards-focused pathway for top teams from these clubs to compete for an ENPL National Championship.
“The New England Premiership welcomes the opportunity to collaborate and cooperate with its partner clubs, NPLs and Boys ECNL conferences under the ENPL umbrella,” said Sean Carey, NEP League Director. “Providing the appropriate level of competition and pathways for players on local, regional and national levels is a core value of the NEP and its member clubs. The ENPL platform will offer the opportunity for top players and teams to compete against like-minded, standards-driven teams and clubs on a national stage.”
The NYCSL is the largest league in New York, with multiple levels of competition for teams in either the NPL division, the Premier League or the Travel League. The NYCSL also claimed one NPL title at the 2016 NPL Finals. Member clubs are: Brentwood Youth SC (NY), Brooklyn Italians SC (NY), Eastern FC (NY), Everton America (CT), Massapequa SC (NY), NY Elite FC (NY), NY Hota Bavarian SC (NY), Parsippany SC (NJ), Princeton SA NPL (NJ), Soccer Plus Academy (NY), STA (NJ) and SUSA FC (NY).
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“The NYCSL is delighted to be a ENPL qualifying competition. Our NPL member clubs will benefit from the high-caliber regional and national exposure ENPL will offer and give their players a great opportunity to test themselves against some of the best players in the country,” said John Curtis, NYCSL Technical Director. “The ENPL offers a true national platform and the inclusion of Boys ECNL qualifying competitions broadens the reach currently offered by NPL alone. We are very excited to see how this more comprehensive platform delivers improved opportunities to all NPL players.”
The EDP – NPL Division includes teams throughout the Mid-Atlantic, with the primary concentration in New York and New Jersey. EDP teams also shined at the 2016 NPL Finals, matching the NEP with three NPL national championships and two runner-up finishes. Member clubs are: Bethesda SC (MD), FC Copa (NJ), Ironbound SC (NJ), Manhattan SC (NY), New York SC (NY), Pipeline SC (MD), SAC (MD), South Jersey Elite Barons (NJ) and TSF Academy (NJ).
“ENPL gives our members the opportunity to compete on a regional and national stage, which gives them a little something extra to play for throughout the year. Importantly, ENPL will push our membership to continue to create top-notch development environments for their players,” said Alan Shilling, EDP CEO. “The most intriguing aspect of ENPL are the people and clubs who are involved. Surrounding ourselves with great minds who are committed to the game will allow our league and our members to stay at the forefront of player development within this sport.”
All three NPLs feature strong Player Development Programs and a commitment to ongoing coaching development and education.
The Boys ECNL Northeast Conference will include clubs from Maryland to Massachusetts that have distinguished themselves in a variety of different competitions in US Club Soccer and elsewhere over the past years, including: Albertson SC (NY), Baltimore Celtic (MD), Connecticut FC (CT), Continental FC (PA), East Meadow (NY), FC Boston (MA), FC Stars (MA), FSA (CT), Maryland United (MD), Match Fit (NJ), Penn Fusion SA (PA) and World Class (NJ).
Additional Boys ECNL Conferences and Boys NPLs that will qualify into the ENPL will be announced in the coming weeks. The ENPL is a collaboration between US Club Soccer and the ECNL to raise standards in youth boys soccer across the country.
