ECNL Alums take 2019 NCAA Women’s College Cup by storm

RICHMOND, VA (December 3, 2019) – As the 2019 women’s college soccer season draws to a close, the country is left with the top four programs facing off in the NCAA Division I Women’s College Cup in San Jose, California this weekend. Consistent with previous years, ECNL Alums have again overwhelmingly dominated the 2019 College Cup rosters.

Over the last four years, the ECNL has averaged 82 alums each year participating in the Final Four. This year, between the UCLA Bruins, North Carolina Tarheels, Stanford Cardinal and Washington State Cougars, the Women’s College Cup Final Four includes 75 ECNL Alums.

The ECNL College Impact chronicles the unprecedented influence of ECNL alums as leaders at the collegiate level, showcasing their achievements and overall effect on the game both on and off the field.  The numbers from the 2019 season solidify the ECNL’s undisputed role in creating the country’s leading environment for player development, and in being more than a league when it comes to impact on women’s soccer in the United States.

“The ECNL player is driven to be her best and to make her team stronger. We are incredibly proud of the ECNL Alums who continue to lead teams to the top of college soccer, especially after seeing so many of them do the same with their club teams in the ECNL Playoffs for years,” said ECNL Girls Commissioner Jen Winnagle. “The preparation these players received in their clubs and in the ECNL has prepared them to rise to these moments. We will be celebrating their collective success as so many of these players have been on this journey together.”

ECNL Alums in the 2019 College Cup by the Numbers:   

UCLA Bruins:

• 59% of total players on the UCLA roster are ECNL Alums
• 73% of UCLA goals scored in the postseason were by ECNL Alums
• ECNL Alums assisted on 92% of UCLA goals scored in the postseason
• The last time UCLA qualified for the Final Four was in 2017, represented by 19 ECNL alums
• UCLA’s only Women’s College Cup championship came in 2013

North Carolina Tarheels:

• 73% of total players on the UNC roster are ECNL Alums
• 62% of UNC goals scored during the postseason were by ECNL Alums
• ECNL Alums assisted on 71% of UNC goals scored in the postseason
• The most decorated collegiate program in the women’s game, UNC boasts 21 championships.
• UNC was the runner-up last year after losing to Florida State in the College Cup Finals.
• This is UNC’s third Final Four appearance in the last four years, qualifying for the 2016 Cup (represented by 26 ECNL alums), 2018 Cup (22 ECNL alums), and 2019 Cup (22 ECNL alums)

Stanford Cardinals:

• 83% of total players on the Stanford roster are ECNL Alums
• 96% of UNC goals scored during the postseason  were by ECNL Alums
• ECNL Alums assisted on 95% of Stanford goals scored during the postseason
• This is Stanford’s third consecutive Final Four appearance, qualifying in the 2017 Cup (23 ECNL alums), 2018 Cup (25 ECNL alums), and 2019 Cup (20 ECNL alums).
• Stanford will take on UCLA in the 2019 semifinals, a rematch of the 2017 College Cup Final won by Stanford for their second ever title

Washington State Cougars:

• 48% of total players on the WSU roster are ECNL Alums
• 50% of Washington State goals scored during the postseason were by ECNL Alums
• ECNL Alums assisted on 50% of WSU goals scored during the postseason
• This is WSU’s first-ever appearance in the Women’s College Cup Final Four

In all, ECNL alums account for 77% of the combined goals scored and 82% of the combined assists for the four teams in the 2019 College Cup!

UCLA ECNL ALUMS:

Totals: 19 out of 32 UCLA players are ECNL alums

UNC ECNL ALUMS: 

Totals: 22 out of 30 UNC players are ECNL alums

STANFORD ECNL ALUMS:

Totals: 20 out of 24 Stanford players are ECNL alums

WSU ECNL ALUMS:

Totals: 14 out of 29 WSU players are ECNL alums

UCLA, UNC, Stanford and Washington State are set to matchup in the semifinals of the 2019 D1 Women’s College Cup on December 6th, with the winner of each semifinal match earning a bid to the NCAA Women’s College Cup Championship on Sunday, December 8th. The matches will be held at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California.