ECNL Boys U13-U17 National Champions anointed as 2024 Finals come to an end

The ECNL Boys Finals concluded with five ECNL Boys National Champions and five ECNL Boys Regional League National Champions being crowned over the final days of action in Richmond.

U17 ECNL National Champions – San Diego Surf

Following their triumph in last year’s U16 ECNL National Championship Game, San Diego Surf ran it back, to win back-to-back ECNL Boys National Championships.

Heat FC opened the scoring against Surf in the 49th minute when Joseph Gonzalez was able to get a rebound right in front of goal and put it home for the 1-0 lead.

The final third of the game featured a number of scoring chances from both sides, as San Diego Surf pushed to equalize, while Heat FC looked to extend their lead. Surf had two huge chances with Diego Valles firing one off the post in the 66th minute, while Heat FC goalkeeper Gabriel Flores denied a chance from inside the box in the 73rd minute.

Heat FC had their chances as well to seal the game and go up 2-0. Surf goalkeeper Gonzalo Gurrola made a key save in the 76th minute, tipped another shot that ricocheted off the crossbar in the 78th minute, and scrambled back into his goal in the 80th minute to keep out a shot from beyond midfield that would have likely sealed the game for Heat FC.

With Gurrola keeping his team in the game, Surf had one final chance in the dying seconds of the match, and the reigning ECNL U16 Player of the Year, Jake Basinet delivered, getting behind the Heat defense and firing home a shot in the sixth minute of stoppage time to send the game into extra time.

In extra time, Surf took control of the game. After a shot hit off the crossbar in the 95th minute, Basinet charged into the box and headed in the rebound to put Surf up 2-1.

BACK. TO. BACK.

San Diego Surf captures the U17 ECNL title 🏆@SurfSoccerClub | #ECNLFinals pic.twitter.com/8e0514nDio

— ECNL Boys (@ECNLboys) July 19, 2024

In the 106th minute, Heat FC had a chance to equalize from a corner kick, but with all their players forward in the attack, Surf was able to strike on the counter. Basinet took the ball from just outside his own box, dribbled past the keeper at midfield, and had nothing but green grass in front of him to complete his hat trick, and seal back-to-back ECNL National Championships for San Diego Surf.

The hat trick marked the second year in a row that Basinet scored a hat trick in an ECNL National Championship Game, as he scored three times in last season’s U16 ECNL National Championship Game to help Surf capture last year’s championship.

Adam Ambrus-Aikelin tacked on a final goal in the closing moments to give Surf the 4-1 victory.

With his hat trick, Basinet was named Player of the Match, but he shouted out the efforts of his teammate, Roman Rodriguez, who worked tirelessly all over the field for Surf throughout the game.

“Roman has always been my favorite player. Last year he assisted me twice in the final. He’s just an amazing player and always has the most work,” Basinet said.

Rodriguez, who played a lot of the game on Surf’s backline, was moved up into the attack in the key moments of the game, helping spark Surf’s comeback bid.

“My first two and a half years at Surf I’ve been a right winger most of the time, so whenever we’re struggling in the attack, the coaches know they can move me up because of my pace,” Rodriguez said. “I was just looking to get anything. It was late in the game and we needed something.”

Rodriguez noted the support of everyone within the club, including the parents, for making their repeat National Championship wins possible.

“We couldn’t go back to back without the parents, the players, and especially the coaches. It means everything,” Rodriguez said.

“Collectively as a group these guys never cease to amaze me,” said Surf Head Coach Danny Tonks. “We’re happy, delighted, and we respect the team we just played against because they are a heck of a team.”

U16 ECNL National Champions – LAFC So Cal

Led by second half goals from Marco Hernandez and Brandon Segovia, as well as an outstanding performance from Player of the Match Ryan Ghajar, LAFC So Cal clinched the U16 ECNL National Championship with a 3-0 win over NVA.

2️⃣ for 2️⃣

LAFC So Cal takes home the 2024 U16 ECNL National Championship! @LAFC_SoCalYouth | #ECNLFinals pic.twitter.com/NirdtNcpDR

— ECNL Boys (@ECNLboys) July 19, 2024

U15 ECNL National Champions – South Carolina Surf

South Carolina Surf got off to a quick 2-0 lead in the U15 National Championship Game against Pipeline SC. Pipeline fought their way back into the game though, scoring two goals inside the game’s final 15 minutes to send the title game into extra time. In extra time, South Carolina Surf found the winner to defeat Pipeline 3-2 and clinch the U15 ECNL National Championship.

U14 ECNL National Champions – LAFC So Cal

LAFC So Cal lifted their second ECNL National Championship of the day as their U14 side outlasted Dallas Texans Academy in a penalty kick shootout to win the U14 ECNL National Championship. The two sides finished regulation knotted at 1-1, but it was LAFC So Cal who lifted the title after their penalty kick magic continued, as they won all four of their knockout round games on penalty kicks.

U13 ECNL National Champions – Pipeline SC

Pipeline SC posted their second straight clean sheet at the ECNL Boys Finals, en route to lifting the U13 ECNL National Championship, with a 1-0 win over Real Colorado Academy.