ECNL: Light slate for local teams

By Jimmy LaRoue

Following last weekend’s Inter-Conference Event at the River City Sportsplex, it’s a very light weekend for local ECNL teams, as just one match is on the docket.

Sunday, McLean Youth Soccer’s U-14s host Virginia Rush at Spring Hill Rec Center #5. McLean (2-3-1, 7 pts.) is tied on points with Freestate Soccer Alliance (2-5-1) with seven.

Virginia Rush (1-4-0), meanwhile, has won just once in five games and stands in eighth of 10 Mid-Atlantic Conference teams.

McLean narrowly defeated Rush 1-0 last month at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex. Since then, McLean has lost twice in conference play and has won just once overall in its last five matches, while Rush lost a pair of matches at the Inter-Conference Event before pulling out a 1-1 tie against Carolina Elite Soccer Academy.

In U-15 play last week, McLean held off Rush 3-1 for its first win of the season, getting a brace from Madeline Daizell and an additional goal from Carson Nikalek. Rush’s goal came from Madeline Malooly. Rush fell to 2-2-1 with the loss, while McLean moved to 1-3-1. Both teams trail FC Virginia, who have raced off to a perfect 4-0-0 start, scoring 14 goals and surrendering none. McLean had a perfect weekend against Rush, also winning matchups with the clubs’ U-16s, U-17s and U-18s.

Last weekend’s U-16 play saw FC Virginia shutout Richmond Strikers 3-0, and McLean pouring on a flurry of goals in a 5-2 win over Rush.

McLean and FC Virginia are tied atop the U-16 conference standings with 3-1-1 records, while the strikers are not far behind with a 2-3-0 record and Rush is 1-4-0. The Strikers’ U-17s have yet to give up a goal but are tied atop the standings at 4-0-1 with McLean, who itself has given up just one goal.

FC Virginia also took the U-17 and U-18 matchups against Strikers.

Local conference teams resume play next weekend with a slate of matches against Ohio-based teams before the Thanksgiving holiday break.