ECNL: Mixed success for Virginia teams in matchups against Ohio sides

Virginia’s Elite Clubs National League clubs held their own against their Ohio-based counterparts over the weekend, though many of the Buckeye state’s teams were just beginning their league seasons.

For the Ohio teams’ U-15 through U-18 teams, it was their first matches of the 2012-13 ECNL season.

This weekend was the last to see all of these Virginia teams at home until at least early February.

Here’s the breakdown by age group:

U-14

FC Virginia (6-1-1) had the best results among U-14 teams, taking two wins over the weekend, a 2-1 win over Ohio Premier Eagles Saturday and a 2-0 win Sunday over Internationals. McLean Youth Soccer (2-4-3), meanwhile, played a scoreless tie with Internationals (6-2-4) Saturday, and fell 5-1 to Ohio Premier Eagles (7-2-3) Sunday. Virginia Rush (1-6-1) lost twice, 3-1 to Ohio Elite Soccer Academy and 6-1 to Carmel United. The Richmond Strikers fell 4-0 to Mid-Atlantic Conference leaders Carmel United (9-1-0) Saturday.

U-15

FC Virginia picked up two more shutout wins to continue its strong run in conference play, now 6-0-0 and yet to give up a goal while scoring 21, including another seven goals over the weekend in a 2-0 win Saturday over Ohio Premier Eagles and 5-0 over Internationals SC the following day. Julia Phillips and Tess Sapone scored Saturday’s goals, with Briana Alston and Emma Kershner assisting.

In FCV’s win Sunday, Jasmine Warren scored twice, with Ashley SanNicolas, Christiana Davey and Phillips adding goals, with Anya Heijst, Alexandria Littlefield, Halley Shaw and Kershner assisting on the goals.

McLean lost 1-0 Saturday to Internationals, while the Strikers also lost by a single goal, 2-1 to Carmel United. McLean was again on the wrong end of the score against Ohio Premier Eagles, falling 5-0 Sunday. Rush narrowly lost to Carmel United, going down 1-0. The Strikers, after their loss to Carmel United, rallied for a 2-2 tie with Ohio Elite Soccer Academy.

U-16

FC Virginia (4-2-1) split a pair of games, defeating Ohio Premier Eagles 2-1 and falling to Internationals 2-0. McLean (5-1-1), meanwhile, won both games over the weekend, defeating Internationals 1-0 and Ohio Premier Eagles 4-1.

Virginia Rush fell twice, 7-0 to Ohio Elite and 5-1 to Carmel United. The Strikers tied United 1-1 Saturday and fell 3-1 to Ohio Elite Sunday.

U-17

The Richmond Strikers (4-0-3) have still yet to lose this season, but gave up their first goal of the season, tying 1-1 to Carmel United and 0-0 to Ohio Elite. McLean (5-0-2) split a pair of games–falling 4-2 to Internationals and defeating Ohio Premier 2-0–to move a point ahead of the Strikers in the standings. Rush lost 6-1 to Ohio Elite and 7-0 to Carmel United. FC Virginia also fell twice, 2-0 to Ohio Premier Eagles and 6-3 to Internationals.

U-18

FC Virginia (5-2-0) lost twice this weekend–its first two losses of the season–going down 3-2 to Ohio Premier and 2-0 to Internationals. McLean fell 5-1 to Internationals and 2-1 to Ohio Premier. Rush fell 3-0 to both Ohio Elite and Carmel United. The Strikers tied Carmel United 3-3 and defeated Ohio Elite 5-1 to move to 3-3-1.