ECNL: More teams getting season underway

By Jimmy LaRoue

Just two of the Elite Clubs National League’s seven conferences have seen all of their respective teams play at least one game, including the Northwest Conference, which starts its 2012-13 season Saturday.

De Anza Force hosts Mustang SC, while MVLA hosts San Juan Soccer Club–both of those games taking place Saturday.

In the Mountain West Conference, Real Colorado’s Under-14s have raced out to a 3-0-0 start. On Saturday, it hosts Sereno Soccer Club, which is just starting its season. Colorado Rush’s U-18s, meanwhile, have been dominant in its three wins, outscoring opponents 26-3.

Washington Premier, meanwhile, doesn’t start its season until December, while Santa Rosa United begins in mid-November and San Juan Soccer Club and Pleasanton Rage start against each other next weekend.

Utah Avalanche doesn’t start its conference schedule until late October.

In the Southeast Conference, the Concorde Fire’s U-14s, U-15s and U-16s have each raced out to three wins in three matches, but figures to be tested by a pair of matches this weekend against Charlotte Soccer Academy and CASL Chelsea Ladies.

For Concorde Fire’s U-15s, Brook Colangelo already has four goals and a pair of assists in three matches, while three others–Lily Ammon, Katie MacGinnitie and Gabriela Rivera–each have two goals to start the year. Ammon has added a team-high three assists, also.

Concorde Fire’s U-16s have been buoyed by three straight shutouts, which have been needed as they have scored just four goals in the three matches. Combined among all of its ECNL clubs, Concorde Fire has lost just once in all matches (its U-17s are 1-0-2, and the U-18s are 2-1-0).

VSI West FL Flames’ (Brandon) U-17s have picked up two wins and a tie in three matches, surrendering just a single goal in the process.

In the Mid-Atlantic Conference, Virginia Rush’s Under-15s will look to continue their opening day Elite Clubs National League success on the road Saturday at FC Virginia Saturday at SYA Park.

The matches this weekend against Virginia Rush will be FC Virginia’s opening ECNL matches of the season.

The U-14 and U-15 Richmond Strikers will look to rebound, while their U-16s through U-18s will want to continue their winning ways when they face McLean Youth Soccer.

Freestate Soccer Alliance’s U-14s are the only other group in play this weekend, traveling Saturday to take on Ohio Premier Eagles.

With high school season in swing in Maryland, Bethesda SC and Freestate’s older teams won’t begin conference play until December, while Ohio Premier Eagles. Ohio Elite Soccer Academy and Internationals SC don’t start up until mid-November.

In the Midwest Conference, more teams begin their seasons, with FC Wisconsin Eclipse taking on Sporting Blue Valley and Eclipse Select SC hosting Sockers FC Saturday, while Michigan Hawks take on St. Louis Scott Gallagher and Vardar plays host to St. Louis Scott Gallagher-Metro. Minnesota Thunder Academy doesn’t begin its ECNL conference schedule until November.

The Northeast Conference doesn’t start up until December.

Out west, the SoCal Conference starts up beyond the U-14 level as San Diego Surf begins its season with a pair of games on the road against Eagles Soccer Club and Real So Cal. Eagles hosts twice this weekend, against Surf and West Coast FC. The SoCal Conference starts up this weekend with Arsenal hosting Slammers and traveling to face Strikers FC.

The Texas Conference continues this weekend as Challenge SC hosts both Dallas Sting and FC Dallas, while Lonestar SC plays a pair on the road at TSC Hurricane and Dallas Texans. Solar-Chelsea Soccer Club plays a single match over the weekend against D’Feeters, while AHFC hosts both FC Dallas and Sting.