Jefferson Cup 2018 Championship Division Preview: U-17 Girls
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With the 2018 Jefferson Cup fast approaching, SoccerWire.com continues its article series previewing the top divisions for the showcase age groups. In this edition, we take a look at the teams that will be competing in the U-17 Girls Championship Division.
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1776 United FC Xtreme (PA)
Coach: Sam Griggs
Reigning Pennsylvania East State Cup champion 1776 United FC Xtreme returns to the Jefferson Cup Championship Division once again, following another standout year in 2017. In addition to capturing the state title, the team advanced all the way to the semifinals of the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships. At Regionals, 1776 United swept Group A with a perfect 3-0-0 record, while scoring nine goals and allowing none. They closed 2017 by winning a division championship at the prestigious Bethesda Premier Cup, once again sweeping their three opponents in group play.
Albertson SC Fury 01 ECNL (NY)
Coach: Eric Schmidt
Long Island powerhouse Albertson SC Fury 01 will look to build on a strong showing in last year’s top flight at the Jefferson Cup, where the squad posted an unbeaten 2-0-1 record, with eight goals scored over three games. They earned a quality win over Pennsylvania East State Cup champion 1776 United FC Xtreme at the event, and will match-up once again against the side this year in their tournament opener on March 23. Albertson finished off 2017 with a division title at the National Elite Women’s Soccer Showcase (NEWSS), where they defeated Match Fit Academy 01 ECNL in a thrilling 3-2 match in the final.
+READ: Schedules released for all four weekends of 2018 Jefferson Cup
BC United 01 Premier (NY)
Coach: Taylor Schram
US Youth Soccer New York West State Cup and Region I champion BC United 01 Premier makes the leap to the top flight of this year’s Jefferson Cup after a dominant year in 2017. The team swept its three opponents in the 2017 Jeff Cup Elite Black Division, scoring 10 goals while notching three straight clean sheets on the defensive side. They won five straight games en route to the US Youth Soccer Region I title last summer. In league play, the side placed first in the Region I Eastern Regional League last spring, and second in the US Youth Soccer National League’s U-16 Blue Division.
Bethesda SC ECNL Union 01 (MD)
Coach: Trey Livingston
A mainstay in the Jefferson Cup’s top bracket, Bethesda SC ECNL Union 01 earned points in two of three games at last year’s event, and will look to continue its successful start to the new year at the 2018 Girls Showcase Weekend. The team had a strong showing at the 2018 ECNL Texas National Event from February 17-19, posting a 2-1-0 record while racking up nine goals and conceding only three. Bethesda finished off 2017 with a division championship run at the VisitRaleigh.com Girls Showcase (FKA CASL Showcase) in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Council Rock United FC Bucks 01 ECNL (PA)
Coach: Mike Poller
Eastern Pennsylvania side Council Rock United FC Bucks 01 ECNL is coming off a sixth place finish in the ECNL Northeast Conference at the U-16 level during the 2016-2017 campaign. In November 2017, FC Bucks won two out of three games at the highly competitive VisitRaleigh.com Girls Showcase in the U-17 Elite White Division. They opened the new ECNL season at the ECNL Florida National Event in January, winning their first game of 2018 in shutout fashion, 2-0 over Sting Dallas.
+READ: Jefferson Cup 2018 Championship Division Preview | U-16 Girls
Marin FC 01 Blue (CA)
Coach: Tyler Gottschalk
NorCal NPL side Marin FC 01 Blue will travel to the East Coast once again this spring, following up on an unbeaten performance at the 2017 Jefferson Cup. Marin placed third with a 2-0-1 record in the U-16 Elite Orange Division last year, conceding only one goal over three games. The squad placed fourth in the competitive NorCal NPL last spring, and matched their result in the fall, racking up 20 goals over the course of eight league matches. Marin finished second in two high level showcase events in California in the tail end of 2017, at the Magic Cup Summer Classic and the Placer United Girls Cup.
McLean Youth Soccer 01 ECNL (VA)
Coach: Brent Leiba
Northern Virginia’s McLean Youth Soccer 01 ECNL is off to an outstanding start to the 2017-2018 ECNL season, in a close battle with Carolina Elite SA for the top spot in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. McLean has gone 11-1-1 in its first 13 conference matches, racking up 56 goals and only conceding eight. In addition to their dominance in league play, McLean won division titles at three high level events in the closing months of 2017, including the VisitRaleigh.com Girls Showcase, Bethesda Premier Cup and Discovery Cup.
PDA Splash 01 ECNL (NJ)
Coach: Ashley Nesbit
Another perennial East Coast power with ample experience in the Jefferson Cup’s top flight, PDA Splash 01 ECNL is coming off a 2016-2017 ECNL season in which the squad placed fourth in a highly competitive 14-team Northeast Conference. They finished as quarter-finalists at the 2017 Jefferson Cup, earning points in two of three matches in the rigorous 16-team U-16 Championship Division. PDA posted a 1-1-1 clip at the 2018 ECNL Florida National Event in January, highlighted by a 2-1 win over Richmond United in the tournament opener.
+READ: Around 370 NPL teams to compete in 2018 Jefferson Cup
Premier SC Navy – Strikers (MD)
Coach: Val Teixeira
Reigning US Youth Soccer Maryland State Cup champion Premier SC Navy – Strikers finished 2017 in top form, adding a pair of high profile showcase championships to their résumé. Premier SC claimed the U-17 Showcase I Division title at the WAGS Tournament, sweeping their three opponents while not conceding a single goal the entire weekend. They went on to finish the year with another division championship run at the Disney Soccer Showcase, once again sweeping their bracket in the U-17 Showcase Division. They defeated Colorado State Cup champion Broomfield Blast, along with teams from New Jersey and Southern California at the event.
Richmond United ECNL (VA)
Coach: Aaron Brunner
Local side Richmond United ECNL will get to play in their own backyard at their hometown event, as some of the top teams in the nation make their way to Central Virginia. Richmond United is off to an 8-6-0 start in ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference competition this season, rising to third place in the table. The playoff contending side has racked up 31 goals in their first 14 conference games. United opened 2018 with a 2-1-0 effort at the ECNL Florida National Event, earning wins over FC Bucks and Armada WFC.
+READ: Jefferson Cup 2018 Championship Division Preview | U-15 Girls
South Shore Select AP (MA)
Coach: Driton Mustafoski
A force in the New England region, South Shore Select AP holds the title of national champion after capturing the 2017 US Club Soccer National Cup last summer in Indiana. They also claimed the US Club Soccer Massachusetts State Cup title, and finished as national finalists in the 2017 NPL Finals. In league play, South Shore Select placed second in the New England Premiership last spring, posting an unbeaten 7-0-2 record, while outscoring opponents in dominating fashion, 25-3. They posted a 1-1-1 showing at the 2017 Jefferson Cup, competing in the 16-team U-16 Championship Division.
SUSA 01 NPL (NY)
Coach: Ron Alber
US Club Soccer NPL Finals national champion SUSA 01 NPL makes the leap into the top bracket for this year’s Jefferson Cup after reaching the pinnacle of the National Premier Leagues in 2017. SUSA also finished at the top of the table in the New York Club Soccer League during the spring season, posting an unbeaten 8-0-1 record. They did not allow a single goal all season long in NYCSL competition, outscoring opponents 22-0. In the fall, SUSA captured a division title in the Bethesda Premier Cup, shutting out a trio of quality opponents on their way to a three-game sweep.
