Jefferson Cup 2022 Championship Division Preview: U-16 Girls

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SoccerWire continues its annual article series previewing several of the Jefferson Cup’s Championship Divisions. In this edition, we take a look ahead at the U-16 Girls age group.

The U-16 Girls Championship Division features eight top teams competing in a single table format. For a look at the full schedule, click here.

Bethesda SC ECNL 2006 (MD): Maryland side Bethesda SC is in the midst of an impressive hot streak, which has seen them go unbeaten in their past seven ECNL matches, dating back to December. As of March 10, Bethesda remained undefeated in ECNL North Atlantic Conference action at 3-0-1. Bethesda is the reigning Jeff Cup champion for the 2006 age group.

Lower Merion SC Impact (PA): Reigning US Youth Soccer Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup champion Lower Merion SC enters the Jeff Cup with a chance to build on its impressive run through its college showcase schedule. The team has already picked up division titles during the 2021-22 campaign at the Bethesda Premier Cup and Penn Fusion Girls Winter Showcase.

NC Courage Academy ECNL (NC): The NWSL academy side has positioned itself as a serious ECNL Champions League playoff contender, holding the No. 3 spot in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. The Courage have secured a 9-2-2 record in conference play, piling up 31 goals along the way.

Real Jersey FC 2006 (NJ): In 2021, Real Jersey FC won both the US Youth Soccer New Jersey State Cup and the USYS Eastern Regional Championship. The team ultimately finished as semifinalists in the USYS National Championships as well. They have carried that success into this season as well, recently winning the top flight of the EDP Cup Fall Showcase.

SUSA 2006 ECNL (NY): Five games into their ECNL New England Conference season, SUSA has not been on the losing end a single time. They’ve posted a 2-0-3 record so far, while outscoring opponents by a combined margin of 7-2. Defensively, SUSA has recorded a trio of clean sheets against conference foes.

TSJ FC Virginia 2006 Girls Academy (VA): National powerhouse TSJ FC Virginia possesses an unblemished mark of 14-0-0 in Girls Academy competition, as they sit atop the Mid-Atlantic Conference. They have found the net 50 times while only giving up 8 goals.

VDA 2006 ECNL (VA): Currently sitting atop the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference table with an 11-1-1 record, Virginia Development Academy has dominated opponents this season on both sides of the field. Offensively, they’ve scored 34 times through 13 games, while their defense has conceded only 5 goals.

World Class FC 2006 ECNL (NY): Unquestionably one of the nation’s top teams in this age group, World Class FC has opened the ECNL season with an 11-game unbeaten run. Remarkably, their defense has earned clean sheets in 9 of their first 11 games, including the last 8 games in a row.