Jefferson Cup 2024 Championship Division Preview: U14 Girls

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SoccerWire continues its annual article series previewing the Jefferson Cup’s Championship Divisions. In this edition, we take a look ahead at the U14 Girls age group.

This year’s Championship Division features eight of the top teams in the country in a two-bracket format. The top two sides in each bracket will compete in the Finals on Sunday, March 10.

Bracket A

Connecticut FC United ECNL 10 (CT): CFC currently sit in third place in a tough ECNL New England Conference (4-2-1, 13 points).Their defense has particularly been on point, with three of their four wins being shutouts. They have also shown a bit of an attacking spark, scoring more than three goals in each of their league victories.

Eclipse Select ECNL 10 (IL): Led by six USYNT ID Center October 2023 call-ups (Olivia Hasan, Olivia Hindson, Sophia  Korovilas, Danica Meller, Kheana Perez, and Adelyn Thomas) Eclipse have pulled out ahead of the pack in the ECNL 2010 Midwest Conference race (7-1-0, 21 points). Between the posts, Hasan has led a strong defensive unit that has allowed just one goal in their last four league games.

FC DELCO ECNL 10 (PA): Finished off their fall season with a strong run in the FC DELCO Showcase, defeating Maryland United (3-1), PDA South (3-0), and World Class FC (2-1) while grinding out a tough 0-0 draw with their derby rivals Penn Fusion Soccer Academy. In ECNL North Atlantic Conference play, they have dominated opponents (6-1-1, 19 points), outscoring opponents 18-3.

Virginia Union FC ECNL 10 (VA): Earned points in each of their last six Mid-Atlantic Conference games to move into second place in the Conference standings (4-1-3, 15 points). Their high-scoring attack scored 30 goals during the fall season, with USYNT 2010 ID Camp invitee Amiyah Curry and Pauline Maletz providing a strong 1-2 attacking combination up top.

Bracket B

Bethesda SC ECNL 10 (MD): Last year’s Jefferson Cup Championship Division winners are back and looking to add another trophy to their case. Bethesda’s emphasis on retaining possession for large portions of the match and forcing opponents to chase helped them reach the ECNL National Semifinals and has propelled them to a 5-1-1 record in Conference play.

Charlotte Soccer Academy ECNL 10 (NC): Charlotte have stormed out of the gates in the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Conference, going undefeated in eleven matches (10-0-1, 31 points). On both sides of the pitch, Charlotte have thrived pulling off a Goal Differential of +33, more than 19 goals higher than the second place team Virginia Union.

GSA ECNL 10 (GA): Allowed just six goals in Southeastern Conference play in the fall, second lowest among all teams. In addition to their lockdown defensive work GSA could score at will leading the conference with 37 goals scored. Their 7-1-1 record in one of the toughest parts of the ECNL more than shows that they are ready for a tough Bracket B.

Liverpool FC IA Michigan ECNL 10 (MI): After a tough start in the ECNL Midwest, Liverpool rebounded during the second half of the fall season, winning their last four conference matches to end on a 6-2-0 record on 18 points. They have also already shown that they can rise to the occasion in big matches, winning their last two matches at the ECNL St. Louis Showcase in October while outscoring opponents 16-1.