Jefferson Cup 2025 Championship Division Preview: U17 Boys

Follow the Jefferson Cup:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

SoccerWire continues its annual article series previewing the Jefferson Cup’s top brackets. In this edition, we take a look ahead at the U17 Boys Championship Division.

This year’s top flight features 12 of the top teams in the country in a showcase style format. (COLLEGE COACHES)

Black Rock FC – Northwood U17: Shut out DKSC Lopez ECRL 6-0 earlier this month to wrap up play at the Players College Showcase Caesar Divsion Bracket A. The weekend also saw the Massachusetts team knock off Ascension Flight Soccer Club (4-3) and grind out a 0-0 draw with CDA Slammers ECNL.

Charlotte SA Academy ECNL 08: With two games left in their Mid-Atlantic Conference season Charlotte SA Academy look primed for a Champions League playoff spot (6-4-2, 20 points). Since their 1-1 draw with Richmond United on November 4, CSA have dominated play across all ECNL competitions earning points in twelve of thirteen matches (10-1-2, 32 points).

Cincinnati United Premier 08 Gold: Started their National Academy League season in fine fashion, winning three of their first four matches in the Mid-America South Conference (4-0-1, 13 points). Their attack has led the charge, outscoring their opponents 21-4.

Maryland United FC 2008 ECNL: Started 2025 off with a bang, winning two of three matches at the ECNL Florida Winter National Event pulling off victories against OK Energy FC (2-1) and FL Premier FC (3-2). They also had a strong showing at their own Showcase, blanking both Wake FC MLS NEXT 2 (4-0) and the Northern Virginia Alliance (2-0).

New York Elite Alleycats FC 2008 NAL: Currently sitting atop the National Academy League’s New England Conference after having reeled off three consecutive victories against NEFC South (6-1) Seacoast of Bedford (5-3), and Seacoast Massachusetts (4-1). Their strong run of form extends to Showcase play having gone undefeated in the Best of the East competition back in January.

NVA ECNL 2008: After making it to the ECNL National Championship last season, NVA are looking to end their time in the league with a star on their jersey. Thus far they have put themselves in a strong position to make it back into the National Playoffs, pulling off a 9-1-3 record on 30 points. The group is led by ECNL All-American Angel Romero Rivas and SoccerWire Featured Player Luke Stavrou.

Real Colorado 08 National ECNL: Blanked FC Tucson last weekend to pull into third place in the ECNL Mountain Conference- North Division (4-2-2, 14 points). At the ECNL Las Vegas National Event in January they proved that they can deliver results under pressure, defeating both LV Heat Surf (3-1) and RISE SC (1-0).

Richmond United ECNL 08: Finished off their 2024-2025 ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference regular season by earning a hard-fought point in a 1-1 draw with Charlotte SA. The high-scoring group hammered home 34 goals in the Mid-Atlantic Conference this season which was the second highest among all 2008 teams.

STA 2008 ECNL: Pulled off back-to-back victories over Penn Fusion Soccer Academy (4-1) and Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals ECNL RL (5-0) to finish second in the Red Division Bracket A at the Penn Fusion Boys Winter Showcase. They have also found success early in the ECNL New England Conference season, defeating both World Class FC (1-0) and East Meadow SC (4-2) earlier in March.

SUSA FC 08 ECNL: After making the Group Stage of last year’s ECNL National Playoffs SUSA are looking to make an even deeper run in 2024-2025. Their time down in Richmond will certainly help in those efforts. They just held off one of their chief rivals in World Class FC to a 1-1 draw to maintain their unbeaten record in the New England Conference (1-0-1, 4 points).

Torpedoes U17 Red: Finished atop the Bethesda Premier Cup Potomac Division in Bracket A back in November after defeating both LGN Stony Brook (2-1) and NVA ECNL (1-0) while holding onto a 2-2 draw with VDA ECNL. In the USYS National League they just started in the Mid-Atlantic Conference but already have two big victories over Lancaster Football Club and SJFC Cobras Elite (both 5-0).

VDA 2008 ECNL: Extended their unbeaten run in the Mid-Atlantic Conference by knocking off the Wilmington Hammerheads 4-1 on March 15. Their stingy defense has allowed just three goals in the conference and includes ten shutouts.