Local teams begin competition at 2012 ECNL National Championship event

An exciting Elite Clubs National League regular season has come to a close and now teams are converging in the Chicago suburbs for the 2012 ECNL National Championship event, taking place June 24-30 at the Waukegan Sports Park.

A number of local teams are competing for titles this week, with the youngest age groups already underway.

Potomac Soccer Wire’s Jimmy LaRoue is in Illinois all week to provide updates, profiles and other timely information, and will be joined by Charles Boehm on Tuesday.

[ + Day One Photo Gallery ]
[ + Day Two Photo Gallery ]

U-14 Top 16
In an upset, the U-14 #11 Ohio Premier Eagles defeated #6 FC Virginia 2-0. FC Virginia, the only local team in the bracket, then beat KCFC 2-1 on Monday, but lost 2-1 to FC Dallas this morning in a consolation match.

U-15 B Top 8
Freestate Soccer Alliance and McLean both represented the Potomac region in this bracket. Freestate lost their first match to the Minnesota Thunder Academy 3-1 on Sunday. McLean also fell in their first game of the event 3-2 to Sereno Soccer Club. They rebounded with a 5-1 win over local rival Freestate.

Freestate is scheduled to play FC Dallas this afternoon, while McLean is set to take on Penn Fusion SA.

U-16 A Top 16
Freestate will play their first match of the event tomorrow at 12pm against the Michigan Hawks.

U-16 B 9-16 Placement
McLean won’t play until Thursday, when they take on Washington Premier at 6pm. They have matches on Friday and Saturday against Eagles Soccer Club and Carolina Elite Soccer Academy.

Similarly, the Richmond Strikers will play Eagles Soccer Club on Thursday, followed by games against Washington Premier and Scorpions SC on Friday and Saturday.

U-17 A Top 16
Bethesda is set to play Scorpions SC on Wednesday at 12pm, while FC Virginia will face Dallas Sting at 2pm the same day.

U-17 B Top 8
McLean will play Charlotte Soccer Academy on Thursday at 4pm.