McLean Youth Soccer announces 24 college commitments from ECNL program

McLean Youth Soccer announced that 24 student-athletes from the club’s ECNL soccer program will continue their academic and athletic careers in college this fall.

McLean’s Class of 2020 — 17 young women and seven young men — have excelled on the soccer pitch and, most importantly, in the classroom during their high school years.

“I want to congratulate McLean Youth Soccer’s graduating class of 2020 and I am looking forward to all of their impacts at the next level,” said Alan Portillo, Head Coach of the MYS Boys 01/02 ECNL team.

The 24 players will compete on behalf of 23 different colleges and universities, across ten states and the District of Columbia. Two players will be teammates on the U.S. Naval Academy’s women’s soccer team. Sixteen will compete in Division I, two in Division II, and six in Division III conferences.

The 2020 soccer season was cut short due to the global coronavirus pandemic and these players persevered through an extraordinary set of circumstances – including the sudden cancellation of practices, tournaments, and league play – to maintain their physical fitness and complete their high school educational requirements.

Nadir Moumen, Head Coach of the McLean 02 Girls ECNL team said: “It has been an honor working with these girls. Not only are they great players, but they are unbelievable people. The various universities will be very lucky to have them.”

Since 2007, MYS has helped more than 300 student-athletes play soccer in college. As a point of reference, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), nationally a mere 2.4% of female high school athletes move on to play soccer at Division I (DI) schools, and about 4.8% play at Division II and III schools; 1.3% of male high school soccer players play at the DI level, and about 4.2% play at the DII or DIII level.

“McLean Youth Soccer has a rich tradition of college placement within the program and this year’s class does not disappoint,” said Louise Waxler, MYS Executive Director. “We are proud of our seniors who have chosen to further their playing career at the collegiate level and look forward to their successes both on and off the field.”