RECAP: ECNL Boys Phoenix National Event sees 26 teams earn perfect showings

PHOENIX – For the first time this season, the stars of the ECNL Boys were out in Phoenix on Friday night for the first ECNL Boys Continental Tire National Selection Game of the 2024-25 season.

In the 19th minute of the game the West jumped on top on a perfect ball played into the box by Bogich Milosevic (Chicago Magic) to Nico Golesis (Utah Avalanche) who finished it off for the first goal of the night to put the West up 1-0. Just five minutes later, Golesis found the back of the net again, this time on a long distance strike to double the West advantage.

“Both of the goals were a lot because of my teammates. Bogich took on two or three guys and just picked his head up and delivered a perfect ball that I was able to squeeze in,” Golesis said.

The East pulled one back in the 30th minute as Nicholas Garzino (MVLA SC) shot a ball across the face of goal that deflected into the back of the net, cutting the lead to 2-1.

In the second half, the East ramped up the pressure as they searched for the equalizer. The pressure paid off as they were awarded a penalty 15 minutes into the half which was converted by Devin Jenkins (Legends FC) to knot things up at 2-2.

In the 77th minute, the West grabbed the winner on a perfect ball played into the box on a free kick that was headed home by Christopher Sanchez (San Antonio City SC) to give the West the 3-2 edge.

The East pushed hard for a game tying goal to send the game to penalties, but in the final moments of the game Gage Lambert (Eastside FC) made a crucial stop for the West to help preserve the 3-2 win.

After the game, Nico Golesis was named the Player of the Match for his two goal performance that helped lead the way for the West.

“These guys are all class. We just met each other and I feel like I bonded with a couple of them. It’s just high level athletes, competing, people who want to win, and we weren’t going to come out of here with a loss,” Golesis said.

In a high-level game with so many other top players from around the country, Golesis also talked about how grateful he was for the opportunity, and how his club, Utah Avalanche, has helped give him every opportunity to be successful.

“It’s just the platform. The ECNL and my club, Utah Avalanche, have just given me every opportunity to improve if I want it. I’m blessed and grateful.”

“These guys are all class. We just met each other and I feel like I bonded with a couple of them. It’s just high level athletes, competing, people who want to win, and we weren’t going to come out of here with a loss,”

El Paso Locomotive Shines in Phoenix

El Paso Locomotive shined in their first ever ECNL National Event for their older age groups, going 8-1-3 combined across their U15-U18/19 games, including a 3-0 weekend for their U18/19 side.

“We are showing our quality,” said El Paso Locomotive Director Ivan Militar. “The behavior and how we handle ourselves on the sideline, how we are coaching, how the kids are playing, the overall behavior of the club showed that we are here to stay.”

While El Paso Locomotive’s U18/19 team really stood out by going 3-0 on the weekend and not conceding any goals, Militar noted how proud he was to see all of the age groups having success at the ECNL level and what a big deal it was for their club.

“We have every single age group at an ECNL level, which I know written down and talking about it might not seem like it, but for us it is a big deal,” Militar said.

“The parents traveled well. We behaved well on the sidelines. We won games on the field. Our kids are just as talented as everybody else. So, I feel very proud of what we have achieved in a short period of time.”

MVLA 08 Team Builds Momentum

MVLA’s 08 team, who currently is top of the table in the Northern Cal Conference, stood out over the weekend with a 3-0 record, including a win on Sunday against a BVBIA side that had won each of its first two games in Phoenix.

“We have a good conference, but there’s some excellent teams around the country, so this helps us prepare for playoffs and also gets us in a positive feeling and understanding that these are the type of games we’re going to have in the playoffs,” said MVLA Technical Director Albertin Montoya.

Montoya noted his team had a bit of a tough start to the season and has had to deal with injuries, but this weekend he saw players step up in key roles and the team has begun to find itself more over the past month.

“A lot of players have stepped up because we’ve had some injuries, and it’s nice that one of the players that came in was confident enough to step up and take a free kick in the upper right hand corner,” Montoya said. “We’ve kind of found ourselves and now everyone’s playing an important role, which is very important to be successful.”

Perfect Weekend

Over the weekend, 26 teams went 3-0 across their three games. In the 07/06 age group, BVBIA, Crossfire Academy, El Paso Locomotive, San Francisco Elite Academy, Slammers FC, Sporting California USA, and Washington Premier all posted perfect weekends. In the 08 age group, Alabama FC, Crossfire Academy, La Roca FC, Mustang SC, MVLA, RISE SC, Sporting California USA, and Utah Avalanche picked up wins in all of their games. Albion Hurricanes FC, Beach FC (CA), COSC, Chicago Magic, Crossfire Academy, HTX, Rangers FC, San Antonio City SC, Slammers FC, and Sporting California USA went 3-0, while in the B10 age group New Mexico Rapids was the lone team to go 3-0 on the weekend.

Defending Champions

San Diego Surf is looking for their third ECNL National Championship in a row at the 07/06 age group. This weekend in Phoenix, Surf went 2-1, picking up wins over Arizona Arsenal and Colorado Rapids, with their lone loss coming to Seattle United.

LAFC So Cal’s B10 team had a strong weekend in Phoenix as they look to make another run at an ECNL National Championship this season. LAFC So Cal picked up wins over FC Tuscon and CCV Stars over the weekend, while also earning a draw against Utah Avalanche.

Red Isn’t Your Color™

The ECNL proudly launched the “Red Isn’t Your Color™” campaign at ECNL Phoenix, a league-wide call to encourage and promote fair play, sportsmanship and to reduce the number of red cards throughout youth soccer related to foul and abusive language and behavior from players and spectators.

At ECNL Phoenix, team captains wore a Red Isn’t Your Color™ armband for all games at the event, and signage promoting the fair-play initiative was lined throughout the complex. Fans, players and coaches alike were also encouraged to sign the Red Isn’t Your Color™ pledge. (Sign the Pledge)