Semifinal matches highlight Day 4 of ECNL Girls National Playoffs
In an action packed day of ECNL Girls semifinal games, the U16s, U17s and U18/19s took center stage across Surf Cup Sports Park. Highlighted by the U18/19 Champions League semifinals, the day also included semifinal action in the North American Cup, Showcase Cup A, and Showcase Cup B.
Tuesday was also the final stage of group play in the U16 and U17 Champions Leagues, as 16 teams in each age group moved to within one win of advancing to Richmond for the ECNL Girls National Finals in July.
U18/19 Champions League
After two exciting rounds in the U18/19 Champions League, four teams remained standing for the semifinal matches, and only one win away from playing for the U18/19 ECNL Girls National Championship.
Slammers FC HB Koge and Concorde Fire Platinum met in one of the two semifinals. Slammers got on the board first in the eighth minute of the game on a goal by Ava Verplancke. Casey Maddox answered back for Concorde in the 16th minute to even the score at 1-1.
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The game remained tied late into the second half, until Abbey Cook scored in the 72nd minute to give Slammers the 2-1 win and send them into the final.
Slammers will face off against Michigan Hawks on Thursday for the U18/19 ECNL Girls Champions League Final, after the Hawks narrowly got past Real Colorado National 1-0 in the other semifinal.
U17 Champions League
The U17 Champions League group stage concluded Tuesday, with 16 teams moving on to the knockout stage of the competition. Of the 16 teams, 11 advanced via winning their groups, while the remaining five best second placed teams joined them to fill out the round of 16.
VDA, Charlotte SA, SLSG Navy, Slammers FC, Connecticut FC, San Diego Surf, Colorado Rapids, and Solar SC all advanced with perfect 3-0 records in their group stage games. Internationals SC, Mustang SC, and PDA Blue all went unbeaten in the group stage and also qualified for the knockout rounds as group stage winners.
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Portland Thorns, NC Courage, So Cal Blues, MVLA, and FC Dallas make up the rest of the round of 16, qualifying as the five best second place teams.
All 16 teams will take the field again Thursday, one win away from claiming a spot in the ECNL Girls National Finals in Richmond.
U16 Champions League
The 16 teams moving onto the round of 16 in the U16 Champions League were also determined following Tuesday’s group play games. Just like the U17s, the 11 group winners and five best second placed teams will comprise the round of 16, with each team now one win away from the ECNL Girls National Finals.
Slammers FC HB Koge, Solar SC, DKSC, San Diego Surf, and World Class FC advanced into the round of 16 with perfect 3-0 records in the group stage. They were joined by SUSA FC, UFA, Oklahoma Energy FC, Crossfire Premier, Slammers FC, and Legends FC who all also won their groups.
Phoenix Rising, PDA Blue, Bay Area Surf, MVLA, and Internationals SC comprise the rest of the round of 16, qualifying as the five best second place teams.
With a spot in the ECNL Girls National Finals on the line in their next game, all 16 teams will again be in action on Thursday.
Cup Semifinals
The finals are all set in the U16 and U17 North American Cups and Showcase Cups.
In the U17 North American Cup, Oklahoma Energy FC advanced to the finals after a thrilling penalty kick shootout win over Utah Avalanche, while Maryland United FC used a 3-1 win over Ohio Premier to see their way into the final. In the U16 North American Cup, Pittsburgh Riverhounds will face off against Real Colorado National in the final, after both sides advanced in one goal victories over Orlando City and LAFC So Cal, respectively.
The U17 Showcase Cup A final will see Cleveland Force SC face off with SUSA FC. Cleveland Force advanced into the final with a 2-0 victory over Albion Hurricanes, while SUSA FC moved into the final following a 3-1 win over Northwest Elite FC. In the U16 Showcase Cup A, Scorpions Soccer advanced into the final over FC Delco, while Cleveland Force SC moved into the final following a 1-0 victory over Midwest United FC.
In Showcase Cup B, the U17 final will feature Pateadores and Tulsa SC. Pateadores got past PacNW SC 2-1 in Tuesday’s semifinal game, while Tulsa SC moved into the final in an exciting penalty kick shootout against Bay Area Surf. The U16 final will see Ohio Elite SA facing off against Utah Royals FC-AZ. Both sides needed penalties to get to the final, with Ohio Elite advancing over So Cal Blues and Utah Royals FC-AZ moving into the final after a win over FC Stars White.
