Southeast Team wins 2024 ECNL Boys Conference Cup; Best XI revealed

This week, 90 of the top ECNL Boys athletes from around the country gathered at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in California for the ECNL Boys Conference Cup. (ROSTERS)

Players were divided into six teams, geographically linked to represent different areas of the country, and played a series of mini games to decide the Conference Cup Champion. Following two days of group stage play, the Central, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest teams advanced to the semifinals as the top four teams from the group stage.

In the first semifinal, the Southwest survived a penalty kick shootout against the Northeast, with Noe Morales (Legends FC) putting in the winning penalty on a panenka. The second semifinal saw the Southeast secure a 2-1 win over the Central to advance into the final.

In the championship game, Chase Stewart (Heat FC) got the Southwest team off to a fast start, opening the scoring with a shot from inside the box to make it 1-0.

The Southeast rallied back before halftime though, answering the goal with a penalty from Austin Chavarria (Concorde Fire Platinum) on the last kick of the half to level things at 1-1.

In the second half, the Southeast got another chance from the penalty spot, and Elijah Vivanco (United Futbol Academy) slotted home the penalty to put the Southeast up 2-1.

The Southeast then extended their lead late in the second half. Chavarria made a great turn and played the ball into the box to Vivanco who fired it in to give the Southeast the 3-1 lead and secure the Conference Cup Championship for the Southeast.

After the game, Chavarria talked about how much the experience coming to Conference Cup meant to him, as well as how special it was to come away with the victory.

“I love this experience. Every time I come out here it’s just an amazing experience,” said Chavarria. “We gave everything. We wanted this so much and we did it. It’s a once in a lifetime experience.”

After the championship game, the Best XI, selected by the technical staff at the ECNL Boys Conference Cup, was announced, as well as the Golden Boot winner, Golden Glove winner, and the Player of the Week.

All award winners are listed below.