Thirteen Potomac area teams qualify for ECNL Champions League Playoffs
One month out from the 2019 ECNL National Playoff Draw, 13 Potomac area teams have locked up their spots in the Champions League field across the U13-U18/19 age groups.
Teams representing BRYC Elite Academy, Bethesda SC, Maryland United FC, McLean Youth Soccer, Richmond United and Virginia Development Academy will head to Del Mar, Calif. for the ECNL National Playoffs from June 25-July 1, to compete in the top bracket of the league’s postseason event.
See below for a rundown of the Virginia and Maryland teams that have secured Champions League Playoff spots over the course of the 2018-2019 ECNL campaign.
ECNL Standings | ECNL National Playoffs
U-13
Virginia Development Academy
Overall Record (W-L-D): 17-3-1 | GF/GA: 59/24
Current Seed: 10th out of 16
With two games left in the regular season, VDA holds the No. 1 spot in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. VDA’s regular season campaign was highlighted by an 11-game winning streak which spanned from Oct. 13, 2018 all the way until April 14, 2019.
U-14
McLean Youth Soccer
Overall Record: 12-5-4 | GF/GA: 37/22
Current Seed: 21st out of 32
McLean currently holds the No. 2 spot in the Mid-Atlantic Conference with Richmond United and VDA close behind. McLean is 12-3-3 against conference opponents with two games left to play in the regular season. They opened the season by losing only once in their first 10 games, and have not looked back.
Virginia Development Academy
Overall Record: 12-7-2 | GF/GA: 47/42
Current Seed: 25th out of 32
With 42 goals in their 18 conference games, VDA has the 3rd-highest scoring offense in the Mid-Atlantic. Their impressive season hit its peak during a streak of nine wins in 10 games, lasting from Sept. 30, 2018 to March 30, 2019.
Richmond United
Overall Record: 12-8-1 | GF/GA: 54/36
Current Seed: 27th out of 32
Only 1st place, undefeated South Carolina United (19-0-1) has scored more goals (59) than Richmond United’s 51 goals this season in Mid-Atlantic Conference play. After a slow start to the season, Richmond jumpstarted their playoff push with a 5-game unbeaten run lasting from Oct. 20 – March 30, while outscoring opponents 20-9.
U-15
Richmond United
Overall Record: 17-3-5 | GF/GA: 60/19
Current Seed: 12th out of 32
Runaway Mid-Atlantic Conference champion Richmond United netted 20 more goals than the next highest-scoring team in the conference. Defensively, their 12 goals allowed were five fewer than the next-best total. Remarkably, United went 19 games between losses in ECNL play, a streak which last over six months.
U-16
BRYC Elite Academy
Overall Record: 19-3-3 | GF/GA: 55-17
Current Seed: 10th out of 32
BRYC’s Mid-Atlantic Conference championship run this season was highlighted by top performances on both the offensive and defensive sides. They scored the most goals (46) and conceded the fewest (14), pulling away from the pack in an 11-team conference loaded with talented teams.
McLean Youth Soccer
Overall Record: 17-7-2 | GF/GA: 60/24
Current Seed: 18th out of 32
McLean was 2nd behind BRYC both in goals scored (45) and goals conceded (16) against Mid-Atlantic Conference opponents. The tough Northern Virginia side will get a great tune-up for the postseason at the ECNL New Jersey National Event later this month.
Maryland United FC
Overall Record: 11-4-3 | GF/GA: 25/8
Current Seed: 19th out of 32
Led by a stifling defensive unit, Maryland United FC gave up only five goals over the course of 13 Northeast Conference games. They are one of only seven out of 32 Champions League bound teams that conceded single-digit goals during the regular season.
U-17
McLean Youth Soccer
Overall Record: 22-2-2 | GF/GA: 98/17
Current Seed: 2nd out of 32
Unstoppable all season long, McLean has a league-high 98 goals, and will almost certainly eclipse the 100-mark later this month at the ECNL New Jersey National Event. The Northern Virginia powerhouse will be among the shortlist of favorites to hoist the U-17 Champions League trophy this summer.
BRYC Elite Academy
Overall Record: 13-11-0 | GF/GA: 49/48
Current Seed: 30th out of 32
In one of the deepest and most competitive age groups across the country, BRYC Elite Academy has battled its way to a U-17 Champions League playoff berth. The teams finished 13-7-0 against Mid-Atlantic Conference opponents, and will close the regular season with three challenging tests at the ECNL New Jersey National Event from May 25-27.
U-18/19
McLean Youth Soccer
Overall Record: 19-3-1 | GF/GA: 94/18
Current Seed: 7th out of 16
All sights are set on capturing a national championship for a McLean squad that leads the ECNL’s U-18/19 age group with 94 goals scored. Their +76 goal differential is the second-largest in the country.
BRYC Elite Academy
Overall Record: 18-3-2 | GF/GA: 52/26
Current Seed: 9th out of 16
Close behind McLean in the Mid-Atlantic Conference is BRYC Elite Academy, which is also in position for a top-10 Champions League Playoff seed. BRYC’s dominant season included a remarkable 14-game winning streak during the fall.
Bethesda SC
Overall Record: 12-3-1 | GF/GA: 45/9
Current Seed: 12th out of 16
Representing the Northeast Conference, Bethesda SC boasts one of the best defenses in the country, with just nine goals allowed over the course of 16 regular season games. The team will close out the regular season on May 18 against Match Fit Academy, before some much-needed rest ahead of next month’s Champions League Playoffs.
