Three EDP teams claim NPL Finals championships

Denver, CO (Via EDP) – Three EDP teams – NJ Rush 02 Girls NPL in the U13 Girls Group, Manhattan Villa in the U16 Boys group and New York SC B98 in the U17 Boys group –  came home from the NPL Finals Colorado victorious, taking home the championship trophy in their respective age groups.

Another two teams —  FC Copa Academy G99 NPL Milan in the U16 Girls group and FC Copa Academy G98 NPL Celeste in the U17 Girls group  — got to the championship games in their age groups.

“It was a terrific showing by EDP teams,” said EDP Chairman Steve Shilling, who was in Colorado to witness some of the EDP teams play their matches.  “We are so proud that five teams make it to the championship game, with three of our teams bringing home championship trophies.”

+Read: Twelve teams earn US Club Soccer NPL Finals championships

In winning the U17 Boys championship, the New York SC B98 squad team became the first team in NPL history to record back-to-back National Championships in the NPL Finals.  It did so with a 6-1 win in the championship game over the Chicago Inferno.

“Our boys dominated play with a stellar performance from the entire team,” said coach Chris Gonzales.  “All 16 of our players were exceptional during the five day event”  The NYSC team recording five wins, scoring 21 goals during the event and giving up only two.

In the U13 Girls group, the NJ Rush 02 Girls NPL took home the championship hardware with an 8-0 win over NYSC G02.

The team went unbeaten in group play, with a 5-0 win over Boca United of Florida, a 7-0 win over Mississippi Rush 03 and a 2-0 win over Arizona Arsenal.  The NJ Rush got to the championship with a tight 1-0 win over GPS NPL 02/03.

The NJ Rush ’02 Girls NPL team had goals scored by nine different players in the five games that led them to the Championship.  “It was a prolific attack, complimented by a Blue Rush Wall of defense” said coach Bill Shute of the effort. “Goalkeeper Nicole Rende and the NJ Rush defense shut down every major attack from their opponents and did not let up a single goal the entire NPL Championship tournament. The defenders and midfielders deserve as much credit for this impressive victory as the attackers; they were impervious to attack and used both speed and skill to minimize the shots on our keeper.”

In the U16 Boys age group, Manhattan Villa also went unbeaten in group play, topping Washington East Boys 99 3-0; defeating City FC 00 Boys 401 and beating Heat FC 3-1.  In the semis, the Manhattan team slid by NEFC U16 Boys NPL Elite 2-1 The team won the championship with a 2-1 win of Sockers of Chicago.

The two FC Copa teams — the FC Copa Academy G99 NPL Milan U16 team and the FC Copa Academy G98 NPL Celeste  U17 team – were proud to get to the championship games of their respective age groups.

In the U17 Girls group, FC Copa did not let up a goal during group play, with a 4-0 shutout over Boulder FC, a 4-0 blanking over Crossfire United Oregon and a 5-0 clean sheet over the Austin Texans 99 Girls.  It then topped Annandale United FC of Virginia in the semis by the score of 3-2 before losing the championship game 3-2 on penalty kicks to NEFC Elite U17.

In the U16 Girls group, the FC Copa team started the event in group play with a 1-1 draw with with New Mexico Rush.  It then topped VYS Phoenix ’99 4-1 and ISC Gunners 3-2 to reach the semis where it topped Corinthians SC 4-2.  It lost in the finals to NEFC U16 Elite.