Twelve teams earn US Club Soccer NPL Finals championships

Schedules/results | Video recap | Photos

AURORA, Colo. (Via US Club Soccer) – Twelve teams turned their 2015-16 NPL season aspirations into reality at the 2016 NPL Finals, July 14-18 at Aurora Sports Park in Aurora, Colo.

The league-based, national championship tournament featured 141 teams from 90 clubs in U-13 through U-18 boys and girls age groups. All 19 regional NPLs across the country were represented in Aurora. Champions excelled in the challenging environment that included group play, semifinals and finals.

“This year’s NPL Finals served as an exciting finish to the 2015-16 NPL season,” NPL General Manager Leo Garcia said. “It was challenging and rewarding for the entire tournament field. To make it to Colorado is an accomplishment in itself, and we know all these teams will build on their success heading into the next NPL season.”

Monday’s national championship game results are listed below:

U-13:  Baltimore Armour (Northeast Pre-Academy League)
Baltimore Armour (Northeast Pre-Academy League) 1, Real Colorado (Mountain Developmental League) 0

U-14:  Anaheim FC PDA ’01 (Southern California NPL)
Anaheim FC PDA ’01 (Southern California NPL) 3, Real Colorado (Mountain Developmental League) 1

U-15:  Sockers FC ’00 (Northern Illinois Soccer League)
Sockers FC ’00 (Northern Illinois Soccer League) 3, FC Dallas Pre-Academy (Texas Pre-Academy League) 1 – overtime

U-16:  Manhattan SC Villa (Elite Development Program)
Manhattan SC Villa (Elite Development Program) 2, Sockers FC ’99 (Midwest Development League) 1

U-17:  New York SC ’98 (Elite Development Program)
New York SC ’98 (Elite Development League) 6, Chicago Inferno Elite (Northern Illinois Soccer League) 1

U-18:  Campton United 97/98 (Midwest Development League)
Campton United 97/98 (Midwest Developmental League) 3, NEFC Elite (New England Premier League) 0

U-13:  NJ Rush ’02 NPL (Elite Development Program)
NJ Rush ’02 NPL (Elite Development Program) 8, New York SC ’02 (New York Club Soccer League) 0

U-14:  NEFC Elite (New England Premier League)
NEFC Elite (New England Premier League) 9, FC Florida 01/02 Elite Blue NPL (Florida Premier League) 1

U-15:  Princeton SA/IGFA 00/01 (New York Club Soccer League)
Princeton SA/IGFA 00/01 (New York Club Soccer League) 2, Oakwood SC Attack (New England Premier League) 0

U-16:  NEFC Elite (New England Premier League)
NEFC Elite (New England Premier League) 6, FC Copa Academy ’99 NPL (Elite Development Program) 1

U-17:  NEFC Elite (New England Premier League)
NEFC Elite (New England Premier League) 3, FC Copa Academy ’98 NPL (Elite Development League) 2 – overtime, PKs

U-18:  Davis Legacy SC ’98 (NorCal NPL)
Davis Legacy SC ’98 (NorCal NPL) 3, PWSI Courage ’97 Red (Virginia NPL) 1

While member NPLs in the Northeast claimed the most hardware, 12 total leagues from every region of the country were playing for national titles on Monday. Both the New England Premier League and Elite Development Program (EDP) won three national championships and placed two national finalists. NorCal NPL, New York Club Soccer League (NYCSL), Northern Illinois Soccer League (NISL), Northeast Pre-Academy League, Midwest Developmental League and Southern California NPL were each responsible for one NPL Finals champion. There was also representation from the Florida Premier League,Virginia NPL, Mountain Developmental League and Texas Pre-Academy League as runners-up.

The 2016 NPL Finals was déjà vu for NEFC Elite, as the club tied an NPL Finals record – set by themselves during the 2015 NPL Finals – with a total of six participating teams. And, like last year, three went on to win national championships, including its U-17 girls team, which edged FC Copa Academy ’98 NPL in penalty kicks.

That NEFC Elite U-17 girls team was one of three teams that defended their titles from last year with championships this year: New York SC ’98 in the U-17 boys division and NEFC Elite in the U-14 girls bracket.

FC Dallas nearly captured its third national championship in a week – in addition to its U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-15/16 and U-17/18 titles – but lost in overtime, 3-1, to Sockers FC ’00 in the U-15 boys bracket. For the Chicago-based club, it was redemption after losing 3-2 to FC Dallas last year in the U-15 boys final.

The U-18 girls final was a rematch of the first game of the division – between Davis Legacy SC ’98 and PWSI Courage ’97 Red. On Thursday, the cross-country opponents battled to a 2-2 tie, but on Monday, Davis Legacy prevailed, 3-1.

Campton United has now set a precedent for conquering the U-18 boys bracket, as it clinched the same age group last year, as well.

Aurora Sports Park will continue to play host to US Club Soccer’s national championship competitions later this week when the National Cup XV Finals arrives in Aurora.