US Youth Soccer Elite 64 Playoffs: Girls 14U-19U Age Group Previews

The girls kickoff the US Youth Soccer Elite 64 Playoffs in Orlando, Fla., when more than 170 teams compete Jan. 19-23.

Each age group features a champions pool, where teams will play in a tournament style to determine the event champion. In the 14U-19U age groups, teams in every pool are also competing for qualifying spots into the February National League P.R.O. event, where teams play to qualify for the 2024 USYS National Championships.

While teams in the 13U age group will see a Playoff winner crowned, the Playoffs primarily serve as an introduction to national events and do not include advancement in the 13U age group.

Take a look at some of the teams, games and players to watch in the 14U-19U Girls age groups during the Elite 64 Playoffs in Florida.

14U Girls

In the 14U age group, two teams to watch out of the Elite 64 Midwest — Madison 56ers 10G Elite 64 and North Shore United 10G Elite 64 — head to Florida with very similar resumes. North Shore finished atop the regular season standings last season with an 11-1-2 record, while Madison was just one point back. Both teams will be confident heading into Champions Pool play at the playoffs, as they enjoyed strong fall seasons — finishing tied on points with Top 3 performances.

Madison’s first opponent, Team Boca 10G Elite 64, has the looks of another contender to make a deep run at the playoffs. The Florida side finished first in its group last season, and it has started its 2023-24 campaign by going 6-0-0 in the Elite 64 Southeast.

After a third-place league finish last season, WNY Flash Rochester 10G Elite 64 had a strong showing at the National Finals and displayed an ability to have success in a playoff format. Fellow Elite 64 Great Lakes side Indiana Fire Academy 10G Elite 64 also had a strong showing last season when it finished second in the league standings, and the Fire will aim to find that form when it competes in Florida.

DAY 1 GAME TO WATCH

The Jan. 20 game between WNY Flash Rochester 10G Elite 64 and Lobos Rush 10G Elite 64 has a ticket to National League P.R.O. on the line. Both sides have spent significant time near the top of their respective Elite 64 regular season standings over the past 16 months, and recent league results suggest this is a matchup of in-form teams. Each side has just one defeat in league play this season, while they’ve combined for nine wins.

PROSCORE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Video clips and descriptions provided by ProScore.

Mya Schroeder (Forward – North Shore United)
Schroeder combines impressive shooting quality from both open play and set pieces, with excellent movement, to pose a real threat for opposing defenses. A hat-trick vs MI Rangers in September proved how lethal she can be.

Cali Castellarin (Midfielder – NWI Lions)
Castellarin exudes confidence on the field, regularly taking on defenders and showcasing her prowess in 1-v-1 situations. She’s a natural goal-scorer, but she can also execute key passes in the final third.

15U Girls

Following an impressive all-around showing last season, Coppermine SC Girls 09G Elite 64 will look to make some noise at the Elite 64 Playoffs in Florida. Coppermine went 9-2-1 to finish second in the Elite 64 Northeast in 2022-23. It also showed its prowess in tournament play when it made a run to the semifinals at the Elite 64 National Finals, where it came up just short of the title game by falling in penalties.

Meanwhile, Team Boca Elite 64 09G will head to Orlando after finishing atop the Elite 64 Southeast standings last season and having secured a Top-2 league finish this year. The team atop the current Southeast standings, Charlotte SA Elite 64 09G, will also compete for the Champions Pool crown following a dominant fall season that saw it go 10-0-0 in Elite 64 play.

Another team to keep an eye on in Florida will be Steel City FC 09G Elite 64. The Pittsburgh area squad went 9-2-2 last season en route to a second-place finish in the Elite 64 Great Lakes standings.

DAY 1 GAME TO WATCH

Team Boca 09G Elite 64 and WNY Flash Rochester 09G Elite 64 have each spent plenty of time toward the top of their respective Elite 64 league tables. Their Jan. 20 matchup will determine which team will be guaranteed to move on to National League P.R.O. While Team Boca has been at the top of the Elite 64 Southeast standings, WNY Flash is coming off a third-place finish last season in the Elite 64 Great Lakes. The New York side is off to a 2-1-1 start this year and will look to continue its strong play in Florida.

PROSCORE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Video clips and descriptions provided by ProScore.

Alivia Becker (Defender – Elmbrook United)
Becker, a standout defender, boasts impeccable timing in tackles and excellent defensive awareness. Her solid positioning and interception skills make her a reliable asset in her team’s backline.

Claire Steinbrecher (Forward – Michigan Tigers)
Steinbrecher has made a significant contribution for the Michigan Tigers so far this season. She brings quality on set pieces and good decision-making in possession, while her defensive efforts shouldn’t go unnoticed.

16U Girls

After a couple of runner-up finishes last season, Libertyville FC 1974 08G Elite 64 will aim to capture the Playoff title in Florida. The Illinois side finished second in the Elite 64 Midwest during the 2022-23 season, and it followed that by advancing to the championship game of the Elite 64 National Finals.

A major challenge to Libertyville and the rest of the champions pool will be Team Boca 08G Elite 64. Boca finished atop its group last season, and it is currently in first place in the Elite 64 Southeast standings. The Florida side has a perfect record and has yet to concede a goal through seven league games this season.

Fort Wayne United 08G Elite 64 has shown consistency in Elite 64 play since last season, when it finished third in the Elite 64 Great Lakes. Early portions of the 2023-24 season have seen the Indiana side move to the top of the standings with an unbeaten start through three games.

DAY 1 GAME TO WATCH

In the Champions Pool, Steel City FC 08G Elite 64 and Charlotte SA 08G Elite 64 face off on Jan. 19 to determine a spot in National League P.R.O. Last season, Steel City followed a mid-table league finish by advancing to the quarterfinals at the Elite 64 National Finals, where it played the eventual winners close in a 1-0 defeat. Meanwhile, Charlotte SA is coming off a strong recent run in the current Elite 64 Southeast schedule, as it allowed just one goal in its last five games.

PROSCORE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Video clips and descriptions provided by ProScore.

Ayla Tindall (Midfielder – Michigan Tigers)
Tindall has an impressive regular season goal tally and netted five times in a single game back in October. Mobile, strong and clinical, she is a standout player in a formidable offense.

Taylor Foss (Forward – Azzurri Storm)
Foss, a well-rounded striker, has netted eight goals in just five regular season games analyzed by ProScore. Four of those goals came in a single game against United Soccer Alliance back in September. Defenses beware!

17U Girls

Following an impressive 2022-23 campaign, Steel City FC 07G Elite 64 has the background of a team that could contend for the Champions Pool title in Florida. Steel City finished tied atop the Elite 64 Great Lakes standings last season, as it went unbeaten with nine wins and five draws. The Pittsburgh side won two of its three games at the Elite 64 National Finals to show it can succeed at national events.

Libertyville FC 1974-07G Elite 64 also finished atop its regular season standings last season, as it went 9-3-2 in the Elite 64 Midwest. Lobos Rush 07G Elite 64 will be another team to watch, as it has been dominant in the Elite 64 South the last two seasons — combining for nine wins and two draws with no defeats. Lobos heads to Florida in especially good form, having not conceded a goal through five games in the league this season.

The lone team to earn a result against Lobos in Elite 64 play this season, JB Marine 07G Elite 64 will look to carry some momentum of its own into the playoffs in Florida. The Missouri side compiled a 4-1-1 league record in the fall and kept five clean sheets along the way.

DAY 1 GAME TO WATCH

A couple of familiar opponents face off on Jan. 19 when Libertyville FC 1974 07G Elite 64 and JB Marine 07G Elite 64 compete for a qualifying spot to National League P.R.O. With JB Marine playing in the Midwest last season, Libertyville secured a pair of close shutout wins. Now, JB Marine has a chance to build off its strong fall campaign in a rematch against the Illinois side.

PROSCORE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Video clips and descriptions provided by ProScore.

Reese McCabe (Goalkeeper – Madison 56ers)
McCabe has played an important role in the Madison 56ers’ strong campaign. Her saves helped the Wisconsin team secure a remarkable eight shutouts in 12 regular season games.

Samantha Witte (Forward – Coppermine)  
Witte is a dynamic forward whose vision and technical quality allow her to regularly create and score goals. She also possesses impressive close control and dribbling skills.

19U Girls

With significant experience and success at past national events, Libertyville FC 1974 05/06G Elite 64 will be a contender to watch in the Champions Pool. Libertyville finished second in the Elite 64 Midwest last season, and it advanced to the title game at the Elite 64 National Finals before coming up just short in a 3-2 game.

Meanwhile, Team Boca 05/06G Elite 64 will be aiming to turn past league success into a string of good results in the playoffs. The Florida side finished in first in the Elite 64 Southeast last season, and it is off to a perfect 8-0-0 start during the 2023-24 campaign.

The Champions Pool features two teams that finished in second place in Elite 64 league play last season — Valor Soccer 05/06G Elite 64 and Fort Wayne United 05/06G Elite 64 — and they’ll each look to make some waves with their play in Florida.

DAY 1 GAME TO WATCH

In the Champions Pool, the Jan. 19 meeting between Steel City FC 05/06G Elite 64 and Atlanta Fire 05/06G Elite 64 will determine a berth to National League P.R.O. Steel City has shown a tendency to play close games, with 10 of its 12 league results last season decided by a goal or fewer. At the National Finals, the Pittsburgh side twice went to penalties and had its other game finish 3-2. Meanwhile, Atlanta is coming off a strong fall season that saw the Fire go 8-2-0 in the Elite 64 Southeast while averaging more than three goals per game.

PROSCORE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Video clips and descriptions provided by ProScore.

Abigail Stanton (Forward – Madison 56ers)
Stanton has many brilliant attacking highlights on her ProScore Player Profile, which showcase her exceptional speed and dribbling skills. Look out for sharp turns and shots from distance.

Kendall Aikens (Midfielder – Michigan Rangers)
Aikens has been a standout performer in the Elite 64 regular season, bagging a hat-trick against North Shore United in September. Dribbling, on-ball intelligence and set pieces are some of her key strengths.