About the ECNL
The ECNL is a national youth soccer league founded in 2009 for U-15, U-16 and U-17 girls` teams for the purpose of providing the highest level of competition and the best developmental environment for American female youth soccer players, as well as an identification and development program, which will seek to include players in US Soccer`s National Teams. The 2009-10 season is the ECNL's inaugural season, during which each team will play nine regular-season games and two postseason games. Each of the 40 member clubs in 2009-10 will have a team in the U-15, U-16 and U-17 age groups.
Mission Statement
The Elite Clubs National League, Inc. (ECNL) is a non-profit member-based organization founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of the female youth soccer players in the United States through: (i) improving the competitive environment through creation of a true nationally-based competitive league with multiple flights; (ii) improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players for the U.S. Soccer youth national teams through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competition; and (iii) improving the daily training environment at female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs.
2009-2010 ECNL Competition
The ECNL is the elite competitive league for youth female soccer players in the United States. In the inaugural 2009-10 season, the ECNL will consist of 40 of the top female youth soccer clubs throughout the United States competing in two 20-team flights - Challenge A and Challenge B. Each team will participate in nine regular-season games within their flight. Each ECNL club will play regular-season games at three ECNL events, se1ected from five regular-season ECNL events: (i) the Eclipse ECNL Showcase in August in Chicago, Ill.; (ii) the ECNL Divisions at the Final Four Showcase in December in College Station, Texas; (iii) the ECNL Divisions at Disney's Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea in January in Orlando, Fla.; (iv) the ECNL Divisions at the Las Vegas College Showcase in March in Las Vegas, Nev.; and (v) the ECNL Divisions at the PDA College Showcase in May in Zarephath, N.J.
Following the conclusion of the regular-season, the ECNL will host the ECNL National Championships July 15-18, 2010, in Seattle. At the ECNL National Championships, every ECNL team will compete in two post-season playoff games to determine final standings in each division at each age group. At the conclusion of the ECNL National Championships, individual age group ECNL National Champions will be crowned, an overall ECNL Club National Champion will be crowned, three teams from Challenge B will be promoted to Challenge A at each age group, and three teams from Challenge A will be relegated to Challenge B at each age group.
2009-2010 ECNL Player Identification Program
The ECNL player identification program in 2009-10 will be organized in conjunction with US Club Soccer`s id2 player identification and development program. ECNL coaches and staff will work closely with id2 staff to identify elite female players in the 1995 and 1996 birth years for participation in one of two id2 National Camps. In addition, players in the 1994 birth year will be scouted in ECNL competition for invitations to a special ECNL / id2 National Camp in March 2010. The ECNL will cover all costs of participation (except travel) for ECNL players identified in the 1994 age group for this camp.
2010/2011 Results
 The GU18 Rush Nike Team is a perfect 2-0 after their first event of the 2010-11 ECNL Season. After cruising to a 3-0 win over Ohio Elite on Friday, they needed every last second to defeat Scorpions (MA) on Saturday. Rush’s Annie Kunz got behind the Scorpion’s defense in the second minute of stoppage time and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net. Before Scorpions even had a chance to kick off, the referee blew the final whistle. GK Jenna Brennan played a huge role in the team’s win. She came up with three key saves that kept the game level, just before Annie’s game winning goal.
The GU17 Rush Nike Team finished the weekend with two draws. On Friday they tied Ohio Elite 2-2. Defender Antonia Land and Lindsey Horan were the goal scorers. Antonia Land scored again on Saturday as Rush tied Michigan Hawks 1-1.
After tying Ohio Premier 0-0 on Saturday, the GU16 Nike Team defeated a very good CASL team 1-0 on Saturday in a snow storm. Conditions got so bad that the game was stopped early, but fortunately for Rush, they were leading 1-0 behind a goal from Morgan Stanton.
The GU15 Nike team drew 0-0 on Saturday against Charlotte Soccer Academy. They won 1-0 on Saturday vs. D’Feeters (TX). Betsy Brandon’s corner kick in the first half deflected off a D’Feeter defender and into the back of the net. Rush came close to scoring several more times in the second half, but the goal post denied Britt Stark’s breakaway and Liv Miller’s blast from close range.
Unfortunately for the girls, the event was cancelled on Sunday due to snow. It is unclear at this point as to how these games will be made up.
All four Rush teams will travel to Arizona in February to face SC Del Sol and Sereno before heading to San Antonio in March for three more games. They will then host Utah Avalanche and Neusport in April. The ECNL National Championships will be held in Aurora, Colorado in July.
For more information on the ECNL and for a complete schedule and standings, please visithttp://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com
2009/2010 Results
Eclipse Showcase-Chicago
The Colorado Rush had a strong showing finishing the weekend with 7 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie. The 15's and 16's each finished the weekend 3-0. The 15's had a big win over Eclipse, who had placed 3rd in last years Nationals just 1 month prior to the match.. Kelli Drobney and Madison Halbach from the 15's and Shelby Bowden from the 16's were selected to the All Tournament Team for their great play over the weekend.
Final Four Showcase-College Station, TX
After the first two ECNL events, the U15 Nike and U16 Nike teams sat atop their respective divisions in the inaugural Elite Clubs National League. The 15's went 1-1-1 over the weekend. Their only loss in the ECNL so far is to Mustangs (CA) who are the defending National Champions. The 16's went 1-2 despite having a halftime lead in all three games. Without National Team goalkeeper Molly Poletto, the 17's managed just one point over the weekend with a tie against Ohio Premier. Morgan Stanton (U15's) and Annie Kunz (U17's) both scored three goals over the weekend and Lindsey Horan (U16's) was named to the All Tournament Team.
Las Vegas College Showcase - March 12-14
After three ECNL events, the U15's currently sit in fourth place in the 'A' bracket with 13 points. They will play table leading Dallas Sting (18 points) in the opening game. The 16's enter the Shocase in 3rd place in the 16 'A' bracket with 12 points. They will have a crucial game with 4th place San Juan SC (11 points) to finish out the weekend. The 17's sit in the middle of the table. They play 2 games against teams just ahead of them in the standings (PDA, Sting).
Scores:
15's L 1-0 Dallas Sting 16's W 2-0 CESA Premier 17's L 2-1 Dallas Sting
T 0-0 Charlotte SA L 3-0 PDA Charge T 2-2 FC Stars of Mass.
W 3-0 PDA Celtic T 1-1 San Juan SC L 4-2 PDA Tsunami
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