SAINT LOUIS SCOTT GALLAGHER
The SLSG Missouri Girls teams found out who they will be playing in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) National Finals at a watch party on Thursday, June 8th at the Soccer Park. The U15, U16, U17, and U18 teams all qualified for the competition, which is the most teams the club has sent to the National Championship Flight (Champions League).
The ECNL was founded in 2009 to enhance the development of female youth soccer players with competitive leagues, improved scouting, and enhanced training practices for the member clubs and their teams.
“The ECNL is the best competition in the country that provides a platform for these girls to best prepare them to play at the collegiate level,” said Ralph Richards, SLSG Missouri Girls ECNL Director. “The ECNL looks out for the female athlete as the number-one priority in terms of personal development. Off the field, the ‘Amazing Youth Women’ spotlight is one example of the ways that the ECNL prepares these girls afterwards in life as well.”
The SLSG teams are placed in the following groups based on birth year:
U15 Champions League
PDA
Slammers FC
SLSG-MO
Colorado Rush
U16 Champions League
FC Stars
Dallas Sting
Real So. Cal
SLSG-MO
U17 Champions League
SLSG-MO
Ohio Premier
Penn Fusion
FC Dallas
U18/19 Champions League
Real Colorado
Solar Chelsea
San Diego Surf
SLSG-MO
“I’m definitely looking forward to the teams we are going to play during the tournament and it will be a good test for us,” said Anna Lawler, SLSG U17 Midfielder. “The team is new group of girls after the ‘birth year rule’ took effect, but we came together almost instantly and went undefeated this season. We just found a way to win and hopefully that continues in the tournament.”
The final day of the National League Playoffs the U17s were matched up against D’Feeters (TX). The game was rescheduled to an earlier time slot due to heavy rainfall during the early morning. Essentially the game was a mud bath for the players and not surprisingly concluded with a 0-0 draw.
SLSG Vice President, Steve Pecher had this to say about the event “ I would like to thank USYS for hosting the National League Playoffs and Showcase event this past weekend in North Carolina. It was great to be back out on the field playing against competition from across the country.” The teams finished with a very respectable 2 wins, 3 losses and 4 ties.
The SLSG ECNLRL Navy Program would like to thank all the parents, families, and friends of the program who traveled all the way to Greensboro, NC for this event. We wish all the high school players the best of luck during their high school seasons and looking forward to getting back out on the fields with the girls in the summer.
UNITY ⚜ HUMILITY ⚜ PASSION ⚜ RESPECT ⚜ TRADITION