Here is Your Preview of the 2017-18 ECNL Conferences
Established in 2009, the Elite Clubs National League has transformed youth female soccer over the past 8 years.
With thousands of alumnae current playing women’s college soccer, 90% of the league’s graduating classes moving on to college soccer every year, and stars dominating the best conferences in collegiate soccer, the ECNL is the proving ground and development platform for the future.
“The 2017-18 season looks like it may be the most challenging yet, as the league gets more and more parity, and top players are now regularly coming out of every club,” says Christian Lavers, ECNL President.
new geographic markets.
In the 2017-18 season, the collegiate stars of the future will be competing in one of eight conferences across the United States. While the ECNL National Events Series is the primary destination for scouts and college coaches to recruit elite level players, and are some of the most exciting events in youth soccer, it is ECNL Conference competition that lies at the heart of the ECNL.
Conference play is the primary method by which teams qualify for the ECNL Post Season, and conference games feature some of the most heated rivalries in youth soccer. With teams and players that know each other well, and compete against each other every year, winning an ECNL Conference Championship is a matter of huge pride for every player and member club soccer, and winning an ECNL Conference Championship is a matter of huge pride for every player and member club.
2017-18 ECNL CONFERENCE PREVIEWS
Established in 2009, the Elite Clubs National League has transformed youth female soccer over the past 8 years and is the highest level of competition in the United States.
With thousands of alumni current playing women’s college soccer, 90% of the league’s graduating classes moving on to college soccer every year, and stars dominating the best conferences in collegiate soccer, the ECNL is the proving ground and development platform for the future.
In the 2017-18 season, the collegiate stars of the future will be competing in one of eight conferences across the United States.
While the ECNL National Events Series is the primary destination for scouts and college coaches to recruit elite level players, and are some of the most exciting events in youth soccer, it is ECNL Conference competition that lies at the heart of the ECNL.
Conference play is the primary method by which teams qualify for the ECNL Post Season, and conference games feature some of the most heated rivalries in youth soccer.
With teams and players that know each other well, and compete against each other every year, winning an ECNL Conference Championship is a matter of huge pride for every player and member club.soccer, and winning an ECNL Conference Championship is a matter of huge pride for every player and member club.
TEXAS CONFERENCE
The ECNL’s Texas Conference is comprised of ten member clubs across Texas and Oklahoma. The conference begins competition in the fall season, when the majority of games are played, and concludes conference competition in the spring after the high school winter break.
The 2017-18 ECNL Season marks the addition of two new member clubs in the Texas Conference: Classics Elite from San Antonio, and Sting Austin from the state’s capital.
Classics Elite will add quality and a new geographic market into the ECNL, while Sting Austin looks to build on the incredible history of their sister club Sting Dallas – one of the very few clubs in league history to win multiple ECNL National Championships.
“First, I would like to congratulate the National Champions out of the Texas Conference, FC Dallas ECNL U16, and Solar SC ECNL U14. It is a testament to the strength of the Texas Conference to have two teams win at the highest level,” says Kenny Medina, Director of Coaching at Sting Soccer Club
“I would also like to welcome two new clubs into the Texas Conference and the ECNL, Classics Elite SA, and Sting Austin. We are looking forward to the exceptional level of competition the ECNL continues to provide year in and year out as a proven platform for the girls game on the national stage,” says Medina.
MID-ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
The ECNL’s Mid-Atlantic Conference is comprised of eight member clubs across three states: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The primary competition season is the fall.The 2017-18 ECNL Season marks the addition of three new member clubs in the Mid-Atlantic Conference: BRYC Elite Academy from Fairfax in Northern Virginia, Carolina Rapids from the Charlotte region of North Carolina, and South Carolina United from Columbia.
“The Mid-Atlantic ECNL member clubs are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming season. As the youth soccer landscape continues to change, the ECNL is appropriately positioned to deliver on its mission to raise the game. As the competition for player talent increases, we feel that the Mid-Atlantic Conference is poised to successfully improve our contribution to the development of the ECNL and the youth soccer landscape” said Clyde Watson, McLean Youth Soccer’s Director of Coaching.
MIDWEST CONFERENCE
The ECNL’s Midwest Conference is comprised of eight member clubs across six states: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
The primary competition season is the fall.The 2017-18 ECNL Season marks the addition of one new member club in the MidwestConference: Elite Girls Academy from Nebraska.
Elite Girls Academy will add quality and anew geographic market into the ECNL as the leading club in Nebraska.“The Midwest Conference has traditionally been one of the most difficult and demanding conferences in the country, with a combination of great players and great athletes on so many teams, and a high speed, high-pressure style of play.”
Source: ECNL Press Release
Photo Credit: ECNL
