ECNL Preview: Memorial Day in New Jersey

ECNL Preview: Memorial Day in New Jersey
by Travis Clark
May 25, 2017

The final ECNL National Event of the season is slated for Memorial Day Weekend, as more than 100 teams from the club circuit travel to central New Jersey for three days of soccer.

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U15, U16 and U17 teams will all make the trip, as club teams from California, Florida, Ohio, New York, Virginia, Indiana and Washington are expected to make the journey.

Here’s a brief rundown of the teams to keep an eye on in New Jersey from May 27-29.

U15

While the smallest number of teams are in this age group, that doesn’t necessarily signify a lack of quality. Host side PDA always features a competitive side and will be a difficult team to beat. Games against Ohio Premier, Bethesda SC and Indiana Fire Juniors await them on home turf.

One of the top sides traveling is Minnesota Thunder Academy (12-4-0) from the Midwest Conference.

U16

There are plenty of quality teams from the So Cal Blues side that has gone undefeated in Southwest Conference play. With a record of 20-0-0, they’ve scored 74 goals, while conceding just 10. They’ll play Orlando City, CASL and Crossfire Premier.

The Blues are far from the only quality side on the way. MVLA, which holds a 12-2 record in the Bay Area Division faces a quality McLean Youth Soccer team (13-1-2), Match Fit Academy and Sereno Soccer Club.

FC Stars of Massachusetts and its stout defense will be in attendance. The Northeast Conference side, which has compiled an 11-1-1 mark on the season, has conceded just eight goals over that stretch.

Speaking of stout defenses that will be there, Crossfire Premier has given up only six goals from 14 games. That’s been the key to a 11-0-3 record in the Pacific Division, and will be important in games against Ohio Premier, Orlando City and the So Cal Blues.

Two of the finest teams in the Midwest Conference will be in attendance at this age group, as both Michigan Hawks and Eclipse Select SC are sending their U16 teams.

U17

Two premium Southern California sides are making the long trip across the country, as both Slammers FC (17-2-1) and So Cal Blues (12-4-4) are heading to NJ. Slammers take on FC Stars of Massachusetts on May 29, one of the more prominent clashes.

The top three sides from the Northeast Conference are all going to be there, along with FC Stars of Massachusetts. Obviously the hosts PDA will be taking part, while Boston Breakers Academy are also making the relatively short trip to central Jersey.

Other notable sides from this age group include Michigan Hawks (9-3-2), McLean Youth Soccer (13-3-0) and Indiana Fire Juniors (10-3-2).

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