ECNL Boys National Playoffs take place this week at Surf Sports Park in Southern California.

Under-14 teams will tussle in three group games each for a chance to advance to the Round of 16. Action begins for this age group on Friday, June 26.

Eight spots at the National Finals in Richmond, Virginia will eventually be up for grabs as well. Here are some of the players to watch from the U14s.

Owen Vega, Alabama FC – Vega’s Alabama FC team was dominant in the Mid-America Conference, posting a 22-0-0 record. A 3-1-1 mark at a pair of showcase events indicates that they can hang with top talent from around the country. Showing that here is the next step in the journey, and Vega is one of a handful of key players on the squad.

Carlos Flores, Arlington SA – The midfielder will look to pull the strings for the Mid-Atlantic side after a strong season. Flores took part in the U.S. Club Soccer id2 National Training Camp earlier this year.

Marcus Stokas, Charlotte SA Academy – After finishing first in their conference, Stokas and his Charlotte SA Academy side will look to replicate that form and advance from the group at playoffs.

Mathew Suarez, Dallas Texans Academy – A difficult group draw awaits Texans Academy, including reigning 2012 champions XF Academy. Suarez is a defender who has been called into USYNT Regional Training Centers.

Jakub Kieda, Florida Kraze – Second place in the Florida Conference, Kieda has experience with the Polish youth setup and previously played with Orlando City. 

Noah Angulo, Legends FC – The SoCal side is one of the tops in the age group and will look to go further this week.

Carson Chen, Mustang SC – Mustang won the NorCal Conference and is bolstered in its attack by Chen. 

Lucas Chan, San Diego Surf – Primarily an attacking midfielder, Chan can line up in a number of different spots. He’s a talented carrier of the ball and technical enough to play at a high speed to advance possession. 

Steve Clark, Santa Clara Sporting – A goal-scoring standout for the NorCal squad, Clark is another player from the age group who traveled to train with the U.S. Club Soccer id2 program earlier this year. He has an intriguing attacking upside that can unlock opposing defenses.

Marc Vignier, VDA – This will be the last hurrah for a very talented VDA, as a few of their top 2012s are heading to D.C. United to play as Under-15s. Vignier has a high ceiling, a center back prospect who can dominate defensively.

Maximilliano Leon, HTX – Involved in the Under-15 Regional ID Camp, Leon is a defender who typically plays centrally. He’ll need to be sharp and at his best to help the Houston side win its group.  

Abdulrahman Hamadi, Pacific Northwest SC – The top talent from the Seattle region, Hamadi is a dominant left back who earned a nod in the first national team camp for the age group in May. 

Meshach Ogunrotimi, Capital FC – A talented striker on the move to Orlando City, Ogunrotimi is a formidable force up front who can tilt the game in his team’s favor. He helped his 2012 squad win the Far West Conference this past season. 

Jordan Hatchell, NCFC Youth Academy – NCFC is no stranger to top tier attacking talent, and Hatchell has shown promising signs at his age. He recently helped his team win the first ECNL International Tournament earlier this year in England, the kind of experience that will prepare him to play a pivotal role in California.

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