Last weekend, in conjunction with ECNL Florida, the ECNL hosted the inaugural ECNL Regional League Girls Leaders Cup. The brand new competition featured the top 20 clubs from the ECNL Regional League Girls, based on their 2024-25 regular season performance, as well as the next 12 best individual teams in each age group based on last season's regular season performance.
In each age group, teams were placed into eight groups of four teams. Each match consisted of a 50 minute mini-game, providing a fast-paced and exciting competition. Teams played two group games on Friday and a third group stage game on Saturday, followed by quarterfinal action on Saturday afternoon, with semifinal and championship action taking place on Sunday.
Read more about the four champions and their path to the championship below.
U18/19 ECNL Regional League Girls Leaders Cup Champions: Beach FC (CA)
Beach FC advanced to the quarterfinals after picking up five points in Group B play. They opened up group play with a 1-0 win over Penn Fusion SA, before tying Lobos Rush 1-1, and closed group play with a draw against Florida Premier FC.
In the quarterfinals, Beach needed penalties to advance past FC Stars Blue, after the two sides finished regulation tied 1-1. Then in the semifinals, Beach advanced past So Cal Blues 1-0.
In the championship game, Beach faced off against Team Boca, who made their way to the final following a quarterfinal win in PKs over Slammers FC HB Køge, followed by a 1-0 win over Mississippi Rush United, a rematch of a group stage game where Team Boca fell 2-1.
In the championship game, Beach FC claimed the title with a 1-0 victory.
U17 ECNL Regional League Girls Leaders Cup Champions: Utah Surf
Utah Surf opened group play on Friday with a 1-1 draw against Mississippi Rush United, following that up with a 2-0 win over Florida Premier FC. Surf clinched their spot in the quarterfinals with a 1-1 draw against Ohio Premier.
In the quarterfinals, Surf advanced on PKs (8-7) over Charlotte SA White. In the semifinals, Surf defeated So Cal Blues 2-0, to set up a showdown in the championship match with Solar SC.
Solar advanced to the knockout stage with a perfect 3-0 record in Group E. They then defeated FC Dallas in the quarterfinals on PKs (4-2) and defeated Sunrise Surf 5-4 in a nine goal thriller to advance to the final.
With a strong defensive effort, Utah Surf was able to claim the title over Solar with a 1-0 victory.
U16 ECNL Regional League Girls Leaders Cup Champions: Lonestar SC Red
Lonestar SC Red opened group play with a 3-0 win over NWI Lions United and followed that up with a 1-1 draw against Sunrise Surf. In their final group stage game, Lonestar defeated SUSA FC 3-0 to clinch the top spot in the group.
The Lonestar defense shined in the knockout stage, as they defeated both Charlotte SA Blue and Coastal Rush with clean sheets.
In the final, Lonestar took on FC Dallas, who advanced through the knockout stages with wins over Quickstrike FC and Arkansas Rising. The Lonestar defense continued to shine though and helped lead the way to a 1-0 victory to clinch the U16 Leaders Cup.
U15 ECNL Regional League Girls Leaders Cup Champions: So Cal Blues
So Cal Blues went a perfect 3-0 in Group B play, with wins over Coastal Rush, FC Delco, and FC Dallas.
In the quarterfinals, So Cal Blues defeated NWI Lions 3-2, before knocking out Mississippi Rush United with a 1-0 victory in the semifinals.
On the other side of the bracket, Slammers FC HB Køge knocked off Richmond United Blue in PKs (3-0) and then defeated Beach FC (CA) 1-0 in the semifinals.
In the championship match, So Cal Blues clinched the title in a 5-1 win.
