Tulsa Kings

After four incredible matches for each team, the stage was set for the ECNL Boys U18/19 National Championship between Tulsa SC and Legends FC. 

The road was long to reach this point, as Tulsa SC was ranked 23rd and Legends FC was ranked 27th out of the 32 teams competing in the U18/19 National Playoffs, but in every match, they came out on top, securing their respective spots in a match with history on the line. 

From the opening minutes, both sides proved this match was going to be a high-level, quality soccer match. Tulsa SC started the match on their front foot, pushing the Legends FC backline and forcing them to make difficult passes out of the back. But as the half wore on, Legends FC started to dictate the play a bit more, owning possession and moving the ball methodically up and down the field. But after 45 minutes, the score was still locked in at 0-0. 

Right as the second half started, both terms earned quality scoring chances. Legends FC had earned a free kick but pushed it over the crossbar, and when they turned up the field, it was Tulsa SC who finally broke through. After a turnover led to the ball in Tulsa's attacking third, Tulsa blocked a clearance, which found its way to the feet of midfielder Julian Santi Toro. He ripped a shot that curled into the side netting to give his side a 1-0 lead. 

"He scored a goal exactly like that in the Round of 16," said Tulsa SC Head Coach Chris Taylor. "He asked me back in April if he could go up, and I told him no, we needed him back as a 6. He said 'Coach, I can go forward.' And he proved it in the Round of 16, and he proved it in the national final. He learned, he grew, he executed, and he was exactly what his team needed him to be today." 

Now facing a deficit, Legends FC started to play the ball over the top, with the Legends FC forwards getting behind the Tuls SC back line. But every time, the Tulsa SC defense stood strong, negating every attack with minimal resistance. 

In the dying minutes of the match, Tulsa SC had a golden opportunity to double its lead when Santi was fouled inside the box, giving Tulsa SC a penalty kick. Forward Carson McVicker stepped up to the spot and ripped a shot low to the left post, but Legends FC goalkeeper Caden Kilde dove that way as well, getting full extension to block the shot and keep the game at 1-0. 

With just minutes to go and using the momentum from the PK stop, Legends FC pushed all of its numbers forward, desperate for an equalizer. But Tulsa SC refused to give in, maintained the clean sheet and at the final whistle, were national champions. 

"All season long we've had a mantra, what we call running the R.A.C.E., which is resiliency, attitude, catalyst and effort," Taylor said. "To see that culminate in a national championship, it proves that teams can overcome, individuals can grow and transform, and that's exactly what this group has done. This championship proves that you can build a group that is just so committed to being together and that's what this group did. This is a very special group. It just means so much to be up against all of these incredible teams and come out on top."

The win was the first ECNL Boys National Championship in Tulsa SC's history, and Santi was named Most Outstanding Player for the match.

Feeling the Heat

In the ECNL Boys U18/19 North American Cup Final, LV Heat Surf and FC Dallas Red played an incredible match, one that felt like the players were shot out of a cannon. 

Just 60 seconds into the match, Las Vegas took a 1-0 lead off the foot of Liam Gilbert. Midfielder Dyland Flores was the recipient of a give and go with teammate Gavin Biddinger, and then sent a cross to Gilbert crashing the far post, who was able to knock it home for the score.

But it wasn't long before FC Dallas Red answered, as forward Dorian Gardi evened the game at 1-1 in the sixth minute. FC Dallas worked the ball down the right side of the pitch before sending the ball back up top to Gardi. He perfectly placed a shot into the bottom right corner of the net, just out of reach of the LV Heat Surf goalkeeper for the equalizer. 

Not even 10 minutes later, LV Heat Surf once again scored, retaking the lead. Flores once again sent in a strong service to the box from the right side, and this time it was forward Chase Stewart there to knock in the pass for the score, making it a 2-1 contest. 

After a frantic first third of the half, the two sides settled into the match, but still continued to play at a break-neck pace, moving up and down the pitch to generate multiple scoring chances. Both goalkeepers were kept and forced to make saves, and both answered the call until the dying minutes of the first half. 

In the 45th minute, Flores once again played in Stewart, sending him a pass to the left side of the pitch near the top of the box. As soon as he received the pass, Stewart launched a ball upper 90 back across the goal into the top right corner, extending Las Vegas' lead to 3-1. 

Gilbert then nearly made it 4-1 for LV Heat Surf when he snuck behind the FC Dallas backline for a breakaway, but goalkeeper James Winkenhofer came out to challenge the shot and made the save, keeping the score at 3-1 as the two teams entered halftime. 

Coming out of the half, the two teams played a bit more of a methodical game for the beginning of the frame, but as more time wore off, FC Dallas Red became increasingly desperate to get back into the match. Gardi received multiple header opportunities, but could not cash on any of them. 

As FC Dallas Red pushed forward, the LV Heat Surf attack was able to get behind the defense, and it led to a string of breakaways in the 77th minute, but each time, Winkenhofer stood strong to keep the game within striking distance. 

Finally, in the 90th minute, Gardi was able to connect once again on a service from a free kick, pulling FC Dallas Red within one, making it a 3-2 game, but it was too late, as the final whistle blew and LV Heat Surf walked away as the 2026 North American Cup Champions. 

U17 Tickets Punched
LVU Rush
Solar SC Academy
Utah Avalanche
Beach FC (CA)

U17 Quarterfinals Scores
LVU Rush def. Slammers FC 2-0
Solar SC Academy def. World Class FC 2-0
Utah Avalanche def. Ohio Premier 2-1
Beach FC (CA) def. West Coast FC 2-0

U16 Tickets Punched
XF Academy
Pateadores
Concorde Fire Platinum
Dallas Texans Academy

U16 Quarterfinals Scores
XF Academy def. DKSC 0-0(5-4)
Pateadores def. Oregon Premier FC 1-0
Concorde Fire Platinum def. Rebels SC 5-0
Dallas Texans def. San Diego Surf 1-0

U15 Tickets Punched
VDA
Real Colorado Academy
FC Dallas Red
SDSC Surf

U15 Quarterfinals Scores
VDA def. Concorde Fire Platinum 0-0(7-6)
Real Colorado Academy def. Richmond United 2-0
FC Dallas Red def. Solar SC Academy 1-1(3-0)
SDSC Surf def. NCFC Youth Academy 2-1

U14 Quarterfinals
LAFC So Cal vs. Penn Fusion SA
Sporting Jax vs. NCFC Youth Academy
VDA vs. Delaware FC
Oklahoma Energy FC vs. XF Academy

U14 Round of 16 Scores
LAFC So Cal def. CESA Triumph 5-0
Penn Fusion SA def. Richmond United 5-1
Sporting Jax def. NTH-NASA 2-1
NCFC Youth Academy def. United PDX 4-0
VDA def. Real Colorado Academy 2-2(3-2)
Delaware FC def. Fort Lauderdale United FC 4-2
Oklahoma Energy FC def. Concorde Fire Platinum 3-2
XF Academy def. Charlotte SA Academy 1-0

U13 Quarterfinals
Florida Kraze Krush vs. San Diego Surf
XF Academy vs. Oklahoma Energy FC
Charlotte SA Academy vs. SDSC Surf
Tennessee SC vs. NTH-NASA

U13 Round of 16 Scores
Florida Kraze Krush def. Seattle United 1-0
San Diego Surf def. Columbia Premier SC 5-2
XF Academy def. St. Croix 4-1
Oklahoma Energy FC def. FC Dallas Red 0-0(10-9)
Charlotte SA Academy def. Fort Lauderdale United FC 4-2
SDSC Surf def. FC Wichita 5-0
Tennessee SC def. Sporting California USA 0-0(5-4)
NTH-NASA def. Legends FC 1-1(4-2)

For a full look at the ECNL Boys National Playoffs, including scores, schedules and more, click here. 

Tulsa Kings

 

After four incredible matches for each team, the stage was set for the ECNL Boys U18/19 National Championship between Tulsa SC and Legends FC. 

 

The road was long to reach this point, as Tulsa SC was ranked 23rd and Legends FC was ranked 27th out of the 32 teams competing in the U18/19 National Playoffs, but in every match, they came out on top, securing their respective spots in a match with history on the line. 

 

From the opening minutes, both sides proved this match was going to be a high-level, quality soccer match. Tulsa SC started the match on their front foot, pushing the Legends FC backline and forcing them to make difficult passes out of the back. But as the half wore on, Legends FC started to dictate the play a bit more, owning possession and moving the ball methodically up and down the field. But after 45 minutes, the score was still locked in at 0-0. 

 

Right as the second half started, both terms earned quality scoring chances. Legends FC had earned a free kick but pushed it over the crossbar, and when they turned up the field, it was Tulsa SC who finally broke through. After a turnover led to the ball in Tulsa's attacking third, Tulsa blocked a clearance, which found its way to the feet of midfielder Julian Santi Toro. He ripped a shot that curled into the side netting to give his side a 1-0 lead. 

 

"He scored a goal exactly like that in the Round of 16," said Tulsa SC Head Coach Chris Taylor. "He asked me back in April if he could go up, and I told him no, we needed him back as a 6. He said 'Coach, I can go forward.' And he proved it in the Round of 16, and he proved it in the national final. He learned, he grew, he executed, and he was exactly what his team needed him to be today." 

 

Now facing a deficit, Legends FC started to play the ball over the top, with the Legends FC forwards getting behind the Tuls SC back line. But every time, the Tulsa SC defense stood strong, negating every attack with minimal resistance. 

 

In the dying minutes of the match, Tulsa SC had a golden opportunity to double its lead when Santi was fouled inside the box, giving Tulsa SC a penalty kick. Forward Carson McVicker stepped up to the spot and ripped a shot low to the left post, but Legends FC goalkeeper Caden Kilde dove that way as well, getting full extension to block the shot and keep the game at 1-0. 

 

With just minutes to go and using the momentum from the PK stop, Legends FC pushed all of its numbers forward, desperate for an equalizer. But Tulsa SC refused to give in, maintained the clean sheet and at the final whistle, were national champions. 

 

"All season long we've had a mantra, what we call running the R.A.C.E., which is resiliency, attitude, catalyst and effort," Taylor said. "To see that culminate in a national championship, it proves that teams can overcome, individuals can grow and transform, and that's exactly what this group has done. This championship proves that you can build a group that is just so committed to being together and that's what this group did. This is a very special group. It just means so much to be up against all of these incredible teams and come out on top."

 

The win was the first ECNL Boys National Championship in Tulsa SC's history, and Santi was named Most Outstanding Player for the match.

 

Feeling the Heat

 

In the ECNL Boys U18/19 North American Cup Final, LV Heat Surf and FC Dallas Red played an incredible match, one that felt like the players were shot out of a cannon. 

 

Just 60 seconds into the match, Las Vegas took a 1-0 lead off the foot of Liam Gilbert. Midfielder Dyland Flores was the recipient of a give and go with teammate Gavin Biddinger, and then sent a cross to Gilbert crashing the far post, who was able to knock it home for the score.

 

But it wasn't long before FC Dallas Red answered, as forward Dorian Gardi evened the game at 1-1 in the sixth minute. FC Dallas worked the ball down the right side of the pitch before sending the ball back up top to Gardi. He perfectly placed a shot into the bottom right corner of the net, just out of reach of the LV Heat Surf goalkeeper for the equalizer. 

 

Not even 10 minutes later, LV Heat Surf once again scored, retaking the lead. Flores once again sent in a strong service to the box from the right side, and this time it was forward Chase Stewart there to knock in the pass for the score, making it a 2-1 contest. 

 

After a frantic first third of the half, the two sides settled into the match, but still continued to play at a break-neck pace, moving up and down the pitch to generate multiple scoring chances. Both goalkeepers were kept and forced to make saves, and both answered the call until the dying minutes of the first half. 

 

In the 45th minute, Flores once again plaued in Stewart, sending him a pass to the left side of the pitch near the top of the box. As soon as he received the pass, Stewart launched a ball upper 90 back across the goal into the top right corner, extending Las Vegas' lead to 3-1. 

 

Gilbert then nearly made it 4-1 for LV Heat Surf when he snuck behind the FC Dallas backline for a breakaway, but goalkeeper James Winkenhofer came out to challenge the shot and made the save, keeping the score at 3-1 as the two teams entered halftime. 

 

Coming out of the half, the two teams played a bit more of a methodical game for the beginning of the frame, but as more time wore off, FC Dallas Red became increasingly desperate to get back into the match. Gardi received multiple header opportunities, but could not cash on any of them. 

 

As FC Dallas Red pushed forward, the LV Heat Surf attack was able to get behind the defense, and it led to a string of breakaways in the 77th minute, but each time, Winkenhofer stood strong to keep the game within striking distance. 

 

Finally, in the 90th minute, Gardi was able to connect once again on a service from a free kick, pulling FC Dallas Red within one, making it a 3-2 game, but it was too late, as the final whistle blew and LV Heat Surf walked away as the 2026 North American Cup Champions. 

 

U17 Tickets Punched

LVU Rush

Solar SC Academy

Utah Avalanche

Beach FC (CA)

 

U17 Quarterfinals Scores

LVU Rush def. Slammers FC 2-0

Solar SC Academy def. World Class FC 2-0

Utah Avalanche def. Ohio Premier 2-1

Beach FC (CA) def. West Coast FC 2-0

 

U16 Tickets Punched

XF Academy

Pateadores

Concorde Fire Platinum

Dallas Texans Academy

 

U16 Quarterfinals Scores

XF Academy def. DKSC 0-0(5-4)

Pateaadores def. Oregon Premier FC 1-0

Concorde Fire Platinum def. Rebels SC 5-0

Dallas Texans def. San Diego Surf 1-0

 

U15 Tickets Punched

VDA

Real Colorado Academy

FC Dallas Red

SDSC Surf

 

U15 Quarterfinals Scores

VDA def. Concorde Fire Platinum 0-0(7-6)

Real Colorado Academy def. Richmond United 2-0

FC Dallas Red def. Solar SC Academy 1-1(3-0)

SDSC Surf def. NCFC Youth Academy 2-1

 

U14 Quarterfinals

LAFC So Cal vs. Penn Fusion SA

Sporting Jax vs. NCFC Youth Academy

VDA vs. Delaware FC

Oklahoma Energy FC vs. XF Academy

 

U14 Round of 16 Scores

LAFC So Cal def. CESA Triumph 5-0

Penn Fusion SA def. Richmond United 5-1

Sporting Jax def. NTH-NASA 2-1

NCFC Youth Academy def. United PDX 4-0

VDA def. Real Colorado Academy 2-2(3-2)

Delaware FC def. Fort Lauderdale United FC 4-2

Oklahoma Energy FC def. Concorde Fire Platinum 3-2

XF Academy def. Charlotte SA Academy 1-0

 

U13 Quarterfinals

Florida Kraze Krush vs. San Diego Surf

XF Academy vs. Oklahoma Energy FC

Charlotte SA Academy vs. SDSC Surf

Tennessee SC vs. NTH-NASA

 

U13 Round of 16 Scores

Florida Kraze Krush def. Seattle United 1-0

San Diego Surf def. Columbia Premier SC 5-2

XF Academy def. St. Croix 4-1

Oklahoma Energy FC def. FC Dallas Red 0-0(10-9)

Charlotte SA Academy def. Fort Lauderdale United FC 4-2

SDSC Surf def. FC Wichita 5-0

Tennessee SC def. Sporting California USA 0-0(5-4)

NTH-NASA def. Legends FC 1-1(4-2)

 

For a full look at the ECNL Boys National Playoffs, including scores, schedules and more, click here.