ECNL Post Season play is returning to the Pacific Northwest
RICHMOND, VA (October 31, 2013): The Elite Clubs National League is pleased to announce that 60-Acre Park in Redmond, WA, will be the site of the 2014 U15-U17 ECNL National Playoffs and the U14 and U18 ECNL National Finals. The 2014 U15-U17 ECNL National Playoffs will take place from June 26-29, while the U14 and U18 National Finals will take place June 24-29. This is the first ECNL national event in the Seattle area since the league's inaugural year in 2009.
"We are excited to return to 60-Acre Park for the 2014 U15-U17 ECNL National Playoffs, and the U14 and U18 ECNL National Finals, and look forward to working with Crossfire, LWYSA, the complex staff, and the local community in making this a fantastic event," said Sarah Kate Noftsinger, Commissioner of ECNL. "ECNL teams compete every game of the regular season to qualify for the post-season, where they compete to advance to the U15-U17 ECNL National Finals and win the ECNL National Championships. The atmosphere and the competition in the event is incredible, and 60-Acre Park is a top-class facility to host it."
The U15-U17 National Playoffs, beginning on the 26th, will find the best 32 teams in each age group in the ECNL playing in the ECNL Champions League. These 32 teams will be whittled down to eight qualifiers for the ECNL National Finals, where they will compete to be crowned the 2014 ECNL National Champions. An additional 32 teams will compete at the National Playoff in the ECNL North American Cup, where eight will then advance to compete for the ECNL North American Cup Championship.
Running in conjunction with the U15-U17 ECNL National Playoffs, the U14 and U18ECNL National Finals will start on Tuesday, June 24th, with the ECNL National Championship games for these age groups played on the 29th. Each ECNL National Finals age group at U14 and U18 will feature 16 qualifying teams from across the country playing group games, a semi-final, and championship.
"The first ECNL championship was held in Seattle in 2009, and we have repeatedly heard how fantastic the event, atmosphere, facility, and soccer community was." said Jay Howell, Executive Director of ECNL. "We look forward to returning next June and celebrating the 5-year anniversary of the ECNL."
For more on the structure of the ECNL Post-Season, click here.
For event information, click here.
About the ECNL: The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States through: (i) Improving the competitive environment through creation of a true national competitive league; (ii) Improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players for the U.S. Soccer youth national teams through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competitions; and (iii) improving the daily training environment at top female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is sponsored by Nike Soccer. The Army National Guard is the official military branch of the ECNL.
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