ENPL Day 1-3 Recap
NorCal Premier Soccer clubs have started impressively at the ENPL National Playoffs in Rockford, Illinois. All U14-U19 teams completed their first two group games on Friday and Saturday. Today, while the U14-U17 ages had a rest day, the U19 Boys, who complete the ENPL Finals this week, finished their group matches.
NorCal teams have drastically improved on their 2018 ENPL performance only dropping points in three of 19 matches so far. Only two teams made it out of their group last year, while this year, the U19B Santa Clara Sporting, U14B CenCal Cosmos, and U14B MVLA Pumas Blue have already advanced. In addition, the six other NorCal representatives are all in good positions to advance with five of the six currently at the top of their group table. All teams will be in action again on Monday.
2019 ENPL National Playoffs Schedule and Results
Here is how each of the NorCal sides stand after three days at the event:
U19 Boys
Santa Clara Sporting 00/01 Green
ENPL National Semifinals: Monday, 1 PM CST: Santa Clara Sporting vs. Concorde Fire
The U19 Boys ENPL uses a different format to crown the National Championship as only the league champion from each NPL and ECNL conference gets a spot in the 16 team field. NorCal’s NPL champion, Santa Clara Sporting U19B, finished group play today, topping a tough group with a 3-0 win over Solar (ECNL Texas) putting them in the national semifinals tomorrow. Sporting topped the group was 7 points also beating Penn Fusion (ECNL Northeast) 3-1 and drawing with Sockers FC Chicago (Midwest Development NPL) 1-1.
U19 Boys Schedules and Results
U17 Boys
San Juan Lightning Blue
Group Game #3: Monday, 11 AM CST: San Juan Lightning vs. GPS MA Red Elite
San Juan Lightning picked up a pair of shutout wins to open ENPL beating CESA (ECNL Mid-Atlantic) 2-0 and Eclipse SC (NISL) 1-0 to put them atop Group B. The work is not done for San Juan however, as they will need a win or a draw over second place GPS MA Red Elite (New England Premier NPL) to win the group.
Santa Clara Sporting Green
Group Game #3: Monday, 3 PM CST: Santa Clara Sporting vs. Solar
The NPL Champions, Santa Clara Sporting Green, have had an interesting first two games at the ENPL. On Friday, Santa Clara got off to a flying start with a 6-0 thrashing of Indiana Fire (Midwest Development NPL). Saturday did not go as well for Sporting as they were beaten by Alabama FC (ECNL Southeast) 5-0. Despite the result, Sporting is still alive as all four teams in their group are tied on three points. A win on Monday for Sporting over Solar (ECNL Texas) and a little help from the other match could still see them advance to the next round.
U17 Boys Schedules and Results
U16 Boys
Image via US Club Soccer
Napa Soccer Academy
Group Game #3: Monday, 9 AM CST: Napa Soccer Academy vs. Texans SC
Napa Soccer Academy, who are looking to improve on their ENPL third place finish last year have four points after two matches after beating Manhattan SC Fury (East Coast NPL) 5-1 and drawing 2-2 with Florida Kraze (ECNL Southeast). While Napa currently sit atop their group, they will need a win over Texans SC (ECNL Texas) to guarantee passage on to the next round. A draw could see Napa through, but they would need to hope Florida drops points or does not win by more than four goals.
Union Sacramento FC
Group Game #3: Monday, 11 AM CST: Union Sacramento FC vs. GPS MA Red Elite
Union Sacramento sit atop Group B after posting a pair of 3-0 wins beating CESA (ECNL Mid-Atlantic) and Roadrunners SC Premier (NISL NPL). The next test comes from second place GPS MA Red Elite (New England Premier NPL) where a win or a tie will see Union through.
U16 Boys Schedules and Results
U15 Boys
Davis Legacy SC
Group Game #3: Monday, 1 PM CST: Davis Legacy vs. GPS MA Red Elite
The NorCal NPL Champion, Davis Legacy, have been perfect in two games to start off their ENPL campaign beating Orlando City (ECNL Southeast) 5-1 and Lonestar SC (ECNL Texas) 2-1. Davis is likely to see another tough test in the final group match as they face second place GPS MA Red Elite (New England Premier NPL) where a win or a tie will see them through.
Manteca FC Boca Jrs
Group Game #3: Monday, 1 PM CST: Manteca FC vs. Valeo FC Bayern
Like Davis, Manteca FC is atop their group but need a win or tie against second place Valeo FC Bayern (New England Premier NPL) to earn a spot in the next round. Manteca has put themselves in this position with wins over WHYFC (ECNL Mid-Atlantic) 1-0 and San Antonio SC (NISL) 3-1.
U15 Boys Schedules and Results
U14 Boys
MVLA Pumas Blue
Group Game #3: Monday, 5 PM CST: MVLA Pumas Blue vs. Villareal Virginia Academy
Solid performances from the NorCal NPL Champions, MVLA Pumas Blue, see them through after only two matches to the ENPL Quarterfinals. MVLA still have a group match to finish out against ACYS Elite (Florida NPL) but cannot be caught after wins over WHYFC (ECNL Mid-Atlantic) 3-0 and Villareal Virginia Academy (VA NPL) 4-2. Regardless of their result on Monday, MVLA will be playing in the Quarterfinals on Tuesday at 11 am CST.
Image via US Club Soccer
CenCal Cosmos
Group Game #3: Monday, 5 PM CST: CenCal Cosmos vs. Liverpool FC IA Michigan
After picking up wins over Florida Elite SA (ECNL Southeast) 1-0 and CESA (ECNL Mid-Atlantic), CenCal Cosmos have picked up six points and have already won Group C. Before they move onto the Quarterfinals on Tuesday at 11 am CST, they will still need to finish up their group when they take on bottom of the table Liverpool FC IA Michigan (Midwest Development NPL) on Monday evening.
