NPL Matchday #1
After rain forced cancellations of many games around the state last weekend, the first true slate of NPL action is set to kick off this weekend all throughout Northern California. It’s the beginning of the season and the slate is clean for each team as all will hope to claim the coveted NPL Champions League and ECNL-RL titles this spring.
Here are your NPL games of the week:
U19 Girls ECNL-RL
West Coast Soccer 3 – Albion SC Merced 2
Saturday, 3/25 11:00 a.m. @ Robertson Park – Turf #2
In a back-and-forth contest between two teams scoring at will, West Coast Soccer narrowly edged out Albion SC Merced via a 3-2 scoreline. The victory gave West Coast four points from two games, while Albion are still looking for their first point of the season. Both teams trail first-place MVLA, who have nine points from three games. Game highlights can be found here.
U17 Girls ECNL-RL
Bay Area Surf 0 – Walnut Creek Surf 1
Goalscorers:
Walnut Creek: Sekulich
In the Surf derby between hosts Bay Area and visitors Walnut Creek, Kyleigh Sekulich put the visitors up just three minutes into the game after pouncing on a rebound near the top of the box. That would prove the only strike of the game as Walnut Creek kept Bay Area at bay for the remainder of the game to secure all three points. Video of the goal can be found here.
U19 Boys NPL Champions League
1974 Newark FC – Blues FC
Sunday, 3/26 12:00 p.m. @ Newark Sportsfield Park – SFT #1
In a matchup between two sides that won their respective divisions in the fall, 1974 Newark FC are set to host Blues FC this weekend in an early contest between two of the title favorites. Newark have gotten off to a good start in the U19 Boys Champions League, winning their first game back on March 11 against Stanford SC, while Blues are playing their first match of the campaign.
U14 Boys NPL Champions League
Los Gatos United – AC Marin
Sunday, 3/26 5:15 p.m. @ Creekside Turf Sports Park
This Bay Area tilt between two of the stronger sides in the U14 Boys NPL Champions League will be the first NPL matchup of the spring for both teams. Los Gatos United and AC Marin both trail 1974 Newark FC in the league standings — Newark have won both of their games so far.