NorCal College Showcase: U17 Title and Promotion Races
Among some of the hundreds of games to be played this weekend at the NorCal Spring College Showcase in Davis are a series of important matchups that will determine league titles, potential promotions, and relegation battles.
In what’s expected to be an exciting series of matches, NorCal Premier Soccer is ramping up its coverage of the showcase by previewing all the divisions in which there’s something left to play for.
Today we highlight the U17 age group, where the top four teams in the ECNL-RL will earn a spot in the playoffs, while the top two sides in each NPL division secure promotion and each first place club in the NPL 1 will get an invite to the NPL National Finals. Additionally, the bottom two teams will suffer relegation.
Boys ECNL-RL
This weekend’s ECNL-RL action features a true title match as first place Eastshore Alliance takes on second place Los Gatos United. Both teams currently have 27 points and are locks to make the postseason, but Eastshore owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. A win for either team will give them the championship, while Eastshore will claim it with a draw. Clovis Crossfire, TSP FC, De Anza Force, and East Bay United are all in contention for the final two playoff slots.
Girls ECNL-RL
While San Juan SC and IR Academy have already qualified for the playoffs, either one of them can still win the division overall. San Juan come into the weekend with 25 points, two more than IR Academy, and will claim the championship with a win over Walnut Creek Surf. Should they lose and IR win, IR will win the title, while if San Juan draw and IR win, it will come down to goal differential. Meanwhile two of Folsom Lake Surf, MVLA, and Walnut Creek surf will earn the last two playoff spots.
Boys NPL 1
South Valley United need just a point this weekend to claim the Boys NPL 1 title as they currently have 13, three more than San Mateo County FC and Walnut Creek Surf. However, San Mateo cannot win the championship as South Valley own the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning that Walnut Creek Surf are the only other side in contention. Surf need a win, a South Valley loss, and to make up four goals in goal differential. South Valley has already confirmed promotion and will be joined by either of the aforementioned sides, Palo Alto SC, or MVLA.
Girls NPL 1
Stockton Storm have already been anointed as champions of the U17 Girls NPL 1 and have earned their spot in the NPL National Finals. Either Association Football Club or West Coast Soccer will join them in promotion, but unless West Coast has a worse result this weekend than AFC, we won’t find out who gets the final spot until June, when West Coast finishes league play.
Boys NPL 2
Thanks to a perfect season so far, Mendocino County Soccer Academy have already claimed the Boys NPL 2 title. Joining them in promotion will be either Livermore Fusion or the San Francisco Glens, who play each other this weekend. Because Livermore has one more point than San Francisco, they only need a draw for promotion, while the Glens need a win.
Girls NPL 2
Three teams enter the final weekend of the U17 Girls NPL 2 tied on 12 points: Davis Legacy, Rocklin FC, and San Juan South. San Juan South would appear to have the inside track on claiming the title, though, due to having a game in hand on the other two sides. From there, it gets complicated as South hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Legacy, Legacy have the same edge over Rocklin, and Rocklin beat San Juan South earlier this month. Should all three teams tie on points, goal differential will determine the champion.
Boys NPL 3
In the U17 Boys NPL 3, five different teams are still in contention for both the title and promotion spots. Central Valley Premier currently lead the way with 15 points from six games and have already beaten Albion SC Central Valley, who have the same amount of points from seven matches. Sitting three points behind are California Odyssey, who can’t win the division because of tiebreakers, and Sacramento United, who have two matches left. Tahuichi FC and Diablo Valley Wolves each have an outside chance and currently sit on 10 points.
Girls NPL 3
Thanks to a win last matchday against Blues FC, Juventus Academy Silicon Valley claimed the U17 Girls NPL 3 title. Blues FC, however, currently lead the race for the final promotion spot as they sit on 13 points from six games. Sacramento United have three fewer points but could make it with a win and a Blues loss, while Livermore Fusion have just eight points but with two games left, could still jump Blues and Sacramento.
