NorCal Matchday #6

After most teams had last weekend off due to the holiday break, NorCal Premier Soccer’s league play is back in action this weekend all across the state as teams look to chase titles and playoff spots as they prepare for the last six weeks of their campaigns. This weekend, NorCal Matchday returns to the ECNL RL as teams are currently in the home stretch of what looks to be an exciting finish to the spring season.

Here are your games of the week:

U13 Girls ECNL RL
4/11	California Magic		9:00 a.m. @ Saint Mary's College		SF Elite
With just four teams qualifying for the playoffs, the race to earn a postseason berth in the U13 Girls ECNL RL will surely come down to the wire as just eight points separate second place from fourth in the table. Right now, California Magic are in second on points per game, having picked up 26 from 11 matches, while SF Elite are seven points behind but have two games in hand. A win for either side would go a long way towards securing that all-important top-four finish.

U16 Girls ECNL RL
4/11	Stanislaus United		10:45 a.m. @ Modesto Junior College		Revolution FC
Sitting 14 points off of the top of the table (though with three games in hand), claiming the title will probably be too tall of an ask for Stanislaus United, however they're right in the thick of the playoff race and could earn a postseason berth with a solid run to end the season. Currently, they're five points behind Elk Grove Soccer, but have two games in hand and will need a win this weekend to keep the pressure on. Meanwhile, Revolution FC are just six points out of first place and could catch Livermore Fusion with a few victories this spring.

U15 Boys ECNL RL
4/11	FC Fresno		12:00 p.m. @ Miramonte Elementary School		Stockton TLJ
The top of the table in the U15 Boys ECNL RL is tight as can be with just seven points separating first place from sixth. While Folsom Lake Surf currently stand atop the leaderboard with a perfect season, both FC Fresno and Stockton TLJ are fighting to both remain in the title race and secure a playoff spot that comes with a top four finish. FC Fresno currently have the advantage with 33 points from 13 games, but Stockton are just seven points back with two games in hand.

U14 Boys ECNL RL
4/11	Walnut Creek Surf		6:15 p.m. @ Heather Farms Park		Folsom Lake Surf
This weekend's Surf derby between Walnut Creek and Folsom Lake could go a long way in deciding both who wins the 2012 ECNL RL title and who makes the playoffs. Folsom Lake currently sit in first place with 30 points, and just one loss, in 11 games. Meanwhile, Walnut Creek are just outside of the playoffs pots with 23 points from 10 games. A win for Folsom would see them pull away from second place Eastshore Alliance, while a Walnut Creek victory would both push them back in the title race and potentially move them into a top four spot.