National Event Series Sanford preview

• by Soccer America , Dec 20, 2012

[ECNL] The second in the Elite Clubs National League's National Event Series for its U-15 to U-18 age groups will take place Dec. 28-30 in Sanford, Fla. Some exciting inter-regional clashes are on tap at the event that has drawn 170 teams. For a look at some of the games to watch in the four age groups ...

ECNL Schedule

UNDER-18:
The big match will be Eclipse Select (13-2-0) against CASL Chelsea Ladies (11-0-3) on Dec. 29. The Ohio Premier Eagles (4-0-0) will put their perfect record on the line when they face Scorpions (1-2-0) the day before. Also, check out a battle of Midwest powers on the final day of play as the Michigan Hawks (10-1-2) face Carmel United (3-0-1).

UNDER-17:
Four of the best clubs -- Lonestar (12-0-1), Michigan Hawks (10-0-1), Eclipse Select (10-1-1) and Dallas Sting (8-1-1) -- will be in action. The Texas clubs will take on the Midwest powerhouses: Sting vs. Hawks and Lonestar vs. Eclipse Select on Dec. 28 and Sting vs. Eclipse Select and Lonestar vs. Hawks two days later. Another team to follow is Sporting Blue Valley (9-0-2) out of the Kansas City area.

UNDER-16:
The Dallas Texans (10-0-3) and Dallas Sting (9-0-2), the only two teams still unbeaten after 10 or more games, headline under-16 age group. The Texans open with a good test Dec. 28 against Maryland's Bethesda SC (1-1-0), while Sting takes on Ohio Elite Soccer Academy (3-0-1) the next day. FC Stars of Massachusetts (3-0-0), which opened with three wins in three games after the end of the local season, takes on Georgia's Gwinnett Soccer Association (11-2-2) on Dec. 30.

UNDER-15:
The big showdown takes place on Dec. 30 when Concorde Fire (15-0-1) faces Eclipse Select (12-2-1). Another big match will be Charlotte Soccer Academy (11-2-2) against FC Virginia (7-0-1) the day before. A match to check out on the first day of play will be Freestate Soccer Alliance (2-0-2) vs. FC Dallas (7-1-5) -- yes, the MLS sponsors a girls program.