ECNL announces new clubs for 2022/2023 season
The ECNL announced the addition of six new boys clubs and five new girls clubs to the national club soccer league on Wednesday. Beach FC, from Virginia, was the added to both leagues for next season.
One of the new additions in the Boys ECNL for next season is United PDX, which is part of the US Youth Soccer National League. United PDX finished top of Group D in the 07 age group at the event and qualified for the national competition at that level. United PDX Technical Director Brandon McNeil talked with PrepSoccer prior to the event about the success of his club.
The ECNL Regional League was the proving ground on the girls side. All five of the new additions to ECNL for the 2022/2023 season come from the ECNL Regional League. Jenn Winnagle, the ECNL Girls Commissioner, explained the decision to add the five: “All five clubs excelled in the ECNL Regional League, demonstrating their belief and commitment to the pathway it provided. They have earned the right to play in the Club Competition based on their performance, and they will strengthen the ECNL Girls as a whole and help the league continue to push performance higher.”
New Boys ECNL clubs: Beach FC (VA), Chicago Magic (IL), FC Prime (OH), Parkland SC (FL), and United PDX (OR)
New Girls ECNL clubs: Beach FC (VA), Florida Premier (FL), Florida West (FL), Pateadores (CA-S), and Rockford Raptors (IL)
ECNL GIRLS PROMOTES FIVE CLUBS FROM REGIONAL LEAGUE TO CLUB COMPETITION FOR 2022-23 SEASON
ECNL Girls is extremely excited to announce the addition of five new clubs into the Club Competition for the 2022-23 season: Beach FC (VA), Florida Premier, Florida West, Pateadores (CA) and Rockford Raptors (IL). Beach FC (VA) will be joining the Mid-Atlantic Conference, Florida Premier and Florida West will be joining the Southeast Conference, Pateadores will be joining the Southwest Conference, and Rockford will be joining the Midwest Conference.
“We are thrilled to have these five organizations join the Club Competition for the 2022-23 season,” said Jen Winnagle, ECNL Girls COO and Girls Commissioner. “All five clubs excelled in the ECNL Regional League, demonstrating their belief and commitment to the pathway it provided. They have earned the right to play in the Club Competition based on their performance, and they will strengthen the ECNL Girls as a whole and help the league continue to push performance higher.”
Beach FC (VA)
Virginia Beach, VA
Beach FC (VA) was dominant in the ECNL Regional League – Virginia this year, with every age group in the top 2 of their division. Timed perfectly with the club’s 40th anniversary, Beach FC (VA) will move to the Club Competition while providing every player the opportunity to experience the lifelong benefits of the sport of soccer. The club does so by emphasizing enjoyment of the sport through the skill of development, team building, and community involvement.
“Beach FC could not be more thrilled to join the ECNL Girls platform,” said Steve Danbusky, Beach FC Executive Director. “We have been working toward this opportunity for a number of years and we look forward to the new challenges that lie ahead of us. We are extremely proud to take this leap and represent our community on a larger stage.”
Florida Premier FC
Tampa Bay, FL
Founded in 1979, Florida Premier FC operates more than 160 competitive teams with more than 2,500 players in the Tampa Bay area. Florida Premier FC places a high level of importance on family, with the slogan “One Club, One Family.” With multiple top-of-the-table finishes across its age groups, Florida Premier quickly became a strong club in the ECNL Regional League – Florida and is poised for a successful jump to Club Competition.
“We are very excited and honored to be joining the best youth girls soccer league in the world,” said Novi Maric, Florida Premier FC CEO. “I would like to thank all of our Florida Premier FC players and staff for believing in the process and for all the hard work everyone put in to make this happen. The ECNL has created a true pathway for clubs to be able to reach the pinnacle of youth soccer in our country and we are very appreciative of the opportunity they have given our players. We are looking forward to working closely with all of the ECNL Club members to continue raising the standard of youth soccer in the United States.”
Florida West
Fort Myers, FL
Florida West FC was originally founded as North Fort Myers Soccer Club in 1978, but was rebranded in 2020. After teaming up with fellow southwest club Florida Fire Juniors, Florida West established itself as a heavy-hitter in the region, with plenty of silverware in its trophy case. That success, especially in the ECNL Regional League – Florida, warranted an invitation to the ECNL Club Competition.
“Florida West FC is very honored to have been accepted into the prestigious ECNL Girls platform,” said Robert Peltram, Florida West FC President and CEO. “We have a strong belief in the ECNL platform and have performed at a high level for the past two years. Today, our determination has been rewarded as we have also been recognized for ECNL Girls. We are committed to continuing to provide an excellent performance-driven environment for the college-bound athlete.”
Pateadores
Costa Mesa, CA
Founded in 1987 and located in Costa Mesa, CA, Pateadores has more than 220 boys and girls teams across all of its age groups, making it the largest club in Orange County. The club has seen a great deal of success in its history, winning seven national championships and numerous other local and regional trophies. Pateadores’s history of quality and success continued in the ECNL Regional League – Southwest, and the club is ready for the jump to Club Competition.
“We’re beyond excited about this promotion and how it will serve as a catalyst within our commitment to building Southern California’s leading soccer platform,” said Teddy Chronopoulos, Pateadores Director of Soccer. “With this platform, our players will develop their skills, succeed on ECNL’s national stages and ultimately achieve their collegiate and professional dreams.”
Rockford Raptors
Rockford, IL
Rockford Raptors was established in 1994 with the purpose of creating quality soccer training opportunities for Rockford’s youth. Rockford has blossomed into a program with more than 2,000 athletes participating and more than 300 alumni who have competed in the collegiate ranks. In its first season in the ECNL Girls Regional League, Rockford became one of the best clubs in the Heartland, earning its spot in the ECNL Girls Club Competition for the 2022-23 season.
“Rockford Raptors FC are extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to be joining the ECNL Girls,” said Frank Mateus, Executive Director of Rockford Raptors. “ECNL Girls is the top recruiting platform across the country for all levels of college coaches and we can’t wait to showcase our athletes across the country and beyond. It has always been the Raptors’ main goal to develop players to succeed at the next level and ECNL will allow us to achieve this goal to a whole new level. We want to thank everyone at ECNL for providing us with this opportunity and we can’t wait to get started.”
ECNL BOYS CONTINUES TO ADD THE BEST WITH SIX NEW CLUBS FOR 2022-23 SEASON
ECNL Boys is excited to announce the addition of six new clubs into Club Competition for the 2022-23 season: Beach FC (VA), Chicago Magic (IL), FC Prime (FL), Kings Hammer (OH), Parkland SC (FL) and United PDX (OR). Beach FC (VA) will join the Mid-Atlantic Conference, Chicago Magic will join the Midwest Conference, FC Prime and Parkland SC will join the Florida Conference, Kings Hammer will join the Ohio Valley Conference, and United PDX will join the Northwest Conference.
“We are thrilled to be welcoming these six clubs into ECNL Boys Club Competition for the upcoming season,” said Jason Kutney, ECNL Boys Commissioner. “Each of these clubs has performed very well in a variety of different youth platforms over the past years, including three that emerged as top performers in ECNL Regional Leagues. These clubs will help ECNL Boys continue our mission to bring together the best clubs in the country, while creating opportunities for players in new locations in the country. The league and its membership have never been stronger.”
Beach FC (VA)
Virginia Beach, VA
Beach FC (VA) was a highly-successful club in the ECNL Boys Regional League and will bring proven quality to the Club Competition. Timed perfectly with the club’s 40th anniversary, Beach FC (VA) becomes the first club from the Virginia Beach market to join the ECNL Boys. With a dedication to skill development, team building and community involvement, Beach FC (VA) is ready to be an “all-in” club.
“Beach FC couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining ECNL Boys,” said Steve Danbusky, Beach FC Executive Director. “Joining the Club Competition has been a goal of ours for a number of years now and we look forward to the new challenges that await us. We are extremely proud of our players, coaching staff, parents and others who have helped us reach this stage and to have the opportunity to represent our community as a whole.”
Chicago Magic
Chicago, IL
Chicago Magic was established in 1989 with the mission to develop the best athletes in the region through expert coaching in an environment where players excel. Throughout the years, Chicago Magic has won numerous state, regional and national titles across all age groups. Now, Chicago Magic will be joining the ECNL Boys to continue its mission of placing its athletes in the best environment possible, presenting new challenges and excellent opportunities for growth.
“The Chicago Magic staff and players are very excited to be a part of ECNL Boys platform,” said Bato Radoncic, Chicago Magic Club Director. “We are looking forward to bringing a high level of soccer talent into the ECNL and to showcasing our teams in front of the many college coaches at national events and league competitions. As an organization, our goal is to provide our players the best possible path to the college and pro levels, and we are looking forward to the great competition ahead of us.”
FC Prime
Sunrise, FL
FC Prime joins ECNL Boys at the Club Competition level after cutting its teeth in the ECNL Boys Regional League – Florida. From its inception, the club’s players and teams competed very well in a variety of competitions, and when players from all of their multiple sites in South Florida were brought together for the first time the quality was superb.
“We are delighted to be joining the ECNL Boys and competing against the top clubs in the country,” said Alan Hough, FC Prime Executive Director. “The league will provide national-level competition and unrivaled collegiate exposure for our boys. Our goal is to unite the elite players in South Florida and showcase the incredible talent we have here. I’ve been part of national leagues for the last 12 years and nothing compares to the opportunities the ECNL provides for players.”
Kings Hammer
Covington, KY
Kings Hammer has a history of success in its boys program, and will be continuing that legacy in ECNL Boys this upcoming season. Drawing in the best athletes in the region, the club has significantly expanded its footprint in Ohio and Kentucky throughout the years, which will make it a premier club for the Ohio Valley Conference. The organization aims to provide soccer and educational opportunities to young players and to encourage, inspire and empower each player and coach to be able to reach the highest level possible within the game and their lives.
“Kings Hammer Soccer Club is delighted to be accepted into the ECNL Boys platform for the upcoming season,” said Paul Nicholson, Kings Hammer Technical Director. “Our goal as a club is to create a player pathway that provides the best opportunities for all our players. The addition of ECNL Boys aligns perfectly with this goal as we are now able to compete at the highest level in the country with both our boys’ and girls’ teams. We look forward to working with the league and the clubs within it to create a positive environment for everyone involved.”
Parkland SC
Parkland, FL
Founded in 2015, Parkland SC has quickly risen through the ranks of the youth soccer world. Over the past several years Parkland SC has proved itself as one of the best clubs in the ECNL Regional League – Florida. With a vision to provide its top players an environment that challenges them with opportunities to grow, Parkland SC joins the ECNL Boys Club Competition with the desire to develop the person and the player through the creativity, spontaneity, and experimentation that the game of soccer naturally provides.
“Parkland Soccer Club could not be more excited to be joining ECNL,” said Roger Thomas, Director of Club and Coaching Development for Parkland SC. “We believe that joining the ECNL, an incredibly prestigious national league, will have huge advantages and opportunities for our club’s players. The players from our community have an opportunity to compete and develop their talents in an elite, national-level environment, have access to top training opportunities, and unmatched college exposure. I would like to thank our club board, team managers, coaching staff, our parents, and most of all, our players, for sticking with us to make this success a possibility.”
United PDX
Portland, OR
United PDX has been showcasing Portland’s soccer youth since the mid-80s and will become the first organization from Oregon to join the ECNL Boys Club Competition. With more than 2,700 athletes and nearly 50 licensed coaches throughout the program, United PDX is dedicated to player development, fostering a lifelong love, understanding, passion and appreciation for the game of soccer.
“We’re excited to join ECNL Boys as the platform continues to differentiate the player experience at United PDX,” said Brandon McNeil, United PDX Sporting Director. “To compete against the top competition both regionally and nationally will make for an amazing experience for the top Oregon players across all age groups. College coaches and national scouts are flocking to ECNL League games and flooding the sidelines at National Events, which will assist our player’s along their journey beyond their youth soccer experience. The stacking of meaningful games and big-time events is how every top player aspires to compete.”