ECNL AZ Preview: The best head to Arizona

<p class="p1">The ECNL National Event kicks off on Saturday from the Reach 11 Complex from Arizona. The U15 age group includes 58 teams, the most popular age group at the event. Slammers FC HB Koge is the standout of the group. The Southern California team looks like one of the favorites in the battle for the national championship as they hold a perfect record on the campaign heading into this weekend.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">There are plenty of other top contenders heading to Arizona in the 2007 age group, which includes some of the best players in the 2025 and 2026 class in the country.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">SUSA FC (4-0-1) is one of the teams with an unbeaten mark in ECNL play heading into the weekend. SUSA is looking to bounce back after suffering a loss last weekend in Jefferson Cup to TSJ FC Virginia. SUSA immediately gets a tough task with a game against Slammers FC HB Koge on Saturday. The New York team also takes on Internationals and Bethesda SC during the weekend in Arizona. [player_tooltip player_id="24524" first="Maddie" last="Costello"] is a name to know on the SUSA side. She is part of the U.S. U15 Girls National Team.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Connecticut FC (4-0) is another squad with a perfect record in ECNL play heading into the weekend. The CFC opener against PDA Blue on Saturday morning is going to be one of the games to watch from the weekend. CFC will be missing key starter Annie Gnidula on Saturday because she is playing in the National Selection Game that night - players taking part in the NSG can’t play for their club team on the same day. She will be back for the Sunday and Monday games. Defender [player_tooltip player_id="20848" first="Julia" last="Johnson"] is another player with a noteworthy resume, as she was part of the Youth National Team ID center last season for the region. CFC also plays against Ohio Premier and Real Colorado National during the event in Arizona.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">La Roca FC (7-3-2) is riding high on a two-game shutout streak heading into this weekend. The Utah side takes on Arlington Soccer, Beach FC, and Maryland United during the three-game showcase. Mia Lopez, Calli Holji, and Kamryn Weaver have been contributors in the attack for La Roca during the recent victories.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> [caption id="attachment_41711" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/03/AyvaJordan-id2-scaled-crop-2085x1369-1648676683.jpg"><img class="wp-image-41711 size-medium" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/03/AyvaJordan-id2-scaled-crop-2085x1369-1648676683-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="19178" first="Ayva" last="Jordan"], id2/Slammers Koge[/caption] <p class="p1">Slammers FC HB Koge (13-0) is obviously the headliner in this age group. Slammers take on SUSA, Minnesota Thunder, and MVLA during the three games in Arizona. Defender Elle Kivo and forward [player_tooltip player_id="19178" first="Ayva" last="Jordan"] have been identified by U.S. Soccer as top talents in the region for this age group. Both Kivo and Jordan were part of the U.S. Soccer identification event in September.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Check back on PrepSoccer throughout the weekend for daily recaps from the ECNL National Event in Arizona.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>