Best of Cup – Beach FC ECNL

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Best of Cup, an invite-only showcase pinning some of the top clubs from the top leagues (ECNL, MLS Next, and NAL) against each other, took place this month. Coaches and scouts from top colleges were in attendance, including West Point, Brown, Cornell, Georgetown, Harvard, Wake Forest, Yale, Rutgers, Penn State, and Columbia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beach FC's (Va Beach) ECNL squads for the U19 (2005/06), U17 (2007), and U16 (2008) age divisions were invited, and came back to Virginia with smiles on their faces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":164094,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/Beach-FC-2008-ECNL.jpg?w=720" alt="" class="wp-image-164094" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Beach FC 08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The U16 Beach FC Boys opened play against IFA U16 MLS Next and came away victorious, by a 2-1 score line. IFA won their other two matches, making this win that much sweeter for the boys from VA Beach. Next up were the U16 NY Elite Alleycats from the NAL. The 08 Beach FC team earned an impressive 1-0 result and clean sheet. Their final match was against the U16 Cedar Stars Academy from MLS Next. A hard fought 1-1 draw ended up spoiling their perfect weekend, but the 08 Boys came away undefeated with two wins and a tie. A standout player for this U16 Beach FC ECNL squad was Caiden Bernstein, who pulled the strings from his defensive midfield position, assisting a goal and scoring another one himself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":164095,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/Caiden-Bernstein-08.jpg?w=720" alt="" class="wp-image-164095" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Caiden Bernstein, <a href="http://www.richimagesphoto.com">http://www.richimagesphoto.com</a></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":164097,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/Beach-FC-2007-ECNL-crop-1053x692-1708548195.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-164097" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Beach FC 07</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2007 Beach FC squad's first match was against PDA U17 of MLS Next. The thrilling contest ended in a 3-3 draw. In their second, and final, match of the showcase, the U17 Beach FC boys took care of business, defeating SYC Springfield's U17s, also an MLS Next squad, 4-1. Leading the way for the 07s was Nicolas Schuler. Schuler tallied an assist in the first game and scored a hat trick in the victory against SYC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":164099,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/Nicolas-Schuler-07.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-164099" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Nicolas Schuler</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":164089,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/Beach-FC-200506-ECNL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-164089" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Beach FC 05/06</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The U19 Beach FC squad sits atop the standings in the ECNL Mid-Atlantic table so far this season, with 8 wins, 3 draws, and 0 losses. At the Best of Cup, the 05/06 Beach FC boys battled two MLS Next teams. They tied the NEFC U19s 2-2 and came out with a 3-2 win against the SYC Springfield U19s. Tre Barrett shined on this weekend. The Wiliam and Mary commit netted 3 goals at the showcase, including the game winner against SYC Springfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":164107,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/Tre-Barrett-06-crop-834x548-1708548374.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-164107" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Tre Barrett</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall, the Beach FC boys ECNL squads came away from the Best of Cup undefeated, with 4 wins and 3 draws. Next up, they will look to all finish their Mid-Atlantic campaigns in a strong fashion, to qualify and prepare for ECNL Playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->