ECNL CL 08 Playoffs Preview: Unbeaten Five

Finishing an ECNL campaign with an unbeaten record is quite the achievement and five teams pulled off that feat in the 08 age group from the Champions League qualifying games this season. XF Academy (Crossfire), Penn Fusion, De Anza Force, San Diego Surf, and NC Courage.    Below is a scouting report on those teams plus some of the impactful players this season from each team.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">XF Academy 08 </h2>   The XF Academy success if built on a complete team effort. It starts with a press from the front line attack, but it's backed up by a cohesiveness through the lines as all 11 move as one. The center backs are an exceptional group for XF Academy. [player_tooltip player_id='28466' first='Vienna' last='Whipple'] is one of the best in the world in her position. It won't be easy though for the hometown squad. VDA, DKSC, and World Class FC offer a formidable challenge.     Franklin is a Hawaii native who makes the trek across the Pacific to play with XF. She is a talented midfielder who grew into the game against Solar during the National Event earlier this season. She shows good qualities on and off the ball in checking her shoulders before receiving and taking the first touch away from pressure. She is capable of adding an element to the XF midfield with her work ethic as she is nonstop when she is on the field. Franklin might be a bit overlooked previously but this playoffs could be a great launching point to get on the national radar as a top performer on one of the best teams in the country.     Lavezzi has been a standout for XF Academy this season in the right center back role. She has been a great pairing with [player_tooltip player_id='28466' first='Vienna' last='Whipple'] as the two complement each other really well. She matched up against the best attacking talent in the nation back in February and held her own as XF came away with a 2-1 record. Lavezzi's best attributes are her soccer smarts. She reads the game well and anticipates where to be to support her team. She is good at cutting out passes with her positioning and excellent at making quick decisions when she wins possession.     Kennedy is an outside back on the Crossfire side. I've seen her play right back. She is an emerging talent from the 2027 group. She is a fierce competitor and a good two-way player. She showed good instincts on when to get forward against the top competition earlier this year, and was never out of position in the counter. Kennedy's defensive quality definitely stands out too as she is fearless in the duel and shows good technique in the tackle. She could be the key for her side in keeping a clean sheet against top attacking talent.      <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Penn Fusion 08 </h2>   Penn Fusion is on a dominant run in the North Atlantic through all of the age groups. The teams at that club have some trademark characteristics including high work rate midfielders with a lot of skill and smart defenders who read the game well. The 08 team is a great example of the principles that Penn Fusion try to instill in all of their players. The team went 16-2-1 on the campaign, with a perfect 13-0 from Champions League qualifiers.    Steinberg is an excellent two-way wide player. She is a right midfielder/winger for the Penn Fusion side. She is active in all facets of the game and makes an impact with her tenacity defensively. Steinberg's no-quit attitude helps Penn Fusion create chances as her quick thinking in transition has been key to unlocking the attack.     Primanti is one of the standout center defenders on the Penn Fusion side. She is excellent in the tackle. A fearless player who is willing to get stuck into the challenge, Primanti has been in the spotlight this season for her game-saving efforts. She plays as the right center back for her club side and uses her strong right foot to switch the point of attack. She is good at picking out the run from the midfielder and can hit a grass-cutting pass with accuracy. She has all the tools to be a top defender in the modern game.      <h2 class="wp-block-heading">De Anza Force 08 </h2>   De Anza Force enters the postseason on a bit of sour note. After a stellar campaign that saw the Northern California squad go 16-0-2 in Champions League qualifiers, they ended the season with a three-game scoreless streak at the final National Event at the start of June. The offense will need to come alive in Seattle as De Anza takes on Connecticut FC, FC Delco, and Sting Dallas Black.    Nelson is one of the top defenders in the 2027 class. She can play as a center back or as a right back. Nelson has all of the tools to be one of the best defenders in the country in the 08 age group. She reads the game well and adjusts her body to see ball and mark at all times. She does well on the ball with the timing of her tackles. Nelson is smart in possession and keeps it moving quickly for her side.     A flier on the wing, Gowdy is an outside back who looks like a perfect fit as a wingback in the future. She offers an attacking mindset to the position as she looks to get forward and trusts her fellow defenders to cover for her. Her high work rate and pace set her apart as she looks to have an unlimited battery on the field.     It's hard to watch a De Anza gam and not remark on McCormick. She does a bit of everything for her side. She operates as the defensive midfielder, but there is enough position flexibility that she can look like a box-to-box midfielder too. She is a target on set pieces and does well in getting into the right spots to utilize her height advantage. McCormick is a top prospect from the 2026 class.     Farmer is the other part of the De Anza midfield that has been outstanding this season. She was in the Prep Soccer National Rankings update recently and continues to show her quality on the field to back up that lofty ranking. Farmer is a fluid athlete who has grown her game this season on a tactical level. There is going to be a lot of pressure on her shoulders during the playoffs to help create chances for De Anza as the engine of the midfield.      <h2 class="wp-block-heading">San Diego Surf 08 </h2>   San Diego Surf finished the campaign with a 20-0-3 record from Champions League qualifiers and the second-most goals scored overall from those games. Surf's plus 62 goal differential only trailed XF Academy for the best in that department too.    The Southwest champion did hit a roadblock in the last event of the season with three consecutive losses and 13 goals conceded. Based on the roster from that event, it does seem like Surf took a completely different squad to that National Event. Despite the blemish on the record, Surf still looks like one of the favorites from the event. Surf takes on Concorde Fire Platinum, FC Dallas, and Ohio Elite Soccer Academy.    With some recent injuries to the Surf defense, there will be a bigger spotlight on some players during the postseason run. Begic has been a top performer for the team for some time and figures to be a key contributor at center back during the playoffs. She is a center back who plays with her head up and is always scanning for the next right outlet pass. Begic can be the key for her side unlocking the opposition with her accurate long range passing. She was outstanding during the Phoenix Showcase against some top competition.     Williams is on a hot streak right now and should be a key player for the opposition to try to shut down during the playoffs. The left winger is comfortable on either foot, which makes her a difficult player to stop. She continues to improve in that aspect and some of her finishing this season has been exceptional. Williams' ability to successfully get past defenders makes her one of the top forwards heading into this event.      <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NC Courage 08 </h2>   Courage finished the campaign with a 10-0-2 mark from champions league qualifiers. The Mid-Atlantic champs only conceded 10 goals in those 12 games. Courage plays a tactically advanced style that depends on a lot of communication and decision-making from the players on the field. The system has been successful for this group and should make them a top contender. Courages takes on Eagles SC, Ohio Premier, and Minnesota Thunder from the group play stage in the playoffs.     Mueller is a top center back from this age group. She is calm on the ball and an excellent passer. She is right footed. Plays as the left center back. She is listed as a forward/midfielder on her player profile, but she featured in the center back role for the most recent ECNL National Event. She can step up a line and help in the midfield when the opportunity is on thanks to her comfort and skill on the ball. She is a more aggressive ball-winning center backs than some of the others on this list. She won't sit back if she feels like she can intercept a pass or jump into a tackle. Mueller's play was key in the scoreless draw against Eagles earlier this month and she will be a focal point for her side again in the rematch this week.     Watching game film from the NC Courage recent outings, the play of Hopkins kept standing out. She wasn't doing anything flashy but she was consistently doing the right thing. Outside backs can often be overlooked because if they do their job well they don't necessarily show up much on the highlights, but Hopkins is a reliable option in that role. She isn't going to overwhelm the game, but she is going to shutdown her side of the field. She tucks inside in possession too and operates as a facilitator with her passing and vision.     Amireh is an attacking midfielder on the NC Courage side. The pace of her play stood out from game film. She is always in a rush when she is around the ball. The enthusiasm she brings in the press can result in some giveaways to benefit her side. On the ball, she gets at the defense quickly without hesitation. She is a dynamic dribbler and does well with quick combination play. Amireh's play will be key to the Courage attack finding success.

Finishing an ECNL campaign with an unbeaten record is quite the achievement and five teams pulled off that feat in the 08 age group from the Champions League qualifying games this season. XF Academy (Crossfire), Penn Fusion, De Anza Force, San Diego Surf, and NC Courage.