ECNL Boys and Girls Regional League 2026 Playoffs: Southeast Region Recap

ECNL RL Girls U18/19 Champions: Charlotte SA
Most Outstanding Player: Maddie Steele, Charlotta SA

Charlotte SA claimed their region Tuesday morning, earning a 2-1 win against South Carolina Surf to clinch the ECNL Regional League Girls Playoffs – Southeast U18/19 Championship.

South Carolina Surf opened the scoring midway through the first half after both teams spent the beginning parts of the game playing in the midfield. South Carolina won a 50/50 ball on the left side of the pitch in the attacking third, worked the ball closer to the endline, and then sent a cross into the box. Standing at the top of the six-yard box, Surf volleyed a shot on net, beating the Charlotte SA goalkeeper high to the left side for the 1-0 lead.

In the 40th minute, Charlotte SA evened the game at 1-1. Charlotte SA had the ball on the left side of the pitch, where they drew the defense toward that side before sliding a cross to the far post. Waiting for a tap-in, Charlotte SA knocked the ball into the net for the goal.

Charlotte SA then gained the lead just minutes later, capitalizing on a corner kick just as the first half expired. An errant pass back to the goalkeeper by Surf led to the corner kick, and Charlotte SA sent the service deep into the box. Near the far post, Charlotte SA leapt up and managed to get a head on the pass, deflecting the ball past the Surf goalkeeper to take a 2-1 lead into the break.

In the second half, Charlotte SA dictated much of the pace of play, in large part to their back line, anchored by Maddie Steele. Charlotte SA employed a bend-but-don’t-break style, and for much of the half, it allowed them to play freely. But in the 85th minute, the backline saw their toughest test of the match.

South Carolina Surf had a promising attack and were determined to bring the game back even. But the Charlotte SA goalkeeper made the diving save, keeping the ball out of her net and maintaining her squad’s narrow 2-1 lead. Just minutes later, the referee blew the final whistle, and Charlotte SA were champions.

ECNL RL Boys U18/19 Champions: Union 10 FC
Most Outstanding Player: Mauricio Valdes, Union 10 FC

Union 10 FC took a 1-0 lead just five minutes into the match. Earning a throw in deep in NTH-NASA’s end, Union 10 FC brough the ball back out toward midfield for cutting back on net. Some give-and-go passing at the top of the 18-yard box allowed for the attack to slip behind the defense, where a cross right in front of the goal ended with the ball in the back of the net.

Now trailing, NTH-NASA put mounting pressure on the Union 10 FC goalkeeper, but with every test, he maintained his clean sheet and kept Union 10 in the lead.

At the 38 minute mark, Union 10 FC put itself in a great position to double its lead when NTH-NASA committed a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Midfielder Ramez Hasan stepped up to take the kick, and buried his shot into the bottom left corner, putting Union 10 FC ahead 2-0 into halftime.

Five minutes into the second half, weather caused an hour long delay, but when play resumed, the two sides immediately jumped back into the match, with NTH-NASA aiming to claw its way back while Union 10 FC wanted to close the door on any comeback attempt.

In the 65th minute, NTH-NASA finally got on the board and cut into Union 10 FC’s lead. A failed clear into the midfield allowed NTH-NASA to earn possession and dissect the Union 10 FC defense. Quick passing plays allowed NTH-NASA to bring the ball inside the box on the right side before sending a pass back into the middle. A Union 10 FC attempted to intercept the pass, but inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net, resulting in a score for NTH-NASA.

Moments later, it appeared NTH-NASA had drawn even when a shot beat the Union 10 FC goalkeeper, but a player was offside, maintaining Union 10 FC’s lead.

The two sides stayed locked into the 2-1 score until the 85th minute, when Union 10 FC iced the game. Earning a free kick 35 yards out, Union 10 FC sent a shot into the box that was intitally saved. The rebound bounced around the box, and Union 10 FC had an open net to cap the match with a 3-1 win.