ECNL Girls Playoffs 2025: Day 1 Recap from San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA – The ECNL Girls Playoffs got underway on Thursday, highlighted by the opening round of the U18/19 ECNL Girls Champions League.

Last season’s U17 ECNL National Champions, Beach FC (CA), took on FC Dallas in a rematch of their quarterfinal game last season at the ECNL Girls Finals in Richmond.

Beach FC got on the board first in the second half on a long distance strike from Katherine Ryan that perfectly found its way into the top corner to give Beach the 1-0 lead.

That lead looked like it would be enough to again give Beach a 1-0 win over FC Dallas for the second year in a row, but in the 88th minute Holly Storer got past the Beach FC backline on a perfectly executed free kick and fired home the game-tying goal to send the game into PKs.

(+READ: Players to Watch: ECNL Girls Playoffs 2025)

In penalties, FC Dallas goalkeeper Macie Murphy forced a miss and came up with a key save, while Samira Minor, Natalie Wagner, Isabelle Traub, and London Young all converted their kicks to send FC Dallas through to the quarterfinals with an incredible comeback win.

“To score in the last minute and win in PKs was fantastic and special to a part of,” Murphy said after the win. “We’ve trained so much. The two-a-days in the Texas heat and all the work we put in showed today. We are one of the strongest teams. It’s amazing to be advancing. I’m so excited. We went out and played our game against the defending National Champions and never stopped fighting.”

With the win, FC Dallas moves onto Friday’s U18/19 quarterfinals where they will take on Bay Area Surf who also advanced on PKs in a win over Internationals SC.

Day 1 U18/19 Champions League Scores

• Penn Fusion SA defeats United Futbol Academy (3-2)
• La Roca FC defeats Michigan Hawks (3-2)
• FC Dallas defeats Beach FC (1-1) advances on PKs (4-2)
• Bay Area Surf defeats Internationals SC (2-2) advances on PKs (4-3)
• FC Stars Blue defeats Concorde Fire Platinum (3-0)
• VDA defeats Legends FC (3-2)
• Slammers FC HB Køge defeats Ohio Premier (1-0)
• Solar SC defeats SLSG Navy (4-1)

U18/19 Quarterfinal Matchups

• Penn Fusion SA vs La Roca FC
• FC Dallas vs Bay Area Surf
• FC Stars Blue vs VDA
• Slammers FC HB Køge vs Solar SC

Reigning Champs Recap: Penn Fusion SA 2008

After going 10-0 to clinch the North Atlantic Conference title, Penn Fusion SA’s 2008 team was ready to begin their quest for a second straight ECNL National Championship when they opened group play on Thursday against Tampa Bay United.

Led by a hat trick from reigning U16 ECNL Girls Player of the Year Kate Kemmerley, Penn Fusion looked the part of a reigning National Champion as they opened group play with a win over Tampa Bay United.

“After winning last year’s National Championship, we had to prepare knowing that everyone is going to give us their best game,” Kemmerley said. “Collectively we’re on the same page so that really gave us the confidence we needed.”

Kemmerley believes that drawing on last year’s experience and knowing how hard it is to win a National Championship will help Penn Fusion again this season as they look to make another run at a National Championship this summer.

“We have the experience and we know that it wasn’t easy and it took everyone coming together and working as a team.”

Penn Fusion looks to improve their record in group play to 2-0 when they take the field on Friday against Sporting Blue Valley.

Reigning Champs Recap: San Diego Surf 2009

San Diego Surf clinched the Southwest Conference this season with a 13-3 record to earn their spot in the U16 Champions League, as they also started their quest for a second straight ECNL National Championship on Thursday.

Surf faced off against a tough Eclipse Select SC side in their opening group stage game, but were able to grind out a 1-0 victory to pick up a huge three points to open up group stage play.

San Diego Surf takes the field again on Saturday as they look to improve their record to 2-0 when they take on World Class FC.

For a full look at the ECNL Girls National Playoffs, including scores, schedules and more, click here.