ECNL Girls Playoffs 2025: Round of 16 and U18/19 Finals matchups decided on Day 4

SAN DIEGO, CA – The final four teams left standing in the ECNL Girls U18/19 Champions League took the field on Sunday at Surf Cup Sports Park looking to book their places in the 2025 ECNL U18/19 National Championship Game.

Slammers FC HB Køge and FC Dallas squared off in the first semifinal looking to earn their spot in Tuesday’s National Championship Game.

Both sides came out flying in the semifinal, with FC Dallas hitting the post early on, followed quickly by Slammers hitting the crossbar as they looked to take the lead.

In the 12th minute, Slammers grabbed the first goal of the match as Ayva Jordan buried a penalty after Kai Tsakiris was taken down in the box.

Despite the number of chances from both sides, FC Dallas goalkeeper Macie Murphy and Slammers goalie Daphne Nakfoor were both outstanding in the first half to keep the score at 1-0 moving into halftime.

In the second half, the Slammers defense continued to defend hard against the FC Dallas pressure. Nakfoor made another key save to keep FC Dallas off the board. Minutes later, Slammers forced a turnover which Emma Newman was able to convert into an attacking opportunity and finish off to double Slammers lead in the 68th minute.

FC Dallas wasn’t done fighting though. Just like in their quarterfinal game, Natalie Wagner whipped a ball to the back post that Samira Minor was able to head in to cut the Slammers lead down to 2-1.

FC Dallas pressed hard for the game-tying goal, generating numerous chances in the final five minutes of the game, but the Slammers defense was able to hold on in the final moments for the 2-1 win and clinch their spot in the final.

The second semifinal saw FC Stars Blue and Penn Fusion SA facing off. It took some time for the scoring to open up in the second semifinal, but once it did the game exploded into life.

FC Stars opened the scoring in the 40th minute on an excellent left footed finish by Tennessee Murphy to make it 1-0.

Penn Fusion responded quickly though. Lydia Thornton fired a ball home right in front of goal in the 42nd minute to knot the game up at 1-1 just before the half.

We wouldn’t go to halftime tied though. In the 45th minute FC Stars took their one goal lead back as Maeve Theobald got past the Penn Fusion backline and scored to make it 2-1 FC Stars heading into the halftime break.

The high scoring conclusion to the first half carried over into the second half as Penn Fusion was awarded a penalty seven minutes into the second half. Keira Kemmerley stepped up and slotted the penalty in to tie things up at 2-2.

In the 58th minute Penn Fusion found their third and grabbed their first lead of the afternoon. Lily Phillips put a great ball into the box from a long set piece opportunity and Maya Bruce was able to get on the other end of it to make it 3-2 Penn Fusion.

FC Stars brought the pressure in the final half hour of the game, creating multiple chances to tie the game, including a chance in stoppage time that Penn Fusion had to clear off the goal line to save the game from going to penalties, as Penn Fusion held on for their third straight 3-2 win to punch their ticket to Tuesday’s final.

Round of 16

In addition to the U18/19 Champions League semifinals, Sunday saw the conclusion of group stage play in both the U16 and U17 Champions League, as 16 teams in each age group moved onto the knockout stage where they are now one win away from advancing to the ECNL Girls Finals in Richmond.

Bethesda SC, Eagles SC, Penn Fusion SA, Slammers FC HB Køge, SLSG Navy, Sting Black, VDA, and XF Academy all went 3-0 to win their groups and advance into the Round of 16 of the U17 Champions League. They are joined in the Round of 16 by group winners Michigan Hawks, NC Courage, Real Colorado National, and Solar SC, as well as the four best second place teams FC Dallas, PDA Blue, Slammers FC, and World Class FC.

U17 Round of 16 Matchups

• Michigan Hawks vs World Class FC
• XF Academy vs FC Dallas
• Slammers FC HB Køge vs Slammers FC
• Penn Fusion SA vs PDA Blue
• Solar SC vs Real Colorado National
• NC Courage vs SLSG Navy
• Sting Black vs Bethesda SC
• VDA vs Eagles SC

In the U16 Champions League, Albion Hurricanes FC, FC Dallas, Richmond United, San Diego Surf, San Juan SC, Solar SC, and XF Academy all went 3-0 to win their groups in the U16 Champions League and advance into the Round of 16. They are joined by Beach FC (CA), Legends FC, MVLA, PDA Blue, and Penn Fusion SA who all also won their groups. Kansas City Athletics, Match Fit Academy, Sting Royal, and Utah Royals FC-AZ make up the rest of the Round of 16 as the four best second place teams.

U16 Round of 16 Matchups

• Penn Fusion SA vs Match Fit Academy
• PDA Blue vs Kansas City Athletics
• San Diego Surf vs Sting Royal
• Solar SC vs Utah Royals FC-AZ
• MVLA vs Legends FC
• FC Dallas vs Richmond United
• Beach FC (CA) vs San Juan SC
• XF Academy vs Albion Hurricanes FC

Showcase Cup B

On Sunday the first trophies of this year’s ECNL Girls National Playoffs were handed out, as the finals took place in both the U16 and U17 Showcase Cup B.

It took penalty kicks to find a champion in both games. GSA won the U16 Showcase Cup B following a 0-0 (4-2) win in penalty kicks over Mustang SC, while Colorado Rapids won the U17 Showcase Cup B after defeating Arlington Soccer 2-2 (3-1) in penalties.

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