ECNL: Freestate Soccer Alliance U-16s sweep weekend to clinch playoff berth
By Jimmy LaRoue
Freestate Soccer Alliance’s Under-16 Elite Clubs National League team won its local showdown with Bethesda SC, and then were victors once again Sunday to clinch a playoff berth as the regular season winds to a close.
Freestate scored a 1-0 win Saturday to eliminate Bethesda, and then followed that up with a 2-1 win over another Mid-Atlantic Conference rival, FC Bucks, to move from the 16th and final slot to 11th in the Flight A standings with a 6-4-3 record. In the division, Freestate sits in third place at 11-4-2.
In U-17 play, Bethesda picked up a 2-1 win over Freestate to move from a tie for 15th place in National Flight A to 14th overall, with a 1.60 ppg. San Diego Surf is 15th with a 1.59 ppg, and PDA, who didn’t play, remains at a 1.50 ppg. Freestate, at 1.81 ppg, remains solidly in 11th place and is in first place in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. On Sunday, Freestate rebounded for a 3-2 win over FC Bucks.
No local teams in Flight A are likely to qualify for the U-18 or U-15 playoffs.
The final week’s schedule for local teams:
Thursday, June 7
Bethesda vs. McLean Youth Soccer (U-15s, 5:30 p.m. Maryland Soccerplex Field 20; U-16s, 7 p.m. Maryland Soccerplex Field 20)
Saturday, June 9
Freestate vs. Richmond Strikers (U-17s, 5 p.m. Murtagh #2 Grass)
