Jefferson Cup 2024 Championship Division Preview: U19 Girls

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SoccerWire continues its annual article series previewing the Jefferson Cup’s Championship Divisions. In this edition, we take a look ahead at the U19 Girls age group.

This year’s Championship Division features twelve of the top teams competing in a single table format. To check out the entire U19 age group click here.

Bethesda SC ECNL 06/05 (MD): The high-scoring BSC attack is led by midfielder/forward Riley DeMartino (2024-Notre Dame), midfielders McKinley Heaven (2025- verbal commit to Maryland) and Gabrielle Wisbeck (2024-Syracuse), and forwards Gemma Davitian (2024-Maryland) and Emily Akpebu (2024-West Virginia). Defensively, they are also highly difficult to break down and are coming off of two shutouts at the recent ECNL Florida winter event. Goalkeeper Maya Cheeseboro (2024- Boston College) leads an imposing backline that has already earned four clean sheets in ECNL play.

Black Rock FC Academy High Mowing (MA): Coming off of an undefeated run at the recent NCFC Showcase Series, Black Rock are looking to extend their winning ways as they travel down to Richmond. In North Carolina, their stout defense earned three clean sheets.

Cleveland Force FC ECNL 06/05 (OH): Started their 2024 campaign off with a major victory, downing Sporting Blue Valley 1-0 at the ECNL Florida winter event. Forwards Lilly Boebel (2024- Bowling Green) and Cecilia Favret (2024- Marquette) lead a composed, speedy attack that can create goal-scoring opportunities with even the smallest of spaces. They are also more than capable of handling the high pressure environment of the Jefferson Cup with both their 06s and 05s going undefeated at last year’s showcase.

HEX FC ECNL 05/06 (PA):  The ECNL North Atlantic Conference team are looking to improve upon their run in last year’s Elite division, which saw them defeating Burlingame SC (2-1) and NJ Premier FC (2-0) as part of their former club FC Bucks. Midfielder/Defender Grace Keane (2024-Stetson) anchors a tight, consistent spine that emphasizes possession and building from the back.

Maryland United FC ECNL 05/06 (MD): Earned their first ECNL North Atlantic Conference victory just before the winter break, defeating Bethesda SC’s 06/05s 3-1. At their recent home showcase, the team downed Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 05/06 out of the Girls Academy 2-1 and finished up by shutting out Warrington SC 2-0. Defender Paige Kush (Navy) and midfielders Olivia Benzig (2024-St. Joseph’s) and Stephanie Lathrop (2024-Purdue) were each named to the Washington Post’s All-Met First Team for their standout high school seasons and are looking to push United into the ECNL Playoffs.

New England Surf Navy 05/06 (MA): Had a strong showing at the recent DPL Winter Showcase, where they defeated Florida Hawks FC (4-2) and drew a tough Mass City FC team 1-1 to start their 2024 season. At the NEFC Thanksgiving Showcase, their defense earned a shutout against a high-scoring Scorpions SC RL, earning a 4-0 victory.

Penn Fusion SA ECNL 05/06 (PA): Having lost just once across all ECNL competitions this season (2-1-4, 10 points), Penn Fusion are looking to build upon their 06s National Playoff appearance last season. SoccerWire Featured Player Ella Bryan leads a talented attack that are looking to break out this spring.

Pipeline SC ECNL 05/06 (MD): Held their own defensively at the recent ECNL Florida National Event in January, earning points against Charlotte Independence SC (3-1 win) and Heat FC (0-0 draw), while narrowly falling to Match Fit Academy (1-0 loss). Defender Lauren Toms (2024-Navy) spearheads a Pipeline defense that can withstand pressure applied by opponents and still make decisive stops late in matches.

Richmond United ECNL 06/05 (VA): Coming off of a strong Mid-Atlantic Conference season, Richmond are looking to sharpen their skills ahead of the ECNL National Playoffs. Their attack scored 36 goals in conference play this season, which was the second most among all Mid-Atlantic Conference teams this season. Forward Reese Mattern (2024-Tennessee) and forward/midfielder Skylar Miller (2024-Tennessee) lead a high-energy attack that can take any space in the defensive third and immediately exploit it.

SJEB  05/06 GA (NJ): Blanked Baltimore Celtic 3-0 to start their Girls Academy season. At the recent FC DELCO Showcase, they went undefeated in three matches (2-0-1, 23 points) earning three clean sheets. Midfielder Kennedy Erdman (2024-Monmouth) is coming off of a strong senior high school season for Cherry Hill West where she earned United Soccer Coaches All-American honors and will play a critical role in maintaining possession in the midfield and creating opportunities off of the counter-attack.

Virginia Union ECNL 06/05 (VA): Scored 32 goals across all ECNL competitions thus far this season and are coming off of a two game stretch in January in which they put nine past NCFC Youth (4-0) and NC Fusion (5-1). Forward/midfielder Nawreen Ahmad (2025-Florida State verbal commit) and forward Ayda Pannell (2025- Georgia verbal commit) lead a balanced Union team that can take take an opponent’s best shots, hold their own, and immediately go on the attack.

VDA ECNL 06/05 (VA): Entering this year’s Showcase, VDA will look to continue their strong defensive work in 2024 which has seen them allow just two goals in their last five ECNL matches. 2022-2023 Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year Y-Lan Nguyen (2025- Stanford verbal commit) is coming off of a strong showing with the U-17 USWYNT at the CONCACAF W Championships, where she helped them secure a spot at this year’s World Cup.