Penn Fusion Boys Winter Showcase: U19 Red Division Preview

With the Penn Fusion Boys Winter Showcase coming up February 24-26, SoccerWire is previewing key age groups for the tournament, in partnership with Sideline Soccer Solutions.

The U19 Boys Showcase Red Division features 12 top teams split across two brackets. See below for a look at each team that was selected for the top U19 division.

Bracket A

Penn Fusion Soccer Academy ECNL 2004 (PAE): Representing the host club, Penn Fusion is off to a solid early start in the ECNL Northeast Conference, winning each of their first two games. Fusion has an initial hold on first place in the conference after opening the 2022-23 ECNL campaign by defeating in-state opponents FC DELCO and FC Bucks.

NEFC ECNL 05/04 (MA): Traveling in from Massachusetts, NEFC’s 05/04 ECNL squad has captured division titles at two of their home club’s high-level showcase events over the past year, including the NEFC Thanksgiving Showcase and NEFC Spring Showcase. They are off to a strong start in ECNL competition as well, with three wins over their first four games.

Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth MLS NEXT 04/05 (NJ): New Jersey side Cedar Stars Academy – Monmouth MLS NEXT 04/05 has a busy spring schedule ahead in the Mid-Atlantic Conference of MLS NEXT. The Penn Fusion Showcase will be a key opportunity to build some momentum before league play hits full swing in March.

STA 2004/2005 ECNL (NJ): Over the course of seven games against ECNL Boys opponents this season, including two appearances at ECNL National Events, STA has gone 6-1-0 against strong competition. They’re currently in the midst of a five-game winning streak on which they’ve outscored opponents 14-3.

Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Elite 64 04/05 (PAE): Local Eastern Pennsylvania team Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 04/05 is competing in the exclusive Elite 64 division of the US Youth Soccer National League. The team is back in the Penn Fusion Winter Showcase once again after another strong year of testing themselves in some of the region’s top showcases.

PDA Hibernian Kane 2004/2005 (NJ): Since appearing in last year’s Penn Fusion Winter Showcase, PDA Hibernian Kane went on to have a perfect 3-0-0 record at the 2022 Jefferson Cup, where they competed in the U17 Superior Division. They also had a strong campaign in the US Youth Soccer Mid Atlantic Conference, posting a 4-3-0 record.

Bracket B

Council Rock United FC Bucks DOMINION 2004 (PAE): A perennial powerhouse in US Youth Soccer competitions, Dominion is the reigning champion of the USYS Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup and is coming off an appearance in the USYS National Championships. The team had an outstanding showing in USYS National League P.R.O. during the 2021-22 season as well.

FC DELCO ECNL 04/05 (PAE): With a tough schedule ahead in the South Division of the ECNL’s Northeast Conference, FC DELCO will get the opportunity to compete locally against some tough opponents at the Penn Fusion Showcase. FC DELCO has posted a pair of impressive performances so far in ECNL action, earning clean sheets wins over both Michigan Hawks and FC Prime at the ECNL South Carolina National Event.

Ironbound SC 2004/05 Super Eagles (NJ): The Super Eagles have been consistently impressive across all competitions, including a championship in 2022 at the US Club Soccer Mid-Atlantic Regionals. They went on to finish 2nd in the US Club Soccer National Cup XXI Finals. In league play, the Super Eagles secured 1st place in the US Youth Soccer Mid Atlantic Conference last spring.

Dutchmen FC 04 Boys (NJ): A returning champion to the Penn Fusion Winter Showcase, Dutchmen FC had a perfect three-game sweep at the 2022 event. They went on to win the 2022 US Youth Soccer New Jersey State Cup last spring, while also securing 2nd place finishes at the Jefferson Cup and in the US Youth Soccer Mid Atlantic Conference.

CASA 2004/2005 Elite (PAE): Capital Area Soccer Association (CASA) has put up strong performances in the 2004 and 2005 age divisions for years, appearing in some of the top showcases in the region. Their teams were strong in the US Youth Soccer South Atlantic EDP Conference last spring, including a 4-1-1 record in the 20024 age group.

Penn Alliance Select Elite 04 (PAE): With an outstanding history across multiple US Youth Soccer competitions, Penn Alliance Select Elite earned a 3rd place finish in their USYS National League P.R.O. division last season and they advanced all the way to the semifinals of the USYS Eastern Regional Championships. Alliance also placed 1st in the US Youth Soccer Mid Atlantic Conference during the Spring 2022 season.