Breaking the Line: Live at ECNL Girls National Playoffs and Finals | Ep. 141
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What is the purpose of the ECNL Girls Playoffs and Finals event in Seattle?
Welcome to the July 16th edition of Breaking the Line, the ECNL podcast, featuring ECNL President and CEO Christian Labors, and ECNL Vice President and Chief of Staff Doug Bracken, and recorded as part of the ECNL Girls Playoffs at 60 Acres Park in Seattle. Christian and Doug have three fantastic guests: Aaron Montoya from MBLA, Ronnie Woodard from Tennessee Soccer Club, and ECNL Girls Play. Commissioner Chris Leahy. Before we get to all three interviews, let's quickly go around the league. Let's first recognize two champions from the ECNL boys national playoffs. Under the bright sun of San Diego, Las Vegas Heat Surf captured the North America Cup, defeating FC Dallas Red by a score of 3-2 thanks to two goals from Chase Stewart and three assists from Dylan Flores.
In the U 18-19 national championship, Midfielder Julian Santi Soto scored in the 48th minute for Tulsa SC for the lone goal in the match, giving Chris Taylor's squad a 1 0 win and the club's first ever ECNL Boys National Championship. Sante Soto also earned the game's most outstanding player. Fresh off the clean sheet in the national championship match, Tulsa SC goalkeeper Noah Adams signed a USL Academy contract with FC Tulsa. For the remainder of the 2026 USL season. He will first be available for selection starting with the club's match against El Paso on July 18. This week, the ECNL will crown champions in the ECNL Girls, ECNL Regional League Girls, and ECNL Region League Boys. Slammers SC and SoCal Blues both led the way with three representatives in the ECNL RL Girls National Finals and the U 16 local.
Nobo's rush team is the final remaining reigning champion in the ECNL RL Girls. In the ECNL RL Boys, Houstonians have four teams competing in the ECNL RL Boys National Finals, and the U-15 Folsom Lake Surf is the last remaining reigning champion. This has been ECNL's Around the League. Now we turn it over to the ECNL president and CEO, Christian.
And thank you to Dean. As always, here we are in person again, new setting.
Yes, but it's similar like the weather. It's kinda similar.
West Coast summer.
Felt like it was windier a little bit in San Diego, but it's it's pretty nice here. More More green.
Yes, yes. Here we are, ECNL girls. Playoffs and finals and ECNL Regional League Girls Finals here in wonderful 60 acres in Redmond, Washington, home of Crossfire Premier who have lent the facility to us. It's an unbelievable facility.
How did the league’s “Around the League” segment highlight recent boys’ champions?
300 something teams here competing, a little bit different format this year because of the World Cup, which we can probably get into later, but first we should introduce our guest.
The great Aaron Montoya. Aaron, give us your C V. Here we go.
Where do I start?
The beginning. The beginning. You guys have been In the league since The beginning. Beginning.
We have we actually didn't join the first year.
Okay.
Like we entered the second year because we're all a little too cool for school. You're like, let's see what these guys are talking about. It is, it is, and we sh we've been here ever since and we've been super loyal and we um we absolutely love being here and I think uh it's been I don't know how long has the league existed.
Seventeen years.
Seventeen years. So we've been in it 16 years of it.
Wow.
I know.
So well let's at least get the background for those who don't know. So you the club MVLA in Mountain View Los Altos. Yes. Which is Northern California for those who are not familiar. Super strong club. Finalists in the U 18 this year in the national final. Previous national champions.
Yeah.
In the league. Multiple teams here. I think you won most age troops in the Nor Cal Conference.
I think we did this year. It was a it was a goal of ours for all of our age groups to compete. Obviously it being less teams it was it meant more to us to um actually qualify all six teams. And it's um I don't know if it's a record for us, I can't remember, but I know back in the day it was like we just want to get one team in and so now we've kind of evolved and um and we have a lot of good things happening at MBLA and we
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the purpose of the ECNL Girls Playoffs and Finals event in Seattle?
0:01–2:42
2
How did the league’s “Around the League” segment highlight recent boys’ champions?
2:42–11:22
3
Why did Erin Montoya join the conversation and what is her background with MVLA?
11:22–22:26
4
How does Ronnie Woodard describe his path from college coach to Tennessee Soccer Club director?
22:26–42:45
5
What challenges does the youth soccer landscape face after the World Cup?
42:45–1:07:07
Speakers
7 identifiedMore from Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast
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