The spring season for FC Wisconsin Eclipse started with a very busy weekend with teams playing top level ECNL competition in Minneapolis, MN, while others playing in the Blue Chip Showcase in Cincinnati, OH.  Despite the terrible Wisconsin spring weather that has hampered training for the past weeks, the teams had a bright start to the season and showed the progress they have made during the winter training months.

U14 ECNL:

The U14 ECNL team traveled to Minnesota to play the Minnesota Thunder Academy and Sporting Blue Valley (KS) in Midwestern Conference action.  Having beaten the Thunder in ECNL competition 1 month ago in a tight 1-0 game, the U14s showed that they have continued to take positive steps forward even in just the past few weeks with a decisive 3-1 win.  Turning around on short rest, the team then beat Sporting Blue Valley on Sunday 2-1 to finish the conference match-ups agains these teams with a 4-0 record.  Sitting in 3rd place in the conference, the U14 ECNL team travels to Michigan next weekend for a tough clash against Midwest Conference leaders Michigan Hawks.

FC Wisconsin Eclipse Spring Teams:

This spring, more than 30 players at FC Wisconsin Eclipse have chosen to play with the club and forego high school soccer.  The spring season provides a unique developmental experience, with players playing in competition at different age groups from one weekend to the next, and learning to play with different players next to them.  The FC Wisconsin Eclipse teams played Cardinal Stritch University and UW-Parkside in friendly scrimmages in early April, but the Blue Chip Showcase was the first formal youth competition of the season.  Two FC Wisconsin Eclipse teams traveled to Cincinnati for the event: (i) a U16 team consisting of approximatley half U15 and half U16 players, and (ii) a U17 team consisting of approximately half U16 and half U17 players.  Collectively, the teams went 2-2-2 (W-L-T) against older competition - again reflecting significant growth and advancement over the winter months.

Development is a year-round, all-ages, concept at FC Wisconsin Eclipse.  Stay tuned for updates on the spring teams and the U14s in ECNL competition as they continue a rain-soaked season!