Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You got 2026 order wrong. Madlax hasn't lost to BLC in 2 years and has beaten a number of good teams this summer. Last month VLC beat BLC at summer exposure. BLC and NL have lost a bunch of games and beaten no elite teams this year. BLC used to dominate but now struggles against good teams. NL has always struggled against the best teams. The order is Madlax, VLC, BLC, NL.

Really? BLC 2026 Beat the following elite teams this summer:

91 Maryland
Looneys
Crabs
True IL Premier

Yes. We lost to VLC by one goal at summer exposure.

Usclublax rankings just came out and we are #12. VLC is #16.

We have a ton of injuries right now but we are looking forward to playing you again soon. We just added a ton of depth and are now professionally coached.

Crabs will be in HOCO elite and VLC will not. Being called Elite does not make a team elite.

I have heard that too. Crabs and VLC are under common ownership and the owner can only put one in Elite. I don’t know who will be more unhappy about that - VLC or the AAA teams who have to play them.

I love the friendly banter but think we should agree that VLC, BLC, MadLax, and NextLevel (in no particular order) are the four best 2026 teams in the DC metro area. On any given day each of the four could beat any of the other three, or at least come within a couple of goals. All four are elite on the local level, but none of the four are quite elite nationally such as Hawks or Tigers. Players move among the four, which is happening right now. It would be amazing to have a November tournament where all four play head to head. I imagine every game would be close. And finally, parents who refer to their son’s team as “we” have issues. Anybody disagree with any of this?

Where are the crazy parent 27, 28, 29 rankings???

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You got 2026 order wrong. Madlax hasn't lost to BLC in 2 years and has beaten a number of good teams this summer. Last month VLC beat BLC at summer exposure. BLC and NL have lost a bunch of games and beaten no elite teams this year. BLC used to dominate but now struggles against good teams. NL has always struggled against the best teams. The order is Madlax, VLC, BLC, NL.

Really? BLC 2026 Beat the following elite teams this summer:

91 Maryland
Looneys
Crabs
True IL Premier

Yes. We lost to VLC by one goal at summer exposure.

Usclublax rankings just came out and we are #12. VLC is #16.

We have a ton of injuries right now but we are looking forward to playing you again soon. We just added a ton of depth and are now professionally coached.

Crabs will be in HOCO elite and VLC will not. Being called Elite does not make a team elite.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You got 2026 order wrong. Madlax hasn't lost to BLC in 2 years and has beaten a number of good teams this summer. Last month VLC beat BLC at summer exposure. BLC and NL have lost a bunch of games and beaten no elite teams this year. BLC used to dominate but now struggles against good teams. NL has always struggled against the best teams. The order is Madlax, VLC, BLC, NL.

Really? BLC 2026 Beat the following elite teams this summer:

91 Maryland
Looneys
Crabs
True IL Premier

Yes. We lost to VLC by one goal at summer exposure.

Usclublax rankings just came out and we are #12. VLC is #16.

We have a ton of injuries right now but we are looking forward to playing you again soon. We just added a ton of depth and are now professionally coached.

We? Did you step out on the field or watch from the parent sidelines? BLC has fielded very, very good teams which are well coached but let's not take it too seriously.

Anonymous wrote:You got 2026 order wrong. Madlax hasn't lost to BLC in 2 years and has beaten a number of good teams this summer. Last month VLC beat BLC at summer exposure. BLC and NL have lost a bunch of games and beaten no elite teams this year. BLC used to dominate but now struggles against good teams. NL has always struggled against the best teams. The order is Madlax, VLC, BLC, NL.

Really? BLC 2026 Beat the following elite teams this summer:

91 Maryland
Looneys
Crabs
True IL Premier

Yes. We lost to VLC by one goal at summer exposure.

Usclublax rankings just came out and we are #12. VLC is #16.

We have a ton of injuries right now but we are looking forward to playing you again soon. We just added a ton of depth and are now professionally coached.

Anonymous wrote:You got 2026 order wrong. Madlax hasn't lost to BLC in 2 years and has beaten a number of good teams this summer. Last month VLC beat BLC at summer exposure. BLC and NL have lost a bunch of games and beaten no elite teams this year. BLC used to dominate but now struggles against good teams. NL has always struggled against the best teams. The order is Madlax, VLC, BLC, NL.

Not sure why you would rank Madlax higher than these other teams. Madlax had a soft schedule this summer and ran up scores against some B level teams which has given the impression that they are good.

You got 2026 order wrong. Madlax hasn't lost to BLC in 2 years and has beaten a number of good teams this summer. Last month VLC beat BLC at summer exposure. BLC and NL have lost a bunch of games and beaten no elite teams this year. BLC used to dominate but now struggles against good teams. NL has always struggled against the best teams. The order is Madlax, VLC, BLC, NL.

2023 the order is Madlax, VLC, NL, DCE
2024 is Madlax, NL (close now) DCE then VLC
2025 is Madlax NL Beth DCE and VLC
2026 is Bethesda Madlax VLC NL

These are the four top clubs in the area and will vary year to year and change over the years as kids grow and move clubs.

Agree with the above and that DCE 2025 is stronger. But would say at 2023 is it pretty even and NL might have the slight edge. They beat DCE 8-7 this summer are a little higher in the us club rankings for what that is worth.

Anonymous wrote:Any ideas why there was turnover at 2025, is this typical in 8th grade? I notice some BLC Blue headed to NL.

At 8th grade it switches from BLC to DCE so while the team is similar, the DCE coaching staff is completely new so there aren’t the same allegiances to last players

Any ideas why there was turnover at 2025, is this typical in 8th grade? I notice some BLC Blue headed to NL.

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a trolling post. But a non-trolling answer is it depends on the year. DCE far stronger for 22. 23 closer but DCE has the edge. 24 probably NL. 25 both teams a lot of turnover so a little unclear. 26 BLC is better than NL. 27 and down NL is stronger than BLC.

Agree with this but would generally give DCE the edge at 25 notwithstanding the turnover.

This seems like a trolling post. But a non-trolling answer is it depends on the year. DCE far stronger for 22. 23 closer but DCE has the edge. 24 probably NL. 25 both teams a lot of turnover so a little unclear. 26 BLC is better than NL. 27 and down NL is stronger than BLC.

Next Level or DCE? Which club is stronger?