Not taking your top players to Disney is stupid!
Looking at the WC Eagles U19 team, they had a roster of 18. That roster included 13 D1 commits (UNC, Syracuse, Iowa, Michigan, UVA, Maryland and others) The rest were too young ('26s and '27s) to be committed but are all on the U16/U18 National Teams or the Senior Indoor National Teams.

And most of their future coaching staffs were all there to watch a game or two. Which is why teams go to Disney. There were plenty of coaches from top D1 and D3 programs walking around and watching games all day Friday and Saturday. The grass surface sucks, but competition is competition and the surface is crappy for everyone equally.

The only thing we know is that we don’t actually know what’s going on with these clubs. People need to stop making claims about a club or speaking poorly of a club when they really don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes or why a club is doing what they’re doing.

Postings for months about how important Sunshine Showcase is for club rankings then dialing back to most good clubs don’t send their best players because they are already recruited. This is idiotic reasoning. It’s supposed to be a recruiting tournament. I guess not.

Anonymous wrote:Since people are looking at scores, Next Level u14 beat Wolves 2-1, then lost to HUSEL 2-1 and Warhawks 2-0.
The Warhawks tied Key Biscayne 0-0 earlier same as Wolves.
Tcoyo beat Warhawks but then lost to HUSEL.
I think all the greater DMV area teams did well and we will see how it shakes out between now and RCCs. Region 7 will be quite the battle as it always is!! Region 8 is always such a crapshoot with the Virginia Beach teams in play.

Serious question to everyone opining on the merits of the teams: How can you draw any conclusions from a tourney where the teams don't send their top players?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Wolves U19 had an amazing tournament. Can’t say the same for the other age levels. U14 blew a lead late in the game to get knocked out of medal contention.

U14 Wolves did have a great tournament. Beat Gateway White 1-0, Patriot 3-0, Spirit of USA 2-1. Seeded 9th and top of the 2nd bracket. They lost to Next Level 1-2 and then tied Key Biscayne 0-0.

However, a YOUTH tournament isn't measured by wins or losses. Did the team play together well? Did they have fun doing it? Did they learn something new? And dinging on 12, 13 year olds for "blowing a lead" just shows what a poor sport you are. At the U12-U16 age ranges, there are a lot of factors in play, most of which you conveniently ignore. Top of the age bracket U19 is more serious, but even U19s should be allowed some grace. Which you lack.

Your fingers must be hurting from how tightly you are clutching your pearls

Since people are looking at scores, Next Level u14 beat Wolves 2-1, then lost to HUSEL 2-1 and Warhawks 2-0.
The Warhawks tied Key Biscayne 0-0 earlier same as Wolves.
Tcoyo beat Warhawks but then lost to HUSEL.
I think all the greater DMV area teams did well and we will see how it shakes out between now and RCCs. Region 7 will be quite the battle as it always is!! Region 8 is always such a crapshoot with the Virginia Beach teams in play.

Anonymous wrote:
Wolves U19 had an amazing tournament. Can’t say the same for the other age levels. U14 blew a lead late in the game to get knocked out of medal contention.

U14 Wolves did have a great tournament. Beat Gateway White 1-0, Patriot 3-0, Spirit of USA 2-1. Seeded 9th and top of the 2nd bracket. They lost to Next Level 1-2 and then tied Key Biscayne 0-0.

However, a YOUTH tournament isn't measured by wins or losses. Did the team play together well? Did they have fun doing it? Did they learn something new? And dinging on 12, 13 year olds for "blowing a lead" just shows what a poor sport you are. At the U12-U16 age ranges, there are a lot of factors in play, most of which you conveniently ignore. Top of the age bracket U19 is more serious, but even U19s should be allowed some grace. Which you lack.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tomorrow (Sunday) The Washington Wolves play the WC Eagles - the same team that easily beat Husel U19. Gosh, I hope the Wolves win!!

I caught the second half of the game and it came down to a nail-biter ending and ended in a 1-1 tie. Really well played game by both teams.

Wolves U19 had an amazing tournament. Can’t say the same for the other age levels. U14 blew a lead late in the game to get knocked out of medal contention.

Anonymous wrote:Tomorrow (Sunday) The Washington Wolves play the WC Eagles - the same team that easily beat Husel U19. Gosh, I hope the Wolves win!!

I caught the second half of the game and it came down to a nail-biter ending and ended in a 1-1 tie. Really well played game by both teams.

Anonymous wrote:Freedom did not send any of its top U19 players, most are already committed. A couple girls who are committed that have younger sisters playing lower levels did play. Freedom is trying to give girls who are not committed and need the exposure for college the chance to play. Warhawks on the other end sent their top roster, and have been chasing points in the rankings at both Shooting Stars and this past weekend.

A lot of the clubs' top players didn't play or had lower aged kids play up. Freedom, Husel, Hammers to name a few.

Freedom did not send any of its top U19 players, most are already committed. A couple girls who are committed that have younger sisters playing lower levels did play. Freedom is trying to give girls who are not committed and need the exposure for college the chance to play. Warhawks on the other end sent their top roster, and have been chasing points in the rankings at both Shooting Stars and this past weekend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which Freedom team? They have several?

They sent one U19 team and one U16 team to Sunshine Showcase.

Freedom always just sends one team per age group. Usually including at least enough top players to qualify for the top pool and do the very best they can, as well as a few who are still working on recruiting. Very surprising to see they tied Hammers. Granted, they had the top 2023 goalie in the country, so she's gone, as well as multiple very strong players. Still, that's surprising--it's still a very strong team. Great job, Hammers. I saw that the NL U16 and U19 and Wolves U19 are all doing well, too. Will be interesting to see how the pools come together after this morning.

The top players at Freedom did not attend Disney this year.

Most of the top u19 players from our club did not attend either (most of the commits).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some really nice results coming from the DMV. I was surprised to see several teams where their u19 is doing well (Freedom, Hammers, Wolves) but their u16 appears to be struggling. Are teams stacking those u19 with all their best kids playing up or is it just the strength of those specific age groups?

Honestly this tournament feels like a great day to be from the DMV. I’m happy for all the teams that are doing well!

Freedom U19 won the top pool last year. This is not a good showing for them at all, actually. I promise you, Sara Dawson is not happy. Wolves and Warhawks did great. Hammers really surprised and NL blue teams seemed to do well, too. It's true, DMV is really making a showing.

I think a lot of the top U19 commits, across all teams, did not play in this tournament. I don't blame them. Don't want to get hurt. I know that some did but many didn't. That is true for our club. So maybe that is the case for Freedom? (I don't know but I think their top GK, who was a top 2025 commit, is not playing).

I agree, freedom is not as strong as I expected, but it seems even more noticeable at the u16. Warhawks on the other hand are really doing well at both age groups.

And that NL u16 team is no joke. Good for them!