2025 ECNL National Champions!
The Real Colorado National 2008 ECNL Girls team had quite a road to become the U17 ECNL Girls National Champions. Throughout the season they showed well, making it to the Texas Conference Cup final and going undefeated in Texas Conference play, narrowly finishing second due to goal differential.
These results granted them the top seed in their pool for the round robin play portion of the ECNL Champions League Playoffs, starting June 26th, 2025, in San Diego, California. The team went 2-0-1 in group play to advance to the knock-out round of sixteen, where they faced a perennially tough Texas Conference opponent. Winning 7-6 in PKs, they qualified to go to the National Finals in Richmond, Virginia, for the fourth time.
In the quarterfinals, the team fought back from a 1-0 deficit to tie, with the win coming by PKs once again. Reaching the semis was familiar territory for the National 08 Girls though, having done so twice before, only to walk away defeated. However, the third time would prove to be the charm! With a smooth 2-0 victory, the team punched their spot into the championship game!
In the final, once again, the team faced a familiar foe from the Texas Conference. This was the Conference and Conference Cup winner - a team they had never beaten before and a team yet to give up a goal in any of their six playoff games. However, the National 08 Girls had become increasingly confident with each victory, and through perseverance, teamwork and a few key plays, they brought home the trophy with a triumphant 2-1 win.
As the final whistle blew on that game on July 21st, the realization hit that the long-time dream had come true! However, the road to the national championship wasn’t just wishful thinking or a matter of luck - there is so much more that goes into it. A huge part of the team’s success is owed to the support and investment of the coaches, trainers, parents, family and friends. Thank you to all who have cared to dedicate so much time, hours and years, whole summers, to the success of the Real Colorado National 08 Girls soccer team!