How did the New England teams fare in the ECNL Girls playoffs?

The FC Stars Blue 2011 team made the national quarterfinals. (FC Stars Blue)

Until recently, the odds of a New England team making a deep run in the Champions League playoffs were slim to none. But FC Stars Blue started bucking that trend in 2024, when two of its teams reached the national semifinals.

Then last year, the Lancaster, Mass. club followed that up with three more deep runs, highlighted by quarterfinal appearances from its 2010 and 2011 teams.

With four more teams Champions League-bound this year, how FC Stars Blue would fare on the ECNL’s biggest stage became one of the most intriguing storylines of this year’s national playoffs held from July 11 to July 17 in Seattle, Wash.

Well, for one more year, FC Stars Blue delivered. The club’s 2011 team advanced to the national quarterfinal, highlighted by a penalty kick win over Charlotte SA in the Round of 16. While that squad represented the biggest bright spot of this year’s event, several other New England teams ended the club campaign on a high note.

Select’s 2009 team made Champions League, lost in the first round, but rebounded to rip off four straight wins and capture the Champions League Cup title, a consolation bracket. The club also claimed hardware at the 2011 level, winning the North American Cup.

Before we officially put a bow on the club season by unveiling our Best XI teams, here’s a recap of how all the local teams performed at this year’s ECNL playoffs. A quick reminder that Champions League is the top postseason qualification, followed by North American Cup and Showcase Cup.