ECNL Girls midseason report: What to expect in playoff stretch

Celia Frisoli and Select Soccer Club have been among New England's best teams at the 2009 level. (Janel Apuna)

Past the halfway point of the ECNL Girls season, the postseason puzzle is still forming in the New England Conference.

No age level exemplifies that more than the 2009s, where World Class FC, FC Stars Blue and Select will battle for the conference’s two Champions League bids over the final month of the regular season.

Drop down an age level, and more postseason drama exists. The FC Stars Blue 2010 team has emerged as the definitive favorite and a virtual lock for the Champions League. But beyond them, Connecticut FC, Scorpions SC and Select are poised to spend the last few weeks jockeying for North American Cup and Showcase Cup bids.

Added to the postseason tension this year is a new format, changed for 2026 due to the World Cup. Only the top two teams from each league will qualify for the Champions League, while the third-place finisher advances to the North American Cup and the fourth-place team earns a spot in the Showcase Cup. Fewer spots. Higher stakes.

The ECNL National Playoffs & Finals will be held in Seattle, WA, from July 11 to July 17. As the season reaches its peak, here’s a look at which teams and players have stood out so far, and what to expect for the rest of the season.