How's the 2025-2026 NorCal ECNL season going?

[shirivelli]

As the ECNL season kicks off, here’s some prediction on U14 for how the NorCal clubs will stack up.
Top three finishers will earn a coveted spot in the Playoffs, good luck chasing that ticket.

1. MVLA
2. Mustang SC
3. San Juan SC
4. Bay Area Surf
5. California Odyssey SC
6. Placer United
7. Santa Rosa United
8. De Anza Force
9. Davis Legacy
10. Pleasanton Rage
11. Marin FC

And at the end, can NorCal's top contenders hold their own against the SoCal powerhouses in this age bracket... or will they get steamrolled in the Playoffs? Time to prove the NorCal grind can match SoCal flair. This year will be an intriguing lead-in year before sweeping changes with full SY launch next fall.

 

[John T.]

No, California Odyssey could be top 3 for U14 in NorCal. With ECNL now anchored inland, the club is pulling top talent from Fresno, Modesto, Clovis, Stockton, and even as far as Bakersfield. Many of the families are chasing pro-level ambitions beyond just college. They are fully vested.

After years of commuting 2–3 hours to the Bay Area, the top players are coming home and now staying local. U14 looks strong, but U15 may be even better. Unless ECNL is soon awarded to another nearby club like Clovis Crossfire and splits the talent pool, California Odyssey looks downright ready.

 

[RandomSoccerFan]

Here's what it looks like at the moment:







The California Odyssey team listing is for their top team (which was NPL). They now have an ECNL team (same coach, same manager, likely similar players), that just won a few games this weekend against Seattle United ECNL and Pleasanton Rage ECNL. At some point they will either get enough games to have their own rating, or the team can decide to include the (strong) NPL background and merge the team recordds together.



By the time you get down to midpack ECNL in either Boys or Girls, there are plenty of ECNL-RL and even NPL teams that are stronger than the ECNL teams listed.

 

[shirivelli]

No, California Odyssey could be top 3 for U14 in NorCal. With ECNL now anchored inland, the club is pulling top talent from Fresno, Modesto, Clovis, Stockton, and even as far as Bakersfield. Many of the families are chasing pro-level ambitions beyond just college. They are fully vested.

After years of commuting 2–3 hours to the Bay Area, the top players are coming home and now staying local. U14 looks strong, but U15 may be even better. Unless ECNL is soon awarded to another nearby club like Clovis Crossfire and splits the talent pool, California Odyssey looks downright ready.

I’m more aligned with the ranking that RandomSF shared here. What you’re saying could very well play out over the next 2–3 years, but top 3 this year for U14 feels like a stretch.

That said, totally agree, California Odyssey securing ECNL gives them near-exclusive pull in that region right now.

 

[Slobodan]

No, California Odyssey could be top 3 for U14 in NorCal. With ECNL now anchored inland, the club is pulling top talent from Fresno, Modesto, Clovis, Stockton, and even as far as Bakersfield. Many of the families are chasing pro-level ambitions beyond just college. They are fully vested.

After years of commuting 2–3 hours to the Bay Area, the top players are coming home and now staying local. U14 looks strong, but U15 may be even better. Unless ECNL is soon awarded to another nearby club like Clovis Crossfire and splits the talent pool, California Odyssey looks downright ready.

So Odyssey is back? Because for awhile, Clovis Crossfire was kicking their asses.

 

[RandomSoccerFan]

That may have been the case at one point, but it isn't accurate any more. Odyssey shows as the #29 girls club, #34 boys club in CA (rated by strength of top teams). Clovis is at #49 girls side, #58 for the boys. There's a pretty significant difference between the clubs at the moment.

 

[John T.]

I’m more aligned with the ranking that RandomSF shared here. What you’re saying could very well play out over the next 2–3 years, but top 3 this year for U14 feels like a stretch.

That said, totally agree, California Odyssey securing ECNL gives them near-exclusive pull in that region right now.

California Odyssey U14 at the Surf Cup below. They look good and are real contender. My money is on them to make Top 3 finish in the U14 NorCal ECNL bracket this year. Watch out!

 

[RandomSoccerFan]

This weekend's performance for Odyssey is at a 45.49. Which if extrapolated would put them at #19 in state, #73 in the country. Or #4 in Norcal ECNL. (they are now at #31 in state, #137 in the country). Sure seems like they are moving in the right direction.