Solar SC was the only club to win one more than division at the 2023 NPL Finals, claiming two girls titles. Other clubs familiar to NPL success again proved their merit. 1974 Newark FC won the U-14 boys championship, a year after winning the U-16 boys title. Sockers FC put two boys teams into the final day with its U-19 team claiming the trophy. It was redemption for Sockers FC after losing in penalty kicks in the U-19 finale.
With a slightly smaller tournament field, the NPL Finals for competing girls teams concluded Monday after five days of competition. Boys teams also had a quarterfinal stage, and as a result, a rest day, so those titles were decided two days later.
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U-13 AGE GROUP
GIRLS: Solar SC (Red River NPL) 2, Cuyahoga Valley SA (Midwest Developmental League) 0
BOYS: Central Washington Sounders (Washington Premier League) 3, HDS Eagles Academy (NISL NPL Division) 1
U-14 AGE GROUP
GIRLS: San Juan South SC (NorCal NPL) 2, Club Ohio (Midwest Developmental League) 0
BOYS: 1974 Newark FC (NorCal NPL) 1, Club Deportivo La Esperanza (SOCAL Discovery NPL) 0 in overtime
U-15 AGE GROUP
GIRLS: St. Croix SC (Minnesota NPL) 2, Aztec Soccer (New England Impact NPL) 1
BOYS: Association Football Club (NorCal NPL) 3, Sting Nebraska (Central States NPL) 0
U-16 AGE GROUP
GIRLS: Solar SC (Red River NPL) 4, Beach FC (SOCAL Discovery NPL) 2
BOYS: Tonka Fusion Elite (Minnesota NPL) 2, Sockers FC Chicago (NISL NPL Division) 0
U-17 AGE GROUP
GIRLS: Americas FC (Red River NPL) 4, LAFC SoCal (SOCAL Discovery NPL) 0
BOYS: Minneapolis United (Minnesota NPL) 1, Triangle United (South Atlantic Premier League) 0
U-19 AGE GROUP
GIRLS: CCV Stars (Soccer Alliance of Arizona) 2, FC Edmonds (Washington Premier League) 1 in overtime
BOYS: Sockers FC Chicago (NISL NPL Division) 1, Roadrunners SC (NISL NPL Division) 0
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In total, 10 NPL member leagues were represented on the championship days, and six proved to be the local facilitators of 2023 National Premier Leagues champions: Minnesota NPL, NorCal NPL, NISL NPL Division, Red River NPL, Soccer Alliance of Arizona and Washington Premier League.
The NPL’s vision is to serve youth soccer by forming and collaborating with leagues, adopting the Players First philosophy and supporting US Club Soccer’s mission to foster the development of clubs. Two new member leagues are joining the platform for the 2023-24 season: the Texas Club Soccer League and the Mountain West NPL.