SALEM, Ore. (Nov. 24, 2024) — The Northwest division of the Elite 64 Regional League (E64 RL) is in full swing after all six clubs competed for three days in Salem, Ore.
The E64 RL teams are competing for division titles in each of the 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U and 19U age groups, and the 13U-17U teams are also contending for opportunities to advance to next year’s National League national events — adding extra meaning to each contest in Salem and throughout the 2024-25 season.
This weekend’s action in Salem featured 36 boys teams competing. The six clubs represented included City SC Utah (UT), Impact United (UT), Oregon Surf (OR), Saints Academy (OR), Sparta United (UT) and Sound FC (WA).
The combined competition among the six clubs across all age groups was extremely close all weekend. City SC Utah led the group with 29 total standings points earned over the three days of play, followed closely by Sound FC, which earned 28 points. Oregon Surf (27), Impact United (25), Sparta United (25) and Saints Academy (24) were not far behind, as little separated the clubs.
One of the results that contributed to Sound FC’s strong overall performance was a 2-1 win against Impact United on Sunday in 19U Boys action. It took a late goal to grab the win, and the club’s oldest team was joined by its 13U and 14U players in a big goal celebration.
“The whole Sound FC club is here, so it’s a reunion of the club in a sense and we get to celebrate each other,” Sound FC 06/07B coach Parker Karnan said after the win. “To have the younger teams looking up to us and watching us finish in the 90th minute on a really exciting goal, it just feels good. You feel it from the fans and from the players, and the entire weekend has been a really good experience for us.”
Some notes on the current league standings after the games in Salem:
- In the 13U age group, Oregon Surf SC E64 RL 12B (OR) secured three shutout wins to move to the top of the table. Sound FC E64 RL 12 (WA) also picked up three wins in Oregon and is level with Surf on 9 points.
- Saints E64 RL 11B (OR) and Oregon Surf SC E64 RL 11B (OR) each won all three of their games over the weekend to move to the top of the 14U standings. Saints has the goal differential edge, as it kept three clean sheets.
- Oregon Surf SC E64 RL 10B (OR) picked up three clean sheets to go along with a potent attack that helped push it to the top of the 15U standings.
- Three wins in Salem helped Saints E64 RL 09B (OR) take a lead atop the 16U table. The Oregon side outscored opponents 12-to-3 in its three games.
- A perfect weekend, coupled with a pair of wins earlier in the season, allowed City SC Utah E64 RL 08B to clinch the top spot in the 17U standings.
- Impact United E64 RL 06/07B (UT) and Sparta E64 RL B07 (UT) finished their league schedule tied atop the standings on 10 points. However, they each fell to Sound FC E64 RL 06/07B (WA) over the weekend. Sound FC is 3-0-0 and can overtake both Utah sides with one more result.
The Elite 64 Regional League is a club-based second tier of the National League, serving various geographic areas around the United States. For more information on the Elite 64 Regional League, click here.