Albany, NY – It was a competitive weekend for BWP Football Academy in ECNL Regional League action against CFC North, with all four boys sides facing difficult tests against strong opposition. 
The BWP FA U18/19s showed tremendous resilience despite suffering a 4-3 defeat after going down to 10 men following a straight red card in the 11th minute. Battling a man down for nearly the entire match, the squad continued to compete and pushed CFC North throughout an intense contest.
The U17s narrowly fell 2-1 in another hard-fought match, while the U16s were edged 1-0 in a tightly contested battle. The U15s dropped a 5-1 result against a clinical CFC North side. Despite the results, the weekend provided another important developmental experience for the academy’s ECNL RL groups against quality competition. “This year has brought a tremendous learning opportunity for our players and families,” said Academy Director Steve Freeman. “Competitive league play versus tournament play has been a topic that we have been dealing with week in and week out. Being competitive in a league requires better habits, commitment and dedication than a weekend tournament. We as a Club want to be excellent in both competition environments, and we are committed to be that, but it is crystal clear that we need to do more.”
On the girls side, BWP FA’s U15/16 squad delivered an emphatic performance in EDP North Atlantic League play, defeating Oneonta SC by an impressive 11-0 scoreline. The dominant victory showcased the team’s attacking quality, movement, and relentless energy from start to finish as the squad continued its strong league campaign. BWP FA returns to action next weekend looking to build on the positives and continue progressing across all age groups.
BWP Football Academy v Select SC South…
Match Weekend 8 of ECNL Regional League competition proved to be a difficult one for BWP Football Academy, as the Club dropped all six matches against a strong and clinical Select SC South side.
While the scorelines did not go BWP FA’s way, the weekend provided valuable lessons and important developmental moments for every age group competing at the ECNL RL level. 
The closest contest of the weekend came from the BWP FA U18/19s, who battled throughout in a narrow 3-2 defeat. Despite creating several quality attacking moments and remaining in contention until the final whistle, BWP FA could not find a late equalizer in what was a competitive match between the two sides.
The BWP FA U16s also pushed Select SC South in an entertaining match that finished 3-2. BWP FA showed resilience and attacking quality throughout portions of the game, but defensive lapses at critical moments proved costly against an efficient opponent.
The BWP FA U17s fell 3-0 in a match where Select SC South capitalized on key opportunities early and controlled stretches of possession. BWP FA continued to compete throughout the match but struggled to convert attacking chances in the final third.
At the younger age groups, the BWP FA U15s were defeated 4-1 while the BWP FA U14s dropped a 5-1 result. Both teams showed periods of positive buildup play and determination but found themselves punished by Select SC South’s pace and execution in transition moments. Despite the difficult result, the BWP FA U12/13s battled, even took an early 1-0 lead and continued to gain valuable experience competing against top-level opposition. “Our two youngest groups have done a tremendous job working through very challenging times, yet staying the course,” said Academy Director Steve Freeman.
ECNL RL Match Weekend 8 highlighted both the challenges and standards of ECNL Regional League competition, with every match serving as an opportunity for growth and development within the BWP Football Academy pathway.
The BWP Football Academy will now look to regroup, learn from the weekend’s performances, and prepare for the next round of league competition as the spring season continues. The last ECNL RL regular season contest has the Club hosting Select SC North this upcoming Saturday.
For more information on BWP FA and its 2026/27 programming, go to www.blackwatchpremier.com.
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