Albany, NY – Match Weekend 5 of the ECNL Regional League season sent our BWP Football Academy teams on the road for a challenging slate of games against Brooklyn United Academy and CFC North. Facing strong opposition across all age groups, the weekend tested our squads’ resilience, character, and ability to compete under pressure.
Brooklyn United Academy Matchups
The opening set of games against Brooklyn United Academy proved to be a difficult challenge for several of our younger sides. The BWP FA U12/13s and U14s faced particularly tough results, falling 17-0 and 6-0 respectively, while the BWP FA U15s also came up short in a 4-0 loss.
However, the older age groups showed a strong response. The BWP FA U16s battled to an impressive 2-2 draw, demonstrating composure and determination throughout the match. The BWP FA 17s delivered one of the highlights of the weekend with a 3-1 victory, showcasing attacking quality and disciplined team play. The BWP FA U18/19s fought hard but ultimately fell 2-0 after going a man down on a yellow-red card. “We 
are extremely proud of all our teams and players, but the BWP FA U17s who have been struggling with the demands of the week-in and week-out of the league competition really came together to find a well-earned victory,” stated Academy Director and Head Coach Steve Freeman. The BWP FA U17s are the only team within the Club currently with a winning record of 3-2-3.
CFC North Matchups
The second day brought another set of demanding games against CFC North. The BWP FA U12/13s again faced a tough opponent, 
resulting in a 16-0 loss. The BWP FA U14s showed marked improvement, keeping the match competitive in a narrow 2-1 defeat.
The BWP FA U15s and U16s encountered strong opposition, falling 3-0 and 8-0 respectively, but continued to compete and gain valuable experience. The BWP FA U17s earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw, displaying defensive organization and discipline.
Closing out the weekend on a high note, the BWP FA U18/19s delivered a dominant 4-0 win, highlighting the group’s attacking strength and ability to gain control of the game. “Our 14s, 15s, 17s and 18/19s were able to truly compete at the level today,” stated Freeman. “Coming away with a win, a draw and two closely contested losses is evidence for those four groups that they are starting to meet the consistency a league demands.”
BWP FA Girls U15/16s open EDP North Atlantic Conference with a 3-0 win
The BWP FA Girls U15/16s opened up their regular season conference play with a 3-0 road victory against Greenbush SC. The group was able to work together, and hold the opponent scoreless across the 80-min contest. The group’s next contests will be this weekend as they compete in the Saratoga May Day Classic on Friday through Sunday. “We are very proud of our girls as they continue to work together to push one another in training,” said Academy Director and Head Coach Steve Freeman. “We are really pleased with the distance of improvement they have traveled as players so far this year.” BWP FA will be announcing expansion of their girls’ programming in the upcoming weeks.
Looking Ahead
While the results across the weekend were mixed, the experience gained against high-level competition is invaluable. These matches provide important lessons that will help shape development moving forward.
The resilience shown by the older age groups, along with moments of progress across the board, reflect a commitment to growth that will continue to drive the club as the season progresses.
The focus now shifts to training this week, preparation, and building on these experiences ahead of the next ECNL RL match weekend as the Club returns to the training grounds tomorrow night. Next Up…BWP Football Academy hosts Brentwood SC and Eastern FC at Christian Brothers Academy in Colonie.
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