CLEVELAND, OH – The Great Lakes Alliance (GLA) is proud to recognize an unprecedented number of teams who advanced deep into postseason play this summer, with several bringing home national titles at premier events including the NPL Finals, ECNL Regional League Finals, and US Club Soccer’s National Cup.
This year’s success underscores the strength of GLA’s developmental structure, where the competitive environment of GLA_NPL, GLA Premier, Midwest Developmental League (MDL), and GLA ECNL-RL prepares players and teams to excel at the highest levels.
Thanks to the strong partnership with US Club Soccer, GLA clubs benefit from the Player First philosophy, allowing coaches and directors to focus on player development while gaining direct access to national postseason pathways.
Summer 2025 Postseason Highlights:
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NPL Finals Champions:
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Northern Steel U14 Girls
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NPL Finals Finalists:
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Gateway Rush SC U16 Boys
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Soccer Vision Academy U17 Girls
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National Cup Finals Champions:
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Manta United U16 Girls
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Ohio Strikers U17 Girls
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West Side Stars U19 Girls
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National Cup Finals Finalists:
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Elite FC U15 Girls
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Cuyahoga Valley SA U15 Girls
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Erie FC U16 Girls
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ECNL Regional League Finals Champions:
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Columbus Force U13 Boys
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“Our clubs continue to demonstrate that the Great Lakes region is among the most competitive and development-focused in the country,” said Ed Bernstein, Director for Great Lakes Alliance. “This summer’s success shows that our league infrastructure and US Club Soccer’s support provide a powerful foundation for players to reach the highest levels.”
GLA remains committed to offering accessible, high-level competition through both team-based leagues and club-based leagues—guiding players on a clear pathway from regional excellence to national championships.
About Great Lakes Alliance:
The Great Lakes Alliance (GLA) is a US Club Soccer-sanctioned league offering high-level competition across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and Missouri. Through its diverse programming—including GLA_NPL, GLA Premier, MDL, and GLA ECNL-RL—GLA supports player-first development and creates clear, competitive pathways to regional and national competition.